Ethnobotany of Aromatic Plants used by Phytotherapists in the District of Glazoue, Ouesse and Save in Benin

Aromatic and medicinal plants (AMP) are flora with a fragrant essence. The aim of this study is to identify the aromatic plants used by herbalists in three districts of the Departement des Collines. The method of data collection is based on ethnobotanical surveys of herbalists using the Dagnelli formula and pre-established survey questionnaires. The results of the survey of 300 herbalists identified 22 most commonly used aromatic plants, divided into 17 families and 21 genera. The most represented families are Lamiaceae (15%); Annonaceae (15%). Among the MAPs inventoried, the most cited and used are: Ocimum canum L. Ocimum gratissimum L.; Chenopodium ambrosioides L.; Hyptis suaveolens L.; Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich; Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen. MAPs treat 163 conditions identified in this study. Some of the AMP are used alone or in combination with other plants. AMP drugs are: leaves (64%), roots (23%). The ailments treated by the majority of AMP are: fever; tooth decay; conjunctivitis; constipation; haemorrhoids; hernia; inflammation; skin lesion; stomach ache; snakebite; causes of malaria; sores and painful periods. In view of the proven importance and different uses of AMP, it is necessary to study them further (ecology, distribution, and conservation status) in order to better prevent or cure human health.

In vitro anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity of Securidaca longepedunculata and Annona senegalensis hydro-alcoholic extract

Annona senegalensis and Securidaca longepedunculata are two plants traditionnaly used in inflammation and wounds infection treatment after snakebites. This study aims to investigate the in vitro anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of the hydroalcoholic extracts of Annona senegalensis and Securidaca longepedunculata. Antimicrobial activity of the two plant extracts was examined against five bacterial strains with the well diffusion method and the inhibition zones diameters (IZD), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined using the 96-well microplate dilution method. While antiinflammatory activity was assessed by the albumin denaturation method. The results obtained showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of Annona senegalensis has antimicrobial property against Staphylococcus aureus (IZD=12.22 ± 0.24 mm, MIC=62.5 mg/mL, MBC=125 mg/mL) and against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IZD=12.06 ± 0.06 mm, MIC=125 mg/mL, MBC=250 mg/mL). Securidaca longepedunculata also showed its antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (IZD=12.03 ± 0.03 mm, MIC=125 mg/mL, MBC=250 mg/mL) and Candida albicans (IZD=12.12 ± 0.07 mm, MIC=62.5 mg/mL, MFC=125 mg/mL). In the order hand, Annona senegalensis and Securidaca longepedunculata exhibited concentration-dependent anti-inflammatory activity by reducing significantly (p<0.001) the denaturation of BSA. In addition S. longepedunculata inhibited haemolysis significantly (p<0.001) more than Diclofenac sodium at 200 and 400 µg/mL. Hence, it was concluded that Annona senegalensis and Securidaca longepedunculata possessed anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties and can be used in the treatment of inflammation and wounds infection after snakebites. Keywords: Annona senegalensis, Securidaca longepedunculata, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, BSA.

Phytochemical Analysis and Acute Toxicity Studies on the Methanol Extract of Securidaca longepedunculata (Fresen) Root Bark in Mice

The methanol extract of Securidaca longepedunculata root bark was screened phytochemically and its intraperitoneal acute toxicity evaluated in mice. The phytochemical screening was carried out based on standard methods. The Median Lethal Dose (LD50 ) was determined using Lorke’s method while the Maximum Tolerated Dose (LD0 ) was determined by the method described by Mosser and Padilla. The root bark extract revealed the presence of carbohydrates, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins and flavonoids. The extract produced intraperitoneal LD0 and LD50 values of 6.92 mg/kg and 6.0 mg/kg, respectively. Based on the research findings, the methanol extract of S. longepedunculata root bark was found to contain important phytochemicals which may be attributed to its enormous use in traditional medicine, but it was a highly toxic extract in mice with intraperitoneal LD50 and LD0 values of 6.92 mg/kg and 6.0 mg/kg, respectively.

Activities of Some Medicinal Plants on the Proliferation and Invasion of Brain Tumor Cell Lines

Cancer is a debilitating disease that is on the increase in both developed and developing countries. Anticancer drugs are often expensive, have narrow spectrum of activities, and are associated with toxicities and side effects such as myelosuppression, immunosuppression, gastrointestinal disturbance, alopecia, skin toxicity, and hepatotoxicity. Plants have been the major source of anticancer drugs both in orthodox and traditional medicine. Many of the plants claimed by the traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) to be effective in the treatment of cancer are yet to be evaluated scientifically. In this work, five medicinal plants used by TMPs in Borno State, Nigeria, were tested against two brain tumor cell lines. Ethanol extracts of Securidaca longepedunculata, Andira inermis subsp. rooseveltii, Annona senegalensis, Carissa edulis, and Parinari polyandra were used. U87 and U231 brain tumor cell lines were used for proliferation assay, U251 cell line was used for the invasion assay in collagen V coated inserts, and U87 cell line was used for the western blot detection of cleaved Poly-ADP-Ribose-Polymerase (PARP). The result revealed that all tested extracts significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the proliferation of U87 and U231 cell lines with the respective IC50 values ranging between 8 and 20 μg/ml for S. longepedunculata and 100 and 90 μg/ml for P. polyandra. The five extracts significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the invasion of U251 cell line at the concentration of 10 μg/ml (S. longepedunculata), 20 μg/ml (A. inermis), 50 μg/ml (A. senegalensis), 50 μg/ml (C. edulis), and 50 μg/ml (P. polyandra). Securidaca longepedunculata extract induced the cleavage of PARP. It was concluded that these medicinal plants have antiproliferative and anti-invasive activities and possess good prospects as source of anticancer agents especially S. longepedunculata which induced apoptosis in U87 cell line.

