ABSTRACT
Background: Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw.) Warb. (Myristicaceae) is a medicinal plant used in traditional Ivorian medicine. A recent ethnobotanical survey has discovered Pycnanthus angolensis in the traditional treatment of viral and parasitic diseases. Aim: The present study aims to highlight the distinctive ethnopharmacological characteristics of Pycnanthus angolensis. Methods: The aim was to identify some groups of chemical compounds by thin layer chromatography, to assay some minerals and finally to characterise the specific anatomical and micrographic features of the plant. Results: Terpenes and sterols, saponosides, flavonoids and tannins are the main phytocompounds revealed. Magnesium with 621.3 mg/100 g dry matter is the most abundant mineral. Anatomical sections and plant powder revealed starch grains, calcium oxalate crystals, secretory pockets and tector hairs that are responsible for the formation of various biological substances in the plant. Conclusion: These results add to the data on Pycnanthus angolensis, a taxon much used in traditional Ivorian medicine for the treatment of antiparasitic and antiviral diseases.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Erigeron floribundus is a reputed medicinal plant used in Cote d'Ivoire; West Africa for the treatment of skin disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of this plant against fungi from human origin. Method: Dichloromethane; methanol 80and aqueous extracts from the leaves with stem were tested for their antifungal activity against 7 strains of dermatophytes (Epidermophyton floccosum; Microsporum canis; M. gypseum; M. langeronii; Trichophyton mentagrophytes; T. rubrum; T. soudanense) and one strain of the filamentous fungus; Scopulariopsis brevicaulis. The assays were performed using the agar dilution method at serial concentrations ranging from 2 to 0.06 mg/ml. Result: Only the dichloromethane extract exhibited an activity against Microsporum canis and a broad spectrum of good antifungal activity against all the remaining fungi tested.Conclusion: To the best our knowledge; this is the first report of the antifungal activity of Erigeron floribundus against a wide range of dermatophytes; including Microsporum langeronii and Trichophyton soudanense; the most frequent dermatophytes in Cote d'Ivoire. E. floribundus might be potential sources for improved traditional medicines or new antidermatophyte agents for the treatment of dermatomycoses