Antifungal activity of Erigeron floribundus (Asteraceae) from Côte d\'Ivoire, West Africa

Purpose: Erigeron floribundus is a reputed medicinal plant used in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa for the treatment of skin disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of this plant against fungi from human origin. Method: Dichloromethane, methanol 80% and aqueous extracts from the leaves with stem were tested for their antifungal activity against 7 strains of dermatophytes (Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, M. gypseum, M. langeronii, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. soudanense) and one strain of the filamentous fungus, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis. The assays were performed using the agar dilution method at serial concentrations ranging from 2 to 0.06 mg/ml. Result: Only the dichloromethane extract exhibited an activity against Microsporum canis and a broad spectrum of good antifungal activity against all the remaining fungi tested. Conclusion: To the best our knowledge, this is the first report of the antifungal activity of Erigeron floribundus against a wide range of dermatophytes, including Microsporum langeronii and Trichophyton soudanense, the most frequent dermatophytes in Côte d'Ivoire. E. floribundus might be potential sources for improved traditional medicines or new antidermatophyte agents for the treatment of dermatomycoses. Keywords: Erigeron floribundus, dermatophytes, antifungal activity, Côte d'Ivoire. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 7 (2) 2008: pp. 975-97

Études de quelques plantes thérapeutiques utilisées dans le traitement de l\'hypertension artérielle et du diabète : deux maladies émergentes en Côte d\'Ivoire

Des enquêtes ethnobotaniques réalisées sur les marchés d\'Abidjan (Côte d\'Ivoire) ont permis d\'inventorier 58 espèces de plantes commercialisées pour soigner 19 maladies courantes. Trente neuf (39) de ces plantes sont utilisées contre l\'hypertension artérielle et le diabète. Sur les 39 plantes, 27 sont antihypertensives, 19 sont antidiabétiques et 6 plantes sont utilisées pour traiter aussi bien l\'hypertension artérielle que le diabète. Il s\'agit de Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don, Ageratum conyzoides L., Vernonia colorata (Willd.) Drake, Alchornea cordifolia (Schum. & Thonn.) Müll. Arg., Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. et Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Benth.Investigations on medicinal plants in the markets of Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) allowed the inventory of 58 species of plants used to treat 19 current diseases. Thirty-nine (39) of these plants are used against arterial hypertension and diabetes. Among the 39 plants, 27 are antihypertensive, 19 are antidiabetic and 6 plants are used to treat arterial hypertension as well as diabetes. These plants are Catharanthus roseus (L.) G Don, Ageratum conyzoides L, Vernonia colorata (Willd.) Drake, Alchornea cordifolia (Schum. & Thonn.) Müll. Arg., Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. and Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Benth. Keywords: Ethnomedicinal survey, medicinal plants, arterial hypertension, diabetes, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.Sciences & Nature Vol. 5 (1) 2008: pp. 39-4

Étude ethnobotanique et screening phytochimique de Caesalpinia benthamiana (Baill.) Herend. et Zarucchi (Caesalpiniaceae)

Les informations ethnobotaniques obtenues auprès de dix (10) tradithérapeutes du canton N\'Gadié dans le Département d\'Adzopé montrent que l\'utilisation de Caesalpinia benthamiana (Caesalpiniaceae) (Cb) contribue significativement aux soins de santé primaire pour le traitement des troubles de l\'érection. En effet, sur les quinze (15) espèces de plantes médicinales (réparties entre 14 familles) utilisées pour le traitement de diverses pathologies liées aux troubles de l\'érection, Cb est la plus fréquemment prescrite dans ledit canton. Un screening phytochimique réalisé sur cinq (5) extraits bruts des racines de Cb a révélé qu\'elles renferment des stérols, polyterpènes, flavonoïdes, saponines, tannins, sucres réducteurs, coumarines et des protéines.Ethnobotanical Informations obtained beside ten (10) traditional herbalists of the canton N\'Gadie in the Department of Adzope show that the use of Caesalpinia benthamiana(Caesalpiniaceae) (Cb) contributes significantly to primary health cares for the processing of erectile troubles. Indeed, on the fifteen (15) species of plant medicinal (distributed between 14 families) used for the various pathology processing linked to erectile troubles, Cb is the most frequently prescribed in the aforementioned canton. A phytochemical screening realized on five (5) extracted crude of roots of Cb has revealed that they contain the sterols, polyterpenes, flavonoids, saponines, tannins, reducing sugars, coumarins and proteins. Keywords: pharmacopée traditionnelle, Côte d\'Ivoire, Adzopé, screening phytochimique, érection, Caesalpinia benthamiana(Caesalpiniaceae)/traditional pharmacopoeia, Côte d'Ivoire, Adzope, erection, Caesalpinia benthamiana (Caesalpiniaceae)Sciences & Nature Vol. 4 (2) 2007: pp. 217-22

