Plant extracts have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, long before the development of synthetic pharmaceuticals. In recent years, interest in plant-based remedies has increased because they are often associated with fewer adverse effects. Traditionally, medicinal plants and herbs have played a central role in folk medicine for the treatment of numerous ailments. Among these plants, Anacardium occidentale is widely recognized in Africa, where its leaves, stem bark, fruits, and seeds are commonly used in the traditional management of conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, infections and inflammation. Several studies have reported presence of diverse secondary metabolites in Anacardium occidentale, which are believed to contribute to its various biological activities. Several biological activities of extracts obtained from different organs of Anacardium occidentale have been investigated, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anesthetic, antioxidant, insecticidal, antidiarrheal, and hypolipidemic effects. These studies have revealed promising and noteworthy pharmacological properties. In addition, symbiotic endophytic fungi associated with different parts of the plant may also produce bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic value. Therefore, Anacardium occidentale represents an important medicinal resource whose thorough scientific investigation could enhance valorization of traditional knowledge and support the development of innovative biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.

Binary blends of 5%, 10% and 20% biodiesel (Bd) derived from unconventional vegetable oil of Chrysophyllum albidum with pure diesel (Dp) were investigated in this study. The density of the binary blends was evaluated at pressures up to 40MPa and varying the temperature from 293.15K to 353.15K. Similarly, the kinematic viscosity of the samples was measured and presented in this work at atmospheric pressure in a temperature range from 293.15K to 373.15K. The density values were adjusted from the modified Tait-like equation with mean absolute deviations of about 0.005%. Density values were used to estimate the isothermal compressibility coefficient of the blends of biodiesel (Bd) with pure diesel (Dp). The density and kinematic viscosity of ethyl biodiesel are higher than those of the Bd/Dp blends and decrease with increasing temperature. The density and kinematic viscosity of the blends decrease with the proportion or amount of biodiesel in the Bd/Dp blends in the order B5 < B10 < B20. The isothermal compressibility of the samples increases with increasing temperature at constant pressure and decreases with increasing pressure along the isotherm. The absolute mean deviations between the measured densities and those calculated using the Tait-Like equation for our examined samples at around 0.005% confirm the accuracy of the modeling and the reliability of the calculated isothermal compressibility coefficient values.

Araucaria heterophylla (Ah) and Commiphora pedunculata (Cp) are plant exudate gums from the flora of Benin composed mainly of carbohydrate polymers and a considerable amount of essential oils. The aim of this work is to evaluate the functional properties of these polysaccharide extracts such as the ability to coacervation and cross-linking with gelatin, in order to formulate polymeric materials as microcapsules for essential oils produced exclusively from local resources without toxic products. Their physicochemical and chemical characterics were analysed. The polysaccharide extracts of Ah and Cp plants are water-soluble, amorphous, thermally stable polymers (Td ≈ 300°C) with a number-average molar mass of 21300 and 362600 g.mol-1. The composition of the monosaccharide was determined by HPLC after acid hydrolysis. Galactose, arabinose, rhamnose and glucuronic acid are present in both plants. Galactose is predominant in Ah, while arabinose dominates in Cp. Their aqueous solutions, with mass fractions between 0.5 and 1 %, are slightly acidic and surface-active. At 25°C, in a range of higher concentrations (10-60 %), their aqueous solutions are shear thinning. The presence of glucuronic acid gives the polysaccharides in aqueous solution sufficiently stable negative charges (ζ= -17.0±2.4 mV) to behave like an anionic polymer. These properties allow microencapsulation of the essential oils by complex coacervation between extracted polysaccharides and gelatin for an antioxidant and antibacterial activity. In addition, the polysaccharides were oxidized to be used as crosslinkers for gelatin and their non-cytotoxicity was demonstrated. This work closely follows the guidelines of green chemistry and contributes to a circular economy.

In Africa as a whole, and Benin in particular, the population is increasingly faced with a number of illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, colds, gastric problems, malaria and colic. Although modern medicine is welldeveloped, people are turning to traditional medicine to treat these conditions, because of their low purchasing power. The frequent use of these medicinal plants by traditional healers, and the satisfactory results achieved in some cases, led us to look more closely at Sarcocephalus latifolius, which is used in the symptomatic treatment of various conditions such as malaria, fever, diabetes, high blood pressure and abdominal pain, in order to compare its use by traditional healers with scientific evidence. Several authors have highlighted the multiple uses of this plant in popular medicinal practices or African pharmacopoeia. The present study was conducted to assess the impact of an aqueous extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius roots on liver and kidney function in Wistar rats. After aqueous extraction of Sarcocephalus latifolius roots, the extraction yield was calculated. Biochemical indices were used as toxicity indices. Rats were sampled at D0 and D14 for biochemical parameters. Transaminase (ALAT), urea, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubins and creatinine were measured. The results of the present study showed that the aqueous extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius roots gives a yield of 3.5%. The doses of 250, 1000 and 4000mg/kg CP of the aqueous extract of the roots of Sarcocephalus latifolius caused kidney and liver dysfunction.

