[01] Emile Ndongo Ipona, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [02] Clément Liyongo Inkoto, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [03] Gédéon Ngiala Bongo, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [04] Christophe Mbombo Mulenga, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [05] Bernard Lopaka Ilinga, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [06] Oscar Mihigo Shetonde, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [07] Blaise Mavinga Mbala, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [08] Dorothée Dinangayi Tshilanda, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [09] Bienvenu Kamalandua Mvingu, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [10] Jean Sungula Kayembe, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [11] Pius Tshimankinda Mpiana, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [12] Koto-te-Nyiwa Ngbolua, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Department of Environment, Faculty of Science, University of Gbado-Lite, Gbadolite City, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The aim of this work was to document medicinal plants used in Traditional Medicine for the management of erectile dysfunction. It was done in the western part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), between December 2017 and February 2018. To achieve this goal, a survey was conducted using a pre-established survey form which allowed us to have information on the traditional use of medicinal plants in the treatment of above mentioned disease. 40 plant species belonging to 38 genera and 27 families were inventoried in the medicinal flora of the western part of DRC. 46% of inventoried medicinal plants were found in the forest, trees were the most morphological types (38%) while phanerophytes were the most biological type (80%). Maceration was the used method of preparation while the root (42%) is the part of the plant mostly used. Pantropical species (33%) are predominant in the medicinal flora studied. Four botanical families (Rubiaceae, Apocynaceae, Clusiaceae and Leguminosae) out of the 27 possess 35% of listed species. The recipes are administered to patients by oral route. The western part of DRC is rich in medicinal plants knowledge. Therefore, conservation and promotion of such indigenous knowledge by encouraging laboratory research is required in the study area.

Erectile Dysfunction, Medicinal Plants, Indigenous Knowledge, Ethnobotany

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