Activité antifongique de quelques plantes de la flore ivoirienne

Six espèces de plantes de la flore ivoirienne ont été utilisées pour la recherche de leur activité antifongique. Ce sont : Borreria latifolia, Borreria verticillata, Erigeron floribundus, Euphorbia hirta, Turraea heterophylla et Vernonia colorata. Les extraits dichlorométhane, méthanolique et aqueux, réalisés à partir des poudres de feuilles ou de rameaux feuillés de chaque espèce, ont permis d\'évaluer cette activité sur les levures (9 souches de référence et 10 souches cliniques). Seul l\'extrait dichlorométhane de Erigeron floribundus a présenté une activité inhibitrice sur les champignons avec une Concentration Minimale Fongicide (CMF) située entre 0,5 mg/ml et 1 mg/ml.Six plant species from flora of Côte d\'Ivoire were screened for antifungal activities. These plant species are: Borreria latifolia, Borreria verticillata, Erigeron floribundus, Euphorbia hirta, Eurraea heterophylla and Vernonia colorata. The dichloromethane, methanol and aqueous extracts from the powered leave sample of each species were tested using yeast (9 reference strains and 10 clinical strains). Only dichloromethane extract of Erigeron floribundus showed an activity. The MFC was between 0.5 mg/ml and 1 mg/ml. Keywords: Plantes ; Activité antifongique ; Extraits bruts ; Flore ivoirienne/Plants ; Antifungal activity ; Crude extracts ; Flora of Côte d'Ivoire.Sciences & Nature Vol. 4 (2) 2007: pp. 117-12

Anthelmintic activity of medicinal plants used in Côte d'Ivoire for treating parasitic diseases

Natural products play an important role in the discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals. In the present study, we assessed the anthelmintic properties of medicinal plants used in Cote d'Ivoire. Ethanolic extracts from 50 medicinal plants were tested in vitro against trematodes (Echinostoma caproni, Schistosoma mansoni) and nematodes (Ancylostoma ceylanicum, Heligmosomoides bakeri, Trichuris muris). Active extracts were evaluated for their cytotoxicity and followed up in vivo in mice harbouring adult S. mansoni, E. caproni and T. muris at single oral doses of 400 or 800 mg/kg. All extracts tested were active against at least one helminths species. Ten of the 65 extracts tested (15.4%) in vitro revealed activity against all helminths tested. Of 65 extracts tested in vitro at a concentration of 2 mg/ml, all caused death of schistosomula and 34.4% and 39.1% were lethal against adult S. mansoni and E. caproni 72 h post-incubation, respectively. The highest activity against A. ceylanicum in vitro was observed with Sclerocarya birrea at 2 mg/ml, which resulted in death of adult worms and inhibition of activity of third-stage larvae (L3). Of the extracts, 41.5% completely inhibited movement of H. bakeri L3 at minimal lethal concentration (MLC) values of 20-200 mug/ml 48 h post-incubation, and 15.4% paralysed adult H. bakeri at 200 mug/ml 72 h after incubation. Of the extracts, 19% resulted in death of adult T. muris at MLC values of 10-100 mug/ml. In vivo, none of the extracts tested revealed activity against E. caproni. Olax subscorpioidea achieved total and female worm burden reductions of 60% and 84%, respectively in S. mansoni-infected mice. Combretum mucronatum was the most active extracts in vivo against T. muris with a worm burden reduction of 85.3%. In conclusion, several of the medicinal plants used in Cote d'Ivoire are active against different helminths, hence might play a role in the treatment of helminthiases. Further studies are necessary to isol the active components from these extract