BackgroundPlasmodium falciparum malaria is still one of the most deadly pathology worldwide. Efficient treatment is jeopardized by parasite resistance to artemisinin and its derivatives, and by poor access to treatment in endemic regions. Anti-malarial traditional remedies still offer new tracks for identifying promising antiplasmodial molecules, and a way to ensure that all people have access to care. The present study aims to validate the traditional use of Terminalia macroptera, a Malian plant used in traditional medicine.MethodsTerminalia macroptera was collected in Mali. Leaves (TML) and roots ethanolic extracts (TMR) were prepared and tested at 2000 mg/kg for in vivo acute toxicity in Albino Swiss mice. Antiplasmodial activity of the extracts was assessed against a chloroquine resistant strain P. falciparum (FcB1) in vitro. In vivo, anti-malarial efficacy was assessed by a 4-day suppressive test at 100 mg/kg in two malaria murine models of uncomplicated malaria (Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi infection) and cerebral malaria (Plasmodium berghei strain ANKA infection). Constituents of TMR were characterized by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry. Top ranked compounds were putatively identified using plant databases and in silico fragmentation pattern.ResultsLethal dose of TML and TMR were greater than 2000 mg/kg in Albino Swiss mice. According to the OECD’s Globally Harmonized System of Classification, both extracts are non-toxic orally. Antiplasmodial activity of T. macroptera extracts was confirmed in vitro against P. falciparum FcB1 strain with IC50 values of 1.2 and 1.6 µg/mL for TML and TMR, respectively. In vivo, oral administration of TML and TMR induced significant reduction of parasitaemia (37.2 and 46.4% respectively) in P. chabaudi chabaudi infected mice at the 7th day of infection compared to untreated mice. In the cerebral malaria experimental model, mice treated with TMR and TML presented respectively 50 and 66.7% survival rates at day 9 post-infection when all untreated mice died. Eleven major compounds were found in TMR. Among them, several molecules already known could be responsible for the antiplasmodial activity of the roots extract of T. macroptera.ConclusionsThis study confirms both safety and anti-malarial activity of T. macroptera, thus validating its traditional use.

Today, ethno-pharmacology is a very important resource in order to discover new therapies for the current diseases. Moreover, another good justification for the ethno-pharmacological approach is to obtain new, effective, less expensive and simple therapies, limiting at the same time the cost of pharmaceutical research. Two major anti-malarial drugs widely used today, i.e. quinine and artemisinin, came respectively from Peruvian and Chinese ancestral treatments reported in the traditional medicines. In this contest, there is an urgent need for the discovery of new drugs, due to the critical epidemiological situation of this disease and to the growth of resistances. In Mali, malaria and liver diseases remain one of the leading public health problems. Many medicinal plants are often used, in local traditional medicine, for the treatment at the same time of malaria and liver diseases, including hepatic syndromes, jaundice, hepatitis and other hepatic disorders. Moreover, in the local language Bamanan, the word “ Sumaya” is used both for malaria and some liver diseases. In addition, we noted that some of the improved traditional phytomedicines produced by the Department of Traditional Medicine are prescribed by modern doctors both for malaria and liver diseases. In this review, pharmacological, toxicological and phytochemical data on Argemone mexicana L. (Papaveraceae), Cochlospermum tinctorium Perr. ex A. Rich (Cochlospermaceae), Combretum micranthum G.Don (Combretaceae), Entada africana Guillet Perr. (Mimosaceae), Erythrina senegalensis A. DC (Fabaceae), Mitragyna inermis (Willd) Kuntze (Rubiaceae), Nauclea latifolia Smith syn. Sarcocephalus latifolius (Smith) Bruce (Rubiaceae), Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen (Polygalaceae), Trichilia emetica Vahl. (Meliaceae), and Vernonia colorata (Willd) Drake (Asteraceae) are reported. Some of the collected data could be used to improve the actual herbal drugs and to propose new phytomedicines for the management of malaria and liver diseases.

BackgroundThe development of Plasmodium resistance to the last effective anti-malarial drugs necessitates the urgent development of new anti-malarial therapeutic strategies. To this end, plants are an important source of new molecules. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-malarial effects of Terminalia albida, a plant used in Guinean traditional medicine, as well as its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may be useful in treating cases of severe malaria.MethodsIn vitro antiplasmodial activity was evaluated on a chloroquine-resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum (K-1). In vivo efficacy of the plant extract was measured in the experimental cerebral malaria model based on Plasmodium berghei (strain ANKA) infection. Mice brains were harvested on Day 7–8 post-infection, and T cells recruitment to the brain, expression levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory markers were measured by flow cytometry, RT-qPCR and ELISA. Non-malarial in vitro models of inflammation and oxidative response were used to confirm Terminalia albida effects. Constituents of Terminalia albida extract were characterized by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry. Top ranked compounds were putatively identified using plant databases and in silico fragmentation patterns.ResultsIn vitro antiplasmodial activity of Terminalia albida was confirmed with an IC50 of 1.5 μg/mL. In vivo, Terminalia albida treatment greatly increased survival rates in P. berghei-infected mice. Treated mice were all alive until Day 12, and the survival rate was 50% on Day 20. Terminalia albida treatment also significantly decreased parasitaemia by 100% on Day 4 and 89% on Day 7 post-infection. In vivo anti-malarial activity was related to anti-inflammatory properties, as Terminalia albida treatment decreased T lymphocyte recruitment and expression of pro-inflammatory markers in brains of treated mice. These properties were confirmed in vitro in the non-malarial model. In vitro, Terminalia albida also demonstrated a remarkable dose-dependent neutralization activity of reactive oxygen species. Twelve compounds were putatively identified in Terminalia albida stem bark. Among them, several molecules already identified may be responsible for the different biological activities observed, especially tannins and triterpenoids.ConclusionThe traditional use of Terminalia albida in the treatment of malaria was validated through the combination of in vitro and in vivo studies.

