Volume 11, No. 2, 2022

Abstract

Ipomea asarifolia, Commelina diffusa, Acalypha ciliata and Eleusine indica are medicinal plants with anthelmintic effects traditionally used in pig breeding in the Republic of Benin. However, data on their chemical composition and toxicity are not sufficient. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phytochemistry and larval toxicity of I. asarifolia, C. diffusa, A. ciliata and E. indica, used in Benin. Aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts of the plants were obtained by maceration of the powders in solvents for 48h. Phytochemical screening of the different secondary metabolites present in the plants was performed on the basis of staining and/or precipitation reactions on the powders. Larval toxicity was performed on Artemia salina larvae obtained after the hatching of the crustacean eggs. The determination of the number of dead larvae according to the concentrations used allowed to establish the lethal concentrations 50. From the results obtained, it was found that the different plants contained several secondary metabolites including flavonoids, mucilages, reducing compounds, anthocyanins, anthraquinones, leucoanthocyanins, catechic tannins and gall tannins. Alkaloids were not identified in any of the plants. Toxicologically, all the Lethal Concentrations 50 are higher than 0.1mg/mL, reflecting no toxic character of the extracts at the tested doses. In sum, the plants studied are of interest in traditional medicine because of their interesting chemical composition and the absence of cytotoxic effect. These results justify their use in traditional medicine.