The challenge of resistance to synthetic antimicrobials necessitates new alternative solutions. Medicinal plants are rich in active compounds with various medicinal properties that can be used in treatment of urinary infections. This work aims to highlight the value of Annona senegalensis and Detarium microcarpum by evaluating phytochemical and antimicrobial potentials of their leaf extracts. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were carried out using color and precipitation reactions and spectrophotometric assays. The antiradical activity was evaluated using the DPPH test, and the antimicrobial activity was assessed by the agar diffusion method. Phytochemical screening showed that both plants contain anthraquinones, catechic tannins, coumarins, flavonoids, reducing compounds, sterols and terpenes. Hydroethanolic extract of Detarium microcarpum and A. senegalensis showed IC50 inhibition percentages of 0.20 mg/mL and 0.22 mg/mL respectively. Regarding antimicrobial activity, the hydroethanolic leaf extracts of D. microcarpum and A. senegalensis were found to be bactericidal and fungicidal against the tested bacteria and molds. This extract showed more pronounced antimicrobial activity than amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin, which are synthetic antimicrobials. Diversity of secondary metabolites and notable antimicrobial activity of D. microcarpum and A. senegalensis may justify their use in traditional medicine for treating urinary infections in Benin.

In Africa, the calyxes of the Hibiscus sabdariffa are widely used to produce a fresh fruit juice, known in Benin as bissap. The stems from this production have no potential use and are therefore an environmental problem. The parietal composition of these stalks revealed a high level of lignin (31 f 1 %) and cellulose (35 f 1 %). They can therefore be converted into activated carbon for various applications. In this study, the stems were transformed into activated carbons at moderate temperature using orthophosphoric acid (H3PO4) as the activating agent. The physicochemical, structural, and textural properties were determined. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms were studied and modelled. Porous carbons give specific surface areas equal to 1066 and 1053 m2.g- 1 respectively for 2:1 and 4:1 ratios according to the B.E.T-Rouquerol model. Similarly, the said porous carbons give specific surface areas equal to 991 and 975 m2.g-1 respectively for 2:1 and 4:1 ratios according to the 2D-NLDFT model. Using the latter model, the pore size distribution is predominantly microporous, with the V mu /VT (%) ratio increasing to 56 %. Thermogravimetric analysis of the porous coals showed favourable fixed carbon levels (ti 60 %). The adsorption kinetics of methylene blue on activated carbons is governed by the pseudo-second order kinetic model indicating that the dye adsorption process is globally controlled by chemisorption. The results of the modelling of the methylene blue adsorption isotherms shown that the Langmuir model is the most credible model that best describes these experimental results, with 588 and 526 mg.g- 1. These activated carbons are good candidates for the development of bio-sourced filters for the treatment of industrial wastewater.

The fruits of Artocarpus altilis and Artocarpus camans are non-timber forest products with a great nutritional and medicinal potential but still underused in Benin. This study was initiated to take stock of the production and use of the two species. A survey was carried out among 300 people who owned trees of the species in South Benin. The study was conducted using a cluster sampling technique. At the end of the study, two varieties were distinguished; these are the round shape and the oval/oblong shape for A. camansi species whereas A altilis presented a round, oval/oblong shape with yellow pulp and round, oval/oblong shape with white pulp. The number of trees or plantation per house varies between 1 to 1000 for A. altilis and 1 to 8 for A camansi. The median number of fruits/tree peryear is 260 for A. altilis and 205 for A. camansi. Both fruits are available all year round and abundant in the rainy season. Among the people surveyed, 78.3% are owners of Artocarpus altilis trees, 15.0% of Artocarpus camansi and 6.7% of both species. The organs of the two trees are used in several fields, namely food, traditional medicine, energy and crafts. However, conservation problems are noted in the study area and the work on fruit valorization of the fruit of the two species can contribute to the food and nutritional security of local populations.

