This study presents antimicrobial properties of Uvaria chamae roots, commonly used for the treatment of various infections in south Benin. Their constituents were extracted and then fractionated in order to isolate the active ingredients. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed against several multidrug-resistant bacteria using the Mueller Hilton well agar diffusion method. Results showed that ethanol extracts were highly active against Gram-positive cocci. This activity was more extensive than that measured from conventional broad-spectrum antibiotics. Indeed, vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains were all sensitive to this root extract. The aim of this study was to link the antimicrobial activity of the root to chemical structures. The ion mobility mass spectrometry analysis revealed for the first time the presence of ten chalcone and dihydrochalcone structures responsible for the antimicrobial activity of Uvaria chamae ethanol extracts. Two structures were described here for the first time in these roots. These findings confirm and justify the medical properties of these roots used as a traditional medicine.

Aim::This study aimed to report medicinal plants that are likely to be used in the control of salmonellosis.Materials and Methods::A cross-sectional study was conducted in Southern Benin. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 150 farmers and 100 traditional therapists in seven high municipalities. This step helped to collect plants that are used in the treatment of animal salmonellosis and typhoid fever in human.Results::The results revealed a low level of use of medicinal plants among breeders who prefer antibiotics such as oxytetracycline (53.55%), tylosine + sulfadimerazine (15.30%), and alphaceryl (19.13%). However, plants such as Moringa oleifera (leaves), Carica papaya (leaves and seeds), and Vernonia amygdalina (leaves) were mostly used by some farmers. From traditional therapists, 57 plant species of 32 families were identified as typhoid fever cures; among which Leguminosae, Asteraceae, and Euphorbiaceae were predominant. Persea americana (22.72%), V. amygdalina (7.57%), and Corchorus olitorius (7.57%) were the most cited by traditherapists for the treatment of typhoid fever in human.Conclusion::This study provides a database for further studies on the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of Benin plant species on Salmonella spp. These evaluations will guarantee the availability of new therapeutic solutions for populations.

Healthcare-associated infections represent an emerging public health issue with serious impact among hospitalized patients, including cesarized women and children with catheter. The present study determined the implications of hygiene practices and the hospital environment in wound reinfection among cesarized women and the occurrence of catheter-induced infections in children. Bacteriological analyses were performed on 100 wound swabs from cesarized women, 40 swabs from the wound dressing room, and 83 catheter tips used in children. Isolated bacteria were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. A comparison of the resistance profile between strains isolated from wounds and those isolated from the dressing room was conducted, whereas the hygiene practices observed from the personnel during catheter removal were recorded in the case of children. The results show that 85% of wound swabs, 63% of swabs from the dressing room, and 33.7% of catheter tips were positive for bacteriological analysis. The most isolated strains in wound and environmental swabs were Staphylococcus aureus (56%) and coagulasenegative Staphylococcus (44%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (30%) and Enterobacter cloacae (32%) for wounds and Escherichia coli (43%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (28%) for the environment. The catheter tips contained mostly Klebsiella pneumoniae (32%), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (25%), and Enterobacter cloacae (14%). All strains showed resistance to penicillin and cephalosporin. The comparison of the resistance profiles suggests an implication of the environmental strains in the reinfection of wounds in cesarized women. However, a significant correlation was recorded between poor hygiene practices and the contamination of the catheter tips. These findings allowed the authorities of this hospital to reinforce the knowledge and improve the hygiene management, in order to still hold the good label of the structure.

Background Candidiasis, an opportunistic cosmopolitan disease is nowadays like bacterial infections which is a real public health problem. In view of the emergence of Candida strains resistant to existing antifungal agents, alternative solutions should be considered. This is the purpose of this ethnobotanical survey, which aims to identify the medicinal plant species traditionally used to treat candidiasis in traditional markets of southern Benin. Methods The study was performed from October 2015 to January 2018 in the traditional markets of Southern-Benin. Data were collected by two complementary methods: triplet purchase of medicinal recipes (ATRM) from herbalists markets and semi-structured interview (ISS) from traditional healers. Results A total of 109 species of medicinal plants belonging to 44 families have been listed and identified. The most frequently cited species were Pteleopsis suberosa Engl. & Diels, Lantana camara L., Cyanthillium cinereum (L.) H. Rob, Ocimum gratissimum L. and Lippia multiflora Moldenke with respectively 43.84, 39.73 and 34.25% citation frequencies for the last three species respectively. Leguminosae (20.18%), Euphorbiaceae (5.50%) and Apocynaceae (5.50%) were the most represented botanical families. Leafy stems were more used than other plant organs. The decoction and the oral route were the most appropriate methods of preparation and administration reported by traditional healers. Conclusion Benin’s plant cover is made up of a wide variety of medicinal plant species used in the traditionnal treatment of candidiasis and which may constitute new sources of medicines to be developed.

The rise in antimicrobial resistance increases researchers' interest in medicinal plants used for traditional treatment of infectious diseases. The study is based on ten (10) medicinal plants mostly cited in the treatment of diarrhea in West Africa: Khaya senegalensis, Anacardium ouest L., Cassia sieberiana DC., Pterocarpus erinaceus, Diospyros mespiliformis, Ocimum gratissimum, Manihot esculenta, Vernonia amygdalina Delile, Pseudocedrela kotschyi, Daniellia oliveri. The objective is to make a review on ethnopharmacological, pharmacological, toxicological and chemical data that enhance these medicinal plants in the fight against diarrheal infections. Specific keywords were used for bibliographic research in Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and other databases. Generalities relating to diarrheal infections and scientific data on the ten selected plants in the fight against diarrheal infections were sought. From the results, it emerges that each of the ten plants has been listed as useful in the traditional treatment of diarrheal infections.

