Plants used against diarrhea in traditional medicine of Man, western Côte d’Ivoire: Inventory and phytochemical screening

Paper Details

Research Paper 10/09/2024
Views (592)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Plants used against diarrhea in traditional medicine of Man, western Côte d’Ivoire: Inventory and phytochemical screening

Ta Bi Irié Honoré, Aké-Assi Emma, N’guessan Koffi
J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 25(3), 129-136, September 2024.
Copyright Statement: Copyright 2024; The Author(s).
License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Abstract

Diarrhea is a public health problem in Côte d’Ivoire. To contribute to the fight against the disease, this study was undertaken in the city of Man from January 2 to May 31, 2024 with traditional practitioners in the city. It allowed us to interview 88 people practicing in this field of traditional medicine. The study inventoried 30 plants belonging to 17 botanical families with a dominance of Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae. The leaves, leafy stems, roots and whole plants are the parts of the plants used in anti-diarrheal treatments. These plant organs are prepared by decoction, maceration, kneading and trituration. The medicinal recipes are administered as decoction orally and as purge anally. The plant species cited during this study are: Amphicarpaea bracteata (FCe = 0.58) and Ocimum gratissimum (FCe = 0.49). A phytochemical screening was carried out on the aqueous extracts of these two plants to search the scientific basis of their anti-diarrheal properties. These tri-phytochemical tests indicated the presence of sterols, polyterpenes, polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids and saponins. These chemical groups could justify the use of these plants in traditional medicine. These two plant species should therefore be the subject of more in-depth pharmacological tests for the implementation of new molecules against diarrhea.

Aké CB, Ta BIH, Koné MW. 2019. Some minerals of nutritional and therapeutical importance from the leaves and stems of Piper guineense Schum. & Thonn. (Piperaceae) GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Science 8, 104–108.

Aké-Assi E, N’guessan K, Kouassi AF. 2015. Evaluation of the acute toxicity of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Thunbergia atacorensis, a new species. European Scientific Journal 11(27), 92-100.

Aké-Assi L. 2011. Compendium of African medicine and pharmacopoeia: some plants traditionally used in primary health care coverage. NEI-CEDA Edition, Abidjan (Côte-d’Ivoire), 157p.

Ambé ASA, Ouattara D, Tiebre MS, Vroh BTA, Zirihi GN, N’Guessan KE. 2015. Diversity of medicinal plants used in the traditional treatment of diarrhea in the markets of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire). Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences 26, 4081-4096.

Assogba AL, Ehui E, Maïga MF, N’Guetta NEE, Randremanana RV, Sehonou J, Seukap E. 2012. Initiation against diarrheal and enteric diseases in Africa: a contribution to the fight against cholera. Medicine of Black Africa. 7p.

Béné K, Fofie NBY, Camara D, Kanga Y, Yapi AB, Yapo YC, Zirihi GN. 2016. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in the Department of Transua, District of Zanzan (Côte d’Ivoire). Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences 27(2), 4230 – 4250.

Doh KS, Ta BIH, Yapo YCV, N’guessan K. 2023. Phytochemical screening and acute toxicity assessment of leaves from Piliostigma thonningii (Fabaceae), a plant used in traditional medicine against diabetes in Côte d’Ivoire. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 12, 19-23.

Fleurentin J. 2012. Ethnopharmacology in the service of therapeutics: sources and methods. Hegel 2, 13-18.

Guy L. 2009. Edible plants, harvesting and recipes of the 4 seasons. Edition Debaisieux, 174p.

Kouadio KB, Kablan ALC, Ahoua ARC, Konan DJ, Oussou KR, Attioua KB, Dongui BK. 2021. Phytochemical screening, determination of total polyphenols and flavonoids, and evaluation of the antibacterial activity of leaves of Turraea heterophylla Smith (Meliaceae). International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies 33(2), 405-413.

Lawaly MM, Idrissa M, Khalid I. 2016. Medicinal plants used in the treatment of diarrhea in Niger: ethnobotanical study. Algerian Journal of Natural Products 4(3), 475-482.

N’guessan K, Tra-Bi FH, Koné MW. 2009. Ethnopharmacological studies of antimalarial plants used in traditional medicine among the Abbey and Krobou of Agboville (Côte d’Ivoire). Ethnopharmacology 44, 42-50.

N’Guessan K. 2008. Medicinal plants and traditional medical practices among the Abbey and Krobou peoples of the Agboville Department (Côte d’Ivoire). State Doctorate Thesis in Natural Sciences, Specialty Ethnobotany, University of Cocody-Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), UFR Biosciences, Botany Laboratory, 235 p.

Randremanana R. 2012. Environmental impacts on childhood diarrhea in Madagascar: Campylobacter risk analysis. Doctoral Thesis from the University of Grenoble. 164 p.

Sidio SR, N’Guessan K. 2019. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used to combat gastroenterological disorders among populations in the Gagnoa Department, in the Center-West of Côte d’Ivoire. Journal of Applied Biosciences 15, 320 – 343.

Soro TY, Néné-bi AS, Zahoui OS, Yapi A, Traoré F. 2015. Anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous extract of Ximenia americana (Linnaeus) (Olacaceae). Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences 24, 3802-3813.

Ta BIH, Doh KS, Yéo S, Aké-Assi E, N’guessan K. 2023. Study of the acute toxicity of aqueous extracts of Alchornea cordifolia (Euphorbiaceae) and Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae), two plants frequently cited in traditional medicine in Ivory Coast. Ivorian Review of Sciences and Technologies 42, 349-362.

Ta BIH, N’Guessan K. 2021. Ethnopharmacological study of hypotensive plants found in the markets of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies 32, 522-530.

WHO. 2014. World Health Statistics, Geneva (Switzerland). 12p.

Related Articles

An investigation of phytochemical constitutents and pharmacological activities of Strobilanthes andamanensis leaf extract

Deepika, V. Ambikapathy, S. Babu, A. Panneerselvam, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(4), 86-94, October 2025.

Assessing public awareness and knowledge of drinking water safety in Carmen, Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines

Ronnie L. Besagas, Romeo M. Del Rosario, Angelo Mark P. Walag, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(4), 80-85, October 2025.

Baseline floristics and above-ground biomass in permanent sample plots across miombo woodlands in different land tenure systems in Hwedza, Zimbabwe

Edwin Nyamugadza, Sara Feresu, Billy Mukamuri, Casey Ryan, Clemence Zimudzi, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(4), 65-79, October 2025.

Adapting to shocks and stressors: Aqua-marine processors approach

Kathlyn A. Mata, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(4), 57-64, October 2025.

Design and development of a sustainable chocolate de-bubbling machine to reduce food waste and support biodiversity-friendly cacao processing

John Adrian B. Bangoy, Michelle P. Soriano, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(4), 41-47, October 2025.

Ecological restoration outcomes in Rwanda’s Rugezi wetland: Biodiversity indices and food web recovery

Concorde Kubwimana, Jean Claude Shimirwa, Pancras Ndokoye, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(4), 32-40, October 2025.

Noise pollution in the urban environment and its impact on human health: A review

Israa Radhi Khudhair, Bushra Hameed Rasheed, Rana Ihssan Hamad, J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 27(4), 28-31, October 2025.