Ethnobotanic study of medicinal Asteraceae sold on the markets of the autonomous district of Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) ABSTRACTThe use of plants in our immediate environment in primary health care in Africa and especially in the poor populations is a very common practice. An ethnobotanical survey, carried out on 110 herbalists of the A. B. YAPI et al. / Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 9(6): 2633-2647, 2015 2634 markets of the autonomous district of Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire), has enabled to identify 27 plant species belonging to the family of Asteraceae. These species are grouped into 20 genera and 7 tribes. The genus Vernonia (22.22%) is the most represented. The morphological and biological analyses show a predominance of herbs (85.19%) and therophytes (44.45%). These Asteraceae are used in the formulation of 57 recipes to fight against 70 diseases. The leaves (43.18%) are the most valuable organs. Kneading (38.60%) and the decoction (33.34%) are drug preparation techniques most used. The decocted, the juice and the paste are the pharmaceutical forms commonly prescribed and frequently administered as drink (35.94%). The most frequently cited diseases are malaria, infantile diseases and pregnancy. The most requested of the Asteraceae are Acanthospermum hispidum, Ageratum conyzoides, Vernonia amygdalina. It is observed from the various phytochemical studies that the curative effect of the medicinal plants is the fact of primary and especially secondary metabolites.

Objective: The aim of this study is to contribute to a better knowledge of medicinal antidiabetic herbs used in the Zouénoula Department. Methodology and results: Ethnobotanical surveys were carried out using questionnaires from the Department's healers. The results obtained made it possible to inventory seventeen species of medicinal plants belonging to fourteen botanical families and divided into sixteen genera. Among these species, Ageratum conyzoides (Goatweed), Anthocleista djalonensis (Cabbage tree) and Bidens pilosa (Black jack) are the most recommended. The leaves are the most used organs. The decoction is the mode of preparation most requested and the administration is done mainly by oral way. Conclusion and application of results:This work constitutes a source of information which can serve as a basis for pharmacological studies in order to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of these three plants with traditional antidiabetic effect.

Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae), Anthocleista djalonensis A. Chev. (Gentianaceae) and Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae) are three plants used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes. The objective of this present study was to investigate the hypoglycemic potential of the aqueous extracts of these three plants, in order to justify their use by traditional healers. Each extract and both control substances were administered at a single dose to animals by gavage using a catheter for each concentration (70, 90 and 110 mg / ml), at the recommended dose (2 ml / 100g of b.w). The search for the hypoglycemic effect of the aqueous extract of each plant in normal glycemic rats given orally showed a decrease in blood glucose. The aqueous extract of Bidens pilosa induces a significant dose-dependent hypoglycaemia. The phytochemical study has revealed the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins (catechins and gallic), saponosides and alkaloids, compounds with multiple medical properties, including glycemic regulation in diabetics. The study revealed that the aqueous extracts of the three plants have a hypoglycemic potential with the aqueous extract of Bidens pilosa showing better activity, the results of our investigation justify their use in traditional medicine in the treatment of diabetes.

Candida albicans et toxicité sur les cellules HFF de Harrisonia abyssinica Oliv. (Simaroubaceae), une plante de la pharmacopée ivoirienne. 8815 Étude ethnobotanique, activité antifongique in vitro sur Candida albicans et toxicité sur les cellules HFF de Harrisonia abyssinica Oliv. (Simaroubaceae), une plante de la pharmacopée ivoirienne. BENE Kouadio (1)* , CAMARA Djeneb (1) , FOFIE N'Guessan Bra Yvette (2) et ZIRIHI Guédé Noël (1)

To make a contribution to the fight against opportunistic mycoses in sharp increase in AIDS patients, we conducted an ethnobotanical investigation in the Department of Transua (Côte d’Ivoire). This investigation has shown that the plant Bersama abyssinca is the most used in the treatment of skin infection. Our team tested different extracts of leaves of B. abyssinica (aqueous extract total (ETA), 70% ethanol extract (EE70%) and aqueous extract residual (ERA)) on the in vitro growth of Candida albicans, to determine some inhibitions parameters. These three extracts were active in C. albicans, with respective IC50: 160 μg/ml for ETA, 100 μg/ml for EE70% and 55 μg/ml for ERA. We found that B. abyssinica is not toxic for human cells HFF, on the contrary, it increases the proliferation of dividing cells thereby improving defense mechanisms.

Kigelia africana dried bark has been recommended in the management of sickle cell anemia by traditional practitioners. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro antioxidant and sickling inhibitory activities of Kigelia africana. Quantitative estimation of phenolic compounds was performed using colorimetric method in hydro-ethanolic extract (70%) and decocted. The sickling inhibitory activity was determinate according to Emmel method and the evaluation of antioxidant properties was carried out using the method of scavenging the free radical DPPH. The obtained results indicated that Kigelia africana species contains flavonoids (8.61±1.08 mg QE and 9.78±1.14 mg QE/g of dry weight) and total phenols (9.48±0.19b mg GAE/g and 11.11±0.22 mg GAE /g of dry weight) in decocted and hydroethanolic extract respectively. The IC 50 values of the ethanolic extract and the decocted were 0.320±0.01 and 0.468±0.04 mg/mL respectively. The in vitro sickle-formation inhibition test indicated the value of 89% and 82.36% for the ethanolic extract and the decocted at 10mg/mL respectively. Those values were higher than 80% which was the phenylalanine value. Both extracts showed antioxidant and sickling inhibitory activities. Overall, there could have a correlation between these activities and phenolic compound content in this studied plant extracts. These results would justify the use of this plant in rural environment.

In West Africa, there is an extensive demand of plants traditionally used against liver diseases. This review gathered information on the plants used for the traditional management of liver diseases in West Africa. A literature review was used to gather information on medicinal plants such as the scientific names, the parts used, the forms prepared and the main liver diseases treated. Citation frequency and convergence score were calculated for each species. The findings presented 24 articles published in West Africa with a total of 401 species distributed in 283 genera belonging to 103 families. The Fabaceae family was the most represented with 73 species. The most cited species were Carica papaya L. (Caricaceae), Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swing. (Rutaceae), Cochlospermum tinctorium Perr. ex A. Rich (Cochlosmarmaceae), Entada africana Guill. And Perr. (Fabaceae), Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R.Br. ex G.Don (Fabaceae) and Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn. (Euphorbiaceae). These plant species presented the highest citation frequencies and convergence scores. The leaves were mostly used in the form of decoction. The main diseases recorded were related to jaundice. Safety, quality and efficacy data on some of these plants justify their traditional uses and will contribute to the development of new phytomedicines against liver diseases.