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Contexte : Selon les résultats d'une enquête menée dans différentes zones écologiques et culturelles au Sud du Mali, beaucoup de plantes médicinales sont utilisées dans la prise charge du paludisme chez les enfants, dont Annona senegalensis, Flueggea virosa, Gymnosporia senegalensis et Vitex doniana. Nous avons approfondi les études sur la composition phytochimique, la sécurité d'emplois et les activités contre les symptômes du paludisme. Objectifs : Caractériser les métabolites secondaires, déterminer la toxicité aiguë, vérifier l'activité hémolytique et évaluer les propriétés antalgiques, antipyrétiques et antiinflammatoires des quatre plantes. Méthodologie : La composition phytochimique a été déterminée par des réactions colorées en tube. L'activité hémolytique a été évaluée par CCM, révélée par le sang humain. La toxicité aigüe et les activités biologiques ont AbstractIntroduction: According to the results of a survey conducted in different ecological and cultural areas in southern Mali, many medicinal plants are used by traditional paediatricians in taking charge of malaria in children. The survey highlighted the use of four plants, which we decided to carry out further study on phytochemical composition, safety of use and activity against symptoms of malaria. Objectives: To characterize secondary metabolites, to determine acute toxicity, to check haemolytic activity, and to evaluate the analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties of Annona senegalensis, Flueggea virosa, Gymnosporia senegalensis, and Vitex doniana. Methods: The phytochemical composition of the aqueous extracts of the leafy twigs of the four plants was determined by coloured tube reactions. Haemolytic activity was assessed by TLC and revealed by human blood. Acute toxicity and biological activities were determined in vivo in mice and 213 rats. Results: Coumarins, sterols, tri-terpenes, tannins and flavonoids were characterized in the aqueous extracts of the leafy twigs of the four plants. These decocts did not show any constituents that cause haemolysis. Decoctions given orally at the dose of 2000 mg / kg in mice did not cause toxic effects and mortality. Decoctions administered orally at the dose of 100 and 200 mg / kg showed remarkable analgesic, anti-inflammatory (in mice), and antipyretic (in rat) activities. Conclusion: These preliminary results validate the traditional use of the four plants in the management of malaria symptoms in children.

RESUMEOpilia celtidifolia est une plante traditionnellement utilisée contre les plaies et l'ulcère gastro duodénal. Le but de ce travail était d'étudier l'activité antiulcéreuse des extraits aqueux de cette de la plante. Des extraits aqueux, total et épuisé, ont été préparés par décoction. Le décoté total a été testé à 100 et 200 mg/kg et le décocté épuisé à100 mg/kg. Le Sucralfate a été utilisé comme témoin positif à la dose de 1000 mg/kg et le groupe non traité a reçu de l'eau distillée à10 ml/kg. Les extraits ont été administrés par voie intragastrique, une heure après, 0,5 ml d'éthanol à 90% a été administré aux animaux pour provoquer l'ulcère pendant une heure. Après ce temps, les rats ont été sacrifiés. L'estomac de chaque rat a été ouvert pour observer et compter les ulcères. L'indice d'ulcère a été exprimé et le pourcentage de protection a été calculé. A 100mg/kg, le décocté épuisé a induit une protection de la muqueuse de 75%, contre 31% pour le décocté total. Le Sucralfate, utilisé comme témoin a présenté une protection de 87,50%. Ces résultats démontrent que les feuilles de Opilia celtidifolia peuvent intervenir dans le traitement de l'ulcère gastrique. La mise au point d'un phytomédicament contre l'ulcère gastrique à base des feuilles de cette plante est donc envisageable.

Dans le cadre de contribuer à la prise en charge symptomatique des affections respiratoires pouvant se manifester pendant la Covid-19, la présente étude a été entreprise pour recenser les plantes médicinales Africaines actives contre ces manifestations. Une étude bibliographique a été effectuée pour recenser les espèces végétales utilisées dans la prise en charge des maladies respiratoires en Afrique de l’Ouest. La fréquence de citation et un score de convergence d’usage des espèces ont été également calculés. Un total de 318 recettes issues de 145 espèces végétales a été inventorié à travers différentes publications. Guiera senegalensis, Sterculia setigera, Bridelia ferruginea, Euphorbia hirta et Terminalia avicennioides étaient les plantes les plus citées avec les meilleurs scores de convergence d’usage. Les feuilles de ces espèces étaient les plus citées tandis que la toux était la plus indiquée. Les résultats de cette étude pourraient servir de base de données des espèces végétales utilisées dans la prise en charge des maladies du tractus respiratoire en Afrique de l’ouest.Mots clés : Plantes médicinales, Affections respiratoires, Covid-19, Afrique de l’Ouest. English Title: Medicinal plants from West Africa for the management of respiratory diseases that may appear during the Covid-19 As part of contributing to the symptomatic management of respiratory conditions that may manifest during Covid-19, the current study was undertaken to identify African medicinal plants active against these manifestations. A bibliographic study was carried out to identify the plant species used in the management of respiratory diseases in West Africa. The frequency of citation and a convergence score for the use of the species were also calculated. A total of 318 recipes from 145 plant species were inventoried through various publications. Guiera senegalensis, Sterculia setigera, Bridelia ferruginea, Euphorbia hirta and Terminalia avicennioides were the most cited plants with the best usage convergence scores. Leaves from these species were most cited while the cough was more indicated. The results of this study could serve as a database of plant species used in the management of respiratory tract diseases in West Africa.Keywords: Medicinal plants, Respiratory Affections, Covid-19, West Africa.