The use of medicinal plants in traditional medicine is a common practice in developing countries. However, this unregulated or poorly rational use may present a dose-dependent risk of toxicity to humans. This study aimed to explore the phytochemical and toxicological characteristics of ten (10) plant species used in the traditional treatment of infectious diarrhea in Benin. The acute toxicity of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of Khaya senegalensis, Daniellia oliveri, Rauvolfia vomitoria, Vernonia amygdalina, Manihot esculenta, Ocimum gratissimum, Senna italica, Diospyros mespiliformis, Pterocarpus erinaceus, and Anacardium occidentale was evaluated following the OECD 423 protocol at a single dose of 2000 mg/kg. This safety test was complemented by a larval cytotoxicity test. Hematological and biochemical examinations, as well as a histological study of the liver and kidneys, were performed. Larval cytotoxicity was assessed by the sensitivity of Artemia salina larvae to different concentrations of the plant extracts studied. Testing for chemical compounds was performed on the basis of differential staining and precipitation reactions. The mean lethal concentration (LC50) was determined by the probit method. The qualitative phytochemical screening of the plants studied revealed the presence of catechic tannins, gallic tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins and sterol-terpenes, alkaloids, saponosides, and reducing compounds. This composition varied according to the plants studied. Acute toxicity data indicated that there was no mortality and no structural and functional alterations of the liver and kidneys of treated animals. Larval cytotoxicity data suggest that the plants studied are not cytotoxic (LC50 ≥ 0.1 mg/mL). These observations reflect the safety of these plants and justify their use in traditional medicine in the treatment of many diseases including diarrheal diseases.

The production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) by Enterobacteriaceae is a global public health problem. The present study was carried out on 156 strains of enteric bacteria isolated from urinary and cervicovaginal fluid samples. Identification of the strains was performed using MALDI-TOF MS and antibiotic susceptibility tests by disk diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar in accordance with the recommendations of the Antibiogram Committee of the French Society for Microbiology. ESBL genes were sought by real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and by gel-based PCR. Gel-based PCR products were used for sequencing of the resistance genes, which were analyzed in the NCBI and Arg Annot databases. Results showed a predominance of Escherichia coli both in the urinary and cervicovaginal fluid samples. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the second most isolated bacterium in the specimens. Sensitivity to antibiotics revealed high levels of cephalosporin resistance but low resistance to carbapenem. No resistance was noted to colistine. The bla-TEM gene was present in Escherichia coli, while bla-SHV was found in Klebsiella pneumoniae and bla-CTX-M was recovered in both strains. Analysis of the sequences revealed that bla-Tem1 was predominant in bla-TEM and bla-CTX-M-15 was most represented by bla-CTX-M. This study confirms the presence of ESBL-producing Enterobacteria in Benin. This was an epidemiological study aimed at detecting cephalosporin resistance in gram-negative Bacillus isolated from urinary tract and genital infections developed by women. Since the advent of molecular biology techniques for the identification of resistance in bacteria including determination of ESBL resistance genes (i.e., TEM, SHV, CTX-M), no study has been conducted to identify the different variants that circulate in Benin by sequencing these resistance genes. This sequencing is essential in order to differentiate the non-ESBL parental enzymes, which is not possible with the commonly used PCR techniques that do not permit differentiation of the point generating different variants of the ESBL genes. The present study then helped to identify those variants, in particular Tem1, SHV1, and CTX-M15, which are most encountered in Benin and around the world.

Background: Infectious diseases are serious public health issue both in developing countries and industrialized nations. In developing countries, they are the main cause of high mortality rates. In the second group, existing resistance strains to antibiotics is developing and growing at an alarming rate. The purpose of this study was to produce data of national interest to implement sustainable control program against the spread of antimicrobial resistance strains in Benin. Methods: One hundred and ninety (190) urine samples were collected in selected hospitals in Benin from patients with urinary tract infection. After getting the informed consent from the patients, samples collections were performed under aseptic conditions and cultured for further analysis in the laboratory. The resistance profile of the bacterial strains was established. The search for beta-lactamase production by the isolates was performed using the synergy test for amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and cephalosporins. Mathematical modeling for predicting the development of resistance of the strains by the year 2024 was carried out employing the compartmental deterministic models. Results: Two hundred and thirty (230) strains were identified from the urine samples. Male individuals were the most affected by urinary tract infections. Individuals between the ages of 21-30 were predominantly infected. E. coli was the most isolated species (32.43%) in the urine samples, followed by K. pneumoniae (26.85%) and E. cloacae (25.92%). The susceptibility testing of isolates showed a high resistance to amoxicillin (91.82%). Whereas the lowest resistance was to imipenem (2%). The beta-lactamase was produced by 24.03% of the strains. Escherichia coli (32.43%) was the most productive of broad spectrum beta-lactamase, followed by K. pneumoniae (31.03%). The mathematical modeling revealed a rampant rise in resistance development of the strains to the tested antibiotics. Conclusions: These results provide important data for developing new preventive strategies against the evolution of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. It therefore, further deserves a constructive advocacy so that more actions are taken against the rampant spread of antimicrobial resistance strains in our health facilities as well as in the communities.