Screening phytochimique de quelques plantes médicinales ivoiriennes utilisées en pays Krobou (Agboville, Côte-d’Ivoire)

Une étude ethnomédicinale réalisée chez les Krobou, une ethnie du Département d’Agboville (Côte-d’Ivoire), a montré que 27 tradithérapeutes utilisent 18 espèces de la flore ivoirienne, pour combattre différentes pathologies. Diverses parties de la plante (écorces de racine et de tige, feuilles, fruits, graines et tubercules) sont utilisées pour la préparation des recettes médicamenteuses. Ces recettes, monospécifiques en général, nécessitent divers modes de préparation (décoction, expression, infusion, macération, pétrissage, pilage, pulvérisation, ramollissement, torréfaction et trituration). On note divers modes d’administration des médicaments : ablution, application locale, badigeonnage, bain de vapeur, boisson, instillations buccales, nasales, vaginales et purges. Les tests tri phytochimiques réalisés sur 3 extraits (éthérique, méthanolique et aqueux) ont révélé que les différentes drogues renferment des stérols, polyterpènes, polyphénols, flavonoïdes, tanins catéchiques, alcaloïdes et des saponosides, qui leur confèrent les propriétés thérapeutiques diverses.An ethnomedicinal study carried out at Krobou, an ethnic group in the Department of Agboville (Côte-d’Ivoire) showed that 27 traditional doctors use 18 ivorian plants species to cure people to different pathologies. Various parts of the plant (barks of root and stem, sheets, fruits, seeds and tubers) are used to prepare the medicamentous receipts. These receipts which are generally monospecific, require different preparation modes (decoction, expression, infusion, soaking, kneading, pounding, crushing, softening, rousting and trituration). We note several administration modes of those medicines : washing, application on the skin, painting, steam bath, drinking, oral, nasal, vaginal instillations and purges. The tri phytochemical tests of three extracts (etheric, methanolic and aqueous) revealed that the different drugs contain sterols, polyterpenes, polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and saponosideswhich give these medicines several healing properties.Keywords: Agboville, chemical Components, Côte-d’Ivoire, Ethnomedicine, Krobou, Phytochemistr

A new method to determine the diet of pygmy hippopotamus in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire

This research was funded by “Fond des donations” of the University of Neuchâtel and the “Willy Müller Award” of the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire.Diet determination of endangered species is an essential element in defining successful conservation strategies and optimising captive breeding programmes. In this study, we developed a new diet identification system, derived from standard faecal analysis, to determine the diet of an elusive and endangered herbivore, the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis). We collected faecal samples from 10 free-ranging individuals covering a combined home range area of about 50 km2 in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. In subsequent laboratory analyses, we extracted a large number of leaf epidermis fragments from spatially separated faecal samples and compared them with a reference plant database. Using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) of epidermis fragments combined with direct visual inspection, we identified the most frequently consumed plant species, which revealed that pygmy hippopotami qualified as intermediate feeders. Their diet was based on at least seven species of monocotyledonae, dicotyledonae and fern groups, with a preference for a small number of other plant species. We evaluate the merit of our method and discuss our findings for developing effective conservation and captive breeding strategies in an endangered species with a wild population of less than 2500 adult individuals.PostprintPeer reviewe

Growth and CD4 patterns of adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV worldwide, a CIPHER cohort collaboration analysis

Introduction: Adolescents living with HIV are subject to multiple co-morbidities, including growth retardation and immunodeficiency. We describe growth and CD4 evolution during adolescence using data from the Collaborative Initiative for Paediatric HIV Education and Research (CIPHER) global project. Methods: Data were collected between 1994 and 2015 from 11 CIPHER networks worldwide. Adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV infection (APH) who initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) before age 10 years, with at least one height or CD4 count measurement while aged 10–17 years, were included. Growth was measured using height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ, stunting if <-2 SD, WHO growth charts). Linear mixed-effects models were used to study the evolution of each outcome between ages 10 and 17. For growth, sex-specific models with fractional polynomials were used to model non-linear relationships for age at ART initiation, HAZ at age 10 and time, defined as current age from 10 to 17 years of age. Results: A total of 20,939 and 19,557 APH were included for the growth and CD4 analyses, respectively. Half were females, two-thirds lived in East and Southern Africa, and median age at ART initiation ranged from <3 years in North America and Europe to >7 years in sub-Saharan African regions. At age 10, stunting ranged from 6% in North America and Europe to 39% in the Asia-Pacific; 19% overall had CD4 counts <500 cells/mm3. Across adolescence, higher HAZ was observed in females and among those in high-income countries. APH with stunting at age 10 and those with late ART initiation (after age 5) had the largest HAZ gains during adolescence, but these gains were insufficient to catch-up with non-stunted, early ART-treated adolescents. From age 10 to 16 years, mean CD4 counts declined from 768 to 607 cells/mm3. This decline was observed across all regions, in males and females. Conclusions: Growth patterns during adolescence differed substantially by sex and region, while CD4 patterns were similar, with an observed CD4 decline that needs further investigation. Early diagnosis and timely initiation of treatment in early childhood to prevent growth retardation and immunodeficiency are critical to improving APH growth and CD4 outcomes by the time they reach adulthood

Quelques vertus médicinales de Cassia occidentalis L. (Césalpiniacées) en basse Cóte d’Ivoire

SOME MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF CASSIA OCCIDENTALIS  L. (CAESALPINIACEAE) IN THE LOWER IVORY COAST About 40 species of Cassia, a great number of which have been introduced, grow in different parts of intertropical Africa, in all types o f vegetation. The 14 species in the Ivory Coast are herbs, shrubs or trees. The local pharmacopoeia uses six of these species for various therapeutic preparations. The currently most used species is Cassia occidentalis L. commonly called Faux Kinkéliba. In the forest area of the Lower Ivory Coast, 11 medical preparations made from different parts of the plant are used. With its considerable ability to spread, this South American plant has become a pantropical one. It is found chiefly in the vicinity of villages. C. occidentalis is used for the relief and treatment of a variety of pains and diseases, for example as a cicatrizant, abortifacient, febrifuge, diuretic, laxative or cholagogue and tonic, and in cases of asthma, cataract, jaundice and kwashiorkor