SUPERFICIAL ANTICANDIDOSIC ACTIVITY OF LEAVES OF COMBRETUM RACEMOSUM P. BEAUV. (COMBRETACEAE) EXTRACTS

This preliminary work consists in evaluating the superficial anticandidic activity of the leaves of Combretum racemosum P. Beauv in humans. To this end, we first demonstrated bioactive compounds of five (5) crude extracts (aqueous and hydro-organic 70%) from C. racemosum. Then, and finally, we have separately evaluated the superficial anticandidic activity of these extracts on Candida albicans, a species of genus Candida, mostly encountered in superficial human candidiasis. C. albicans was found to be sensitive to the five extracts tested. This partly justifies the use of C. racemosum in traditional medical practice against superficial microbial diseases. For these extracts, the Inhibitory Minimum Concentrations (MIC) recorded ranged from 7.8125 mg/mL to 62.550 mg/mL; While Fungicide Minimum Concentrations (CMF) range from 31.25 ± 0.00 mg/mL to 62.550 mg/mL. Concentrations for Fifty Percent Inhibition (IC50) range from 0.930 mg/mL to 3.861 mg/mL. The hydroethanolic macerated extract 70% (Eeth 70%) is the most active fraction on C. albicans (CMF = 7.8125 ± 0.00 mg/mL, IC50 = 0.941 ± 0.009 mg/mL) compared to the total of the five crude extracts tested. The preliminary phytochemical screening of the five crude extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids steroids and tannins (catechics and gallics) at various levels of concentration in our study. Eeth 70%, the most active extract in our work, contains in medium concentrations the same active ingredients cited above.  Finally, we note that the hydroethanolic macerated extract 70% is the most active fractions in this work. It may, however, subject to toxicological studies, be used in the treatment of theskin, the cutaneous appendages and the mucous membranes in humans. Keywords: Combretum racemosum, phytochemical screening, superficial anticandidi

Ecological challenges for the buffer zone management of protected areas of forest-savannah mosaic in West Africa

In sub-Saharan Africa, the management of buffer zones around protected areas does not often take into serious account the needs of resource exploitation by the local populations or the conservation needs of these areas. We described the ecological characteristics and management issues affecting the buffer zone around the Fazao-Malfakassa National Park; a 192,000-ha protected area in central-western Togo of utmost conservation importance within the Dahomey Gap region. Within the buffer zone (10 km radius, 334,800 ha), we focussed on four high conservation value areas totalling 65,594 ha (20% of the total buffer zone area). Using 2015 sentinel-2 images we analyzed land cover patterns and described existing ecological zones. We complemented these with field surveys and interviews with 300 people living in 22 villages within the buffer zone to describe the conditions affecting the resident human population. Although over 60% of the total buffer zone area is degraded, we identified four areas of high conservation value (total area = 65,594 ha). Interviewees recognized that slash-and-burn was the most common form of land use, followed by agroforestry practices. Agriculture, charcoal, and firewood production were the main drivers affecting habitats, and land conflicts were recurrent due to the rise in human population. The decline in agriculture, reported by interviewees in some sectors, was attributable to ravages of crops by elephants. Three independent diversity indices showed that, in preserved zones, a greater diversity of animals (with similar utilization frequencies) were hunted than in degraded sites (where grasscutters were the dominant hunted species). There were also significant differences between degraded and preserved zones in terms of plants used for charcoal production and for non-timber forest products. We advocate the development of community-controlled hunting areas to enhance the conservation value of the four well-preserved zones. Instead, promoting sustainable agricultural production systems in the degraded areas can help to further stabilize the agricultural front and reduce land pressure on the park

Les champignons ecto-mycorrhiziens consommés par les Bassar et les Kabyè, peuples riverains du Parc National Fazao-Malfakassa (PNFM) au Togo (Afrique de l’Ouest)

The wild edible mushrooms are often used by people who live around the PNFM of Togo. To know better the ecto-mycorrhizal taxa used and to document the endogenous knowledge, surveys on ethno-mycological knowledge were conducted in the city of Bassar from the ethnic group of Bassar and in the village of Hezoudè from Kabyè ethnic group. During this study, based on semi-structural ethno-mycological survey, 432 people aged 10 to 80 years from the Kabyè and Bassar areas are interviewed via focus group and/or individual interviews. After ethno-mycological investigations, 23 taxa are known as edible. The ethno-mycological indices such as Use Value (UV), Index of Fisher (p) and Index of Importance Value (IVI) are calculated to test the knowledge on the different use of mushrooms by the two ethnic groups. The study revealed that there is no significant difference regarding the number of consumed taxa for each ethnic group and the levels of their traditional knowledge. The study also showed that the traditional ethno-mycological knowledge of the population varies according to age, the ethnical group and sex. The elders are proven to be the holders of the best mycological knowledge. The most ecto-mycorrhizal mushrooms consumed are Amanita loosii, Russula oleifera and Cantharellus congolensis. These preliminary data indicate that the ecto-mycorrhizal mushrooms and their uses are well known by the people who live around the PNFM

Inventaire préliminaire des macromycètes du Parc National Fazao-Malfakassa du Togo, Afrique de l'Ouest

Preliminary Inventory of the Macromycetes from the National Park Fazao-Malfakassa (Togo, West Africa). This study presents the state of knowledge on the macromycetes from the Fazao- Malfakassa National Park (FMNP) in Togo. The sporophores were collected from woodlands and gallery forests dominated by Isoberlinia spp., Monotes kerstingii, Uapaca togoensis, Uapaca guineensis and Berlinia grandiflora, all ectomycorrhizal trees. The collected specimens were dried and maintained in the Herbarium of the Laboratory of Botany and Plant Ecology (LBEV, Lomé University). A total of 179 taxa has been identified and classified in 17 orders, 28 families, and 52 genera. These preliminary data confirm that the FMNP in Togo presents a large diversity of rare and little-known macromycetes