P. suberosa is a multipurpose medicinal plant in West and Central Africa. Fourteen phenolic compounds were identified in the P. suberosa leaves extract using HPLC-DAD and gallic acid (175.10 & PLUSMN;0.42 & mu;g/g) was the most abundant. The total phenolic content was 112.16 & PLUSMN; 0.33 mg GAE/g DW while the total flavonoid content was 36.10 & PLUSMN;0.58 mg QE/g DW. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for antimicrobial activity were 0.3125 mg/mL and 1.25 mg/mL on S. aureus and E. faecalis respectively and 2.5 mg/mL and 0.3125 mg/mL on E. coli and S. typhi respectively. Biofilm inhibition evaluated at sub-MIC concentrations revealed that gram-negative biofilms were more susceptible to P. suberosa extract than gram-positive ones and E. coli biofilms were the most susceptible. The extract inhibited violacein production and quorum sensing with inhibition zones varying from 17.0 & PLUSMN;0.5 mm at MIC to 12.0 & PLUSMN;0.1 mm at MIC/4. The extract showed good antioxidant capacity and was more active in the DPPH & BULL; assay than the two standards & alpha;- tocopherol and BHA used. In the ABTS & BULL;+ and CUPRAC assays, the activity of the extract was greater than that of & alpha;-Tocopherol and very close to that of BHA. The extract showed potential to alleviate Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase as well as antidiabetic activity by inhibiting & alpha;-amylase and & alpha;-glucosidase. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution -Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.

The present study aims at valorizing the stem of Hibiscus sabdariffa, a by-product of agriculture in Benin. This natural resource, abundant in tropical countries, including Benin, was until now considered as a biodegradable waste and treated as such. However, it possesses adsorption properties that can be exploited through its transformation into activated carbon for various uses, including water pollution control. For this purpose, activated carbon has been developed from Hibiscus sabdariffa stems chemically impregnated with phosphoric acid. The pseudo second-order model predicts the kinetics of phenol adsorption on the activated carbon produced. The thermodynamic study of the adsorption process of phenol shows that it is exothermic and spontaneous with an ordered structure on the surface of the material.

The management of waste generated by hospitals, whether solid, liquid or gaseous, is a real problem given the risk it represents for human health and the environment. In order to contribute to the improvement of the management of Biomedical Waste (BMW) in health structures in Benin, a study was carried out at the hospital La Croix in Zinvie in 2014 on 105 individuals then resumed with 90 individuals in 2020. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used. The data collection instruments are the interview guide, the observation grid, the questionnaire and the laboratory analyses. From the results obtained, it appears that only 0.38% of the centers liquid biomedical waste (LBMW) is produced at the level of its various departments and constitutes infectious waste. This waste is then mixed with water similar to domestic water and discharged into the environment after a summary treatment with bleach while the values of their physico-chemical parameters (BOD5, COD) exclude all self-purification hypothesis. In addition, approximately 37302 tons of infectious solid waste and 86 kg of anatomical waste are produced and managed each year in the center. Sorting at source, which was poorly done in 2014, is increasingly done in compliance with the legislation. It is therefore urgent to generalize this practice in hospitals in Benin, to promote the installation of LBMW treatment stations and/or to recommend a categorical treatment of the latter for better environmental protection.

Among the most common health problems worldwide, toothache is often cited and is often treated with herbal medicines to relieve the pain and inflammation associated with it. The present work reports the preliminary phytochemical analysis, antiradical and antibacterial activities of leaves and trunk bark of Pteleopsis suberosa, a plant highly sought after in traditional medicine in Benin to treat toothache. Secondary metabolites were identified by staining and precipitation reactions specific to each metabolite family. Total phenols were determined by the Folin Ciocalteu method. The aluminum trichloride method was used to quantify total flavonoids, while the determination of condensed tannins was carried out by the hydrochloric vanillin method. The antiradical activity of the extracts was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl and the antibacterial activity by the dilution method in microplates and Petri dishes. Leaves and bark of Pteleopsis suberosa trunk contain tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins, leuco-anthocyanins, a reducing compound. Ethanol extract of Pteleopsis leaves suberosa (IC 50 =0.0015 μg / μL) showed more interesting anti-radical activity than butylhydroxytoluene (IC 50 =0.012μg/ μL), butylated hydroxyanisole (IC 50 =0.016μg/ μL) and Trolox (IC 50 =0.013 μg/ μL). The ethanolic extract of the bark of the trunk of Pteleopsis suberosa showed bactericidal activity against the Staphylococcus aureus strain.

Skin diseases can get natural therapies from medicinal plant-based products. In this study, a topical cream was formulated from ethanol extract of Acacia sieberiana, beeswax and Vitellaria paradoxa (shea) butter. GC-MS characterization with co-injection of the topical cream revealed Stearic acid (31.43%), Palmitic acid (23.15%), Oleic acid (21.44%) and Linoleic acid (16.20%) as the major components. Seven phenolic conpounds were identified and quantified by HPLC- DAD and Ferulic acid (12.81±0.26 mg/g) was the most abundant. The cream showed good antioxidant properties evaluated through ?-Carotene-linoleic acid assay, DPPH• radical scavenging, ABTS•+ assay, CUPRAC assay, and metal chelating assay. The cream had higher activity in the DPPH• assay (IC50 = 32.10±0.84 µg/mL), ABTS•+ assay (IC50 = 22.49±0.62 µg/mL) and CUPRAC assay (IC50 = 49.27±0.79 µg/mL) than ?-Tocopherol. The antioxidant effects are an indication that the cream can reduce oxidative stress on the skin including aging, carcinogenesis and inflammation. At 100 µg/mL, the topical cream showed tyrosinase inhibition of 48.23±0.87% regarded as relatively good compared to the standard tyrosinase inhibitor kojic acid, which showed 79.50±0.32% inhibition at the same concentration. The cosmetic cream was able to inhibit the melanin production rate-limiting enzyme, tyrosinase, indicating that it can control hyperpigmentation and skin spots.