Antifungal Activity of Securidaca longepedunculata and Acacia gourmaensis Hydro-ethanolic Extracts against Three Rice Seed-borne Fungi

Aims: This study was undertaken to investigate the antifungal activities of Securidaca longepedunculata and Acacia gourmaensis bark hydro-ethanolic extract against Fusarium solani, Fusarium moniliforme and Curvularia lunata and to evaluate the percentages of germination and infection of infected rice seeds. Methods: Different extract concentrations ranging from 0.25, 0.5 and 1% were tested during 15 days using poisoned food technique method for in vitro antifungal activity against above three fungal strains. The same concentrations of extract were used to evaluate in vivo antifungal activity on rice seeds infected by these three fungal strains. Results: The extract of Securidaca longepedunculata had antifungal effect on Fusarium solani and Fusarium moniliforme and completely inhibited its mycelial growth at all tested concentrations (0.25, 0.5 and 1%). Curvularia lunata mycelial growth was inhibited of 84.7% by 1% Securidaca longepedunculata extract after five days of culture. However, mycelial growth of F. solani, F. moniliforme and C. lunata were increased with increasing concentration of Acacia gourmaensis extract. It has been observed that when Securidaca longepedunculata hydro-ethanolic extract concentration increased up to 1%, seeds germination percentage decreased for all infection. In contrast, the opposite was observed for Acacia gourmaensis extract. Likewise, seeds infection decreased with the highest concentration (1%) of Securidaca longepedunculata for all infection, whereas the opposite was observed with Acacia gourmaensis extract. Conclusion: This study showed that S. longepedunculata hydro-ethanolic extract has more antifungal activity against seed-borne fungi (F. solani, F. moniliforme and C. lunata) than A. gourmaensis in vitro and in vivo. Results show that Securidaca longepedunculata hydro-ethanolic bark extract can be used as a potential antifungal agent in the management of some rice fungal diseases. Acacia gourmaensis extract, at low concentration, could be used in rice seed treatment to increase seed germination.

Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Balanites aegyptiaca, Securidaca longepedunculata and Acacia gourmaensis Used against Seed-borne Fungi in Burkina Faso

Aims: Hydro-ethanolic extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca, Securidaca longepedunculata and Acacia gourmaensis from Burkina Faso were investigated for their phytochemical composition and their antioxidant activities. Methods: High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was used for phytochemical screening. The total phenolic, total flavonoid and anthocyanin contents of extracts were assessed. The antioxidant potentials of the extracts were also evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-l­picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Results: Phenolic compounds, flavonoids and anthocyanins were present in all these plant extracts. Tannins were only found in Acacia gourmaensis extract. Acacia gourmaensis extract exhibited the highest total phenolics ( mg GAE/g), total flavonoids ( mg QE/100 g), total anthocyanins () contents and had the highest antioxidant activity by DPPH ( and FRAP methods). Balanites aegyptiaca and Securidaca longepedunculata showed the lowest phenolic compounds ( mg GAE/g and 76.69±1.84 mg GAE/g respectively); total flavonoids ( mg QE/100 g and mg QE/100 g respectively), anthocyanins (24.49±1.43 µg/g and 24.57±0.52 µg/g respectively) contents and had the lowest antioxidant activity for DPPH method ( and µg AAE/g respectively) and FRAP method ( and µg AAE/g respectively). Conclusion: Balanites aegyptiaca, Securidaca longepedunculata and Acacia gourmaensis represent natural sources of phenolic antioxidant compounds that can be used as a bio-fungicide.

Synthesis of Eco-Friendly Silver Nanoparticles from Securidaca Longepedunculata and Artocarpus Heterophyllus Powders and Evaluation of their Antibacterial Properties

Aqueous extracts of Securidacalongepedunculata and Artocarpusheterophyllus were screened for photochemicals and both were found to contain saponins, tannins, flavonoid, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones and alkaloids. Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles was carried out from these extracts. The formation and stability of the reduced nanoparticles in the colloidal solutions were monitored using UV-visible spectroscopy. The Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), indicated the presence of bio-molecules responsible for reduction and stabilization of the nanoparticles. The morphology of the nanoparticles formed from Securidacalongepedunculata was flake like and that from Artocarpusheterophyllus was plate-like as shown by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The nanoparticles from both plants showed potent anti-bacterial activities towards Staphylococcus aureus, a gram positive bacterium.