Balanites aegyptiaca is a wild plant species largely used in folk medicine and a priority fruit tree in West Africa. In Benin, its overexploitation for ethnoveterinary uses could lead to its rarity or extinction in the long term. In this study, we evaluate the possibilities of its substitution by other Zygophyllaceae species. This study was based on optimal defense theory, which distinguished 2 categories of plants: K-strategist species and r-strategist species. Phytochemical screening was carried out based on aqueous extracts of the leafy stems of B. aegyptiaca and Guaiacum officinale (K-strategist species) and Tribulus terrestris and Kallstroemia pubescens (r-strategist species) for the identification of chemical compounds. The phenolic compounds were quantified by quercetin and vanillin methods. The extracts were tested against 5 bacterial strains responsible for severe diarrhea in bovines. Our results indicated the presence of many phytochemicals, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponosides, and tannins. The diversity in secondary metabolites is higher for r-strategist than K-strategist species. The contents of total polyphenols ranged from 4.82 ± 0.05 to 41.84 mg GAE/g of extract. The flavonoid contents varied from 30.64 ± 0.35 to 57.11 ± 0.13 mg QE/g of extract and those of the tannins from 0.04 ± 0.00 to 0.06 ± 0.01 mg PE/mL. The sensitivity of the bacterial strains showed a significant dependence on the extracts. Of the species, K. pubescens showed a bactericidal activity on the majority of strains tested and thus could be a potential substitute for B. aegyptiaca in the treatment of infectious diarrhea.

The use of medicinal plants with antibiotic and immuno-modulating properties could constitute an alternative in the fight against antibiotic resistance.Tetrapleura tetraptera is a plant of the Fabaceae family whose fruits are used in food, cosmetics and therapy.The objective of this work was to evaluate the antibiotic properties of the ethanolic extract of the dried fruits of Tetrapleura tetraptera after an infection with a clinical strain of Staphylococcus aureus.Phytochemical screening of T. tetraptera fruits was carried out by precipitation and staining reactions.The determination of total phenols was done by the colorimetric method of Folin-Ciocalteu; the determination of flavonoids by the aluminum trichloride method.Antibiotic activity was assessed by numeration of blood cells involved in the natural and specific immune response (leukocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes).Anti-inflammatory activity was demonstrated by the presence or absence of C-reactive protein in the blood of infected rats.The results obtained were compared with those obtained in rats infected with Staphylococcus aureus and treated with Bactrim (Sulfamethoxazole+Trimethoprim) 40 mg/kg.Our results showed that the fruits of T. tetraptera contained several secondary metabolites and were rich in flavonoids and total phenols.The ethanolic extract of the fruits of T tetraptera had an antibiotic activity which allowed to eliminate the infection by Staphylococcus aureus germs after 21 days and the inflammation induced by the infection after 7 days.

Background: Diabetes remains a real public health problem in the world today. Although considered a disease of rich countries, today diabetes is increasingly a major concern in developing countries and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In Benin, its prevalence in 2015 was 12.4%. Objective: This work aimed to compare the secondary metabolites, the content of phenolic compounds (total phenol, flavonoid) and the antiradical power of five plants (Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. Ex Wendel; Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R. Br. Ex G. Don; Mangifera indica L.; Saccharum officinarum L.; and Annona muricata L.) used in Benin by traditional healers to treat type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: Secondary metabolites were identified by coloration and precipitation reactions specific to each family of metabolites. Total phenols were determined by Folin Ciocalteu method. The aluminum trichloride method has been used to quantify total flavonoids. The antiradical capacity was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Results: Plants which leaves were higher in total phenols were Mangifera indica, Parkia biglobosa and Bambusa vulgaris while Annona muricata and Parkia biglobosa were the richest plants in flavonoids. The hydroethanolic extract of leaves of Bambusa vulgaris (IC50=0.28mg/mL), Parkia biglobosa (IC50=0.3mg/mL) and Mangifera indica (IC50=2.5mg/mL) showed more pronounced antiradical activity than vitamin C (IC50=3.2 mg/mL) which were synthetic antioxidant. Conclusion: Our results showed that among the five plants studied Mangifera indica, Parkia biglobosa and Bambusa vulgaris were the richest in total phenols and also those whose leaf extracts had the highest antiradical activities. These three plants could therefore be considered as potential remedies for type 2 diabetes and its complications.