Koffi Akpagana

Antifungal activities of seven West African Combretaceae used in traditional medicine

Seven species of Combretaceae were investigated for their antifungal activity against the pathogenic fungi Candida albicans, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum. Pteleopsis suberosa and Terminalia avicennioides appear to be the most active plants. Phytochemical screening shows that these plants are particularly rich in tannins and saponins, which might be responsible for their antifungal activity.

Diversity of the Neglected and Underutilized Crop Species of Importance in Benin

Many of the plant species that are cultivated for food across the world are neglected and underutilized. To assess their diversity in Benin and identify the priority species and establish their research needs, a survey was conducted in 50 villages distributed throughout the country. The study revealed 41 neglected and underutilized crop species (NUCS) among which 19 were identified as of priority base on 10 criteria among which included their extent and degree of consumption. Reasons for neglect vary with the producers and the agricultural technicians. Market surveys revealed that NUCS are important source of household incomes and substantially contribute to poverty reduction. Review of the literature available revealed that most of the species are rich in nutrients and have some proven medicinal values and the promotion of their use would help in combating malnutrition and improving the health status of the local populations. The knowledge gaps and research needs are immense on most of the species identified as no concrete scientific data is nationally available. In terms of research, almost all has to be done starting from basic ethnobotanical investigation. The results will help the scientists and students willing to conduct research on NUCS in Benin to better orient their research programs.

Indigenous knowledge and traditional conservation of fonio millet (Digitaria exilis, Digitaria iburua) in Togo

Fonio millet (Digitaria exilis Stapf, Digitaria iburua Stapf) is known in Togo far several centuries and has played a strategic role in the household food security mainly in rural areas. Using Participatory Research Appraisal (PRA) tools and techniques, 55 villages randomly selected in the two production zones of Togo were surveyed to document the ethnobotanical and indigenous knowledge related to its production, diversity, use and conservation. For all of the ethnic groups involved in fonio production in Togo (Akposso and Akebou in the south; Losso-Nawda, Lamba, Tamberma, Tchokossi and Gangan in the north), the crop has a high sociocultural value. The fonio genetic diversity being managed by the farmers seems important as 42 landraces were recorded. Two lines of origin that contributed to this current genetic diversity (local domestication or introduction from neighbouring countries) were reported by the farmers. Cooking qualities, growth cycle, colour and size of the grains are the main criteria used by farmers to describe varieties. According to farmers, fonio production and diversity are being regressing because of several constraints of which the most important are lack of adequate harvest, threshing and processing technologies and development of pests and diseases. The important ethnobotanical and indigenous data recorded will be useful in accessing the genetic diversity of the crop in Togo and in defining appropriate strategies for its conservation on farm.

In vitro inhibitory effect of West African medicinal and food plants on human cytochrome P450 3A subfamily

AIM OF THE STUDY In Africa, medicinal plants are used intensively and concomitantly with allopathic medicines in the treatment of opportunity diseases by many patients or by healthy person to prevent diseases. However, there is little information about the interactions between medicines and botanical products used currently in West Africa area. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation is to study the effect of some plant products on CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP3A7, three individual enzymes of CYP3A subfamily, in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS Teas and ethanolic extracts of medicinal, food and co-administered plants were evaluated on CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP3A7 individual enzymes in vitro using fluorometric assays. RESULTS Extracts of adjuvant plants such as Aframomum cuspidatum, and Aframomum melegueta, as well as one medicinal plant (Harrisonia abyssinica) inhibited CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP3A7 activity more than 90%. Phyllanthus amarus showed high inhibition of CYP3A5 and CYP3A7. Food plants (Solanum macrocarpon and Talinum triangulare) inhibited CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 less than 20%. CONCLUSION These results indicate that plants tested in this study affect in vitro the activity of the main three CYP3A subfamily enzymes. These active plants could interfere with the metabolism at phase I of conventional drugs in vivo as well act as pharmacoenhancers in herbal mixtures.

Effect of Tectona grandis on phenylhydrazine-induced anaemia in rats.

Traditional oral report indicates that Tectona grandis is used in the treatment of anaemia in Togo. For this purpose, the extract of T. grandis leaves is evaluated on anaemia model of rat induced by intraperitoneal injection of phenylhydrazine at 40 mg/kg for 2 days. Oral administration of T. grandis extract at 1 g/kg/day and 2 g/kg/day, to the rats previously treated with phenylhydrazine, increased the concentration of haemoglobin, red blood cells number, haematocrit and reticulocytes rate. Moreover, the extract of T. grandis enhanced the osmotic resistance of the red blood cells that confirm the important presence of young red blood cells. These results support partially the traditional use of T. grandis in the treatment of anaemia.

A Numerical Taxonomic Study of Trema (Ulmaceae) from Togo,West Africa

Abstract The assignment of collections belonging to the genus Trema has been reassessed using numerical taxonomy methods. Observation in the field in Togo, West Africa, confirmed high phenotypic variation but not the previously asserted lack of character concordance within the T. guineensis complex. This study was carried out to assess the circumscription of taxa in the area. Distance between specimens was computed using the Gowers general coefficient of similarity and the non-parametric MODECLUS cluster analysis was used to discover how the specimens segregated. The existence of three clusters in the 158 specimen dataset using 44 morphological characters was suggested by MODECLUS. Canonical discriminant analysis supported the recognition of those three clusters using 40 morphological characters. Classificatory discriminant analysis showed that all specimens except one are identified correctly by the discriminant function. We suggest that three species be recognized in Togo and the neighboring countries: T. orientalis, T. africana, and T. nitens. A key to the species is included and the advantages of the method suggested here are discussed. Communicating Editor: Paul Wilson

Traditional leafy vegetables in Benin: folk nomenclature, species under threat and domestication

Abstract Using participatory research appraisal, 29 ethnic areas were surveyed to document the folk nomenclature, identify the species under threat and understand the domestication process for the traditional leafy vegetables (TLV) consumed in Benin. It exists a rich folk nomenclature mainly characterised by synonymy and homonymy, 24 species under threat and 17 species under domestication. Factors threatening these TLV listed by farmers include forest destruction, bush fires, destructive harvesting methods and lack of knowledge about the plants. We emphasize the necessity of combining folk and formal nomenclature in all biodiversity research programmes on TLV and recommend the development of integrated conservation through utilisation strategies for the sustainable preservation and promotion of TLV in Benin.

The effect of Mangifera indica stem bark and Pluchea ovalis roots on tracheal smooth muscle in vitro

Aqueous extract of the stem bark of Mangifera indica and ethanolic extract of the roots of Pluchea ovalis has been studied on rat tracheal smooth muscle in vitro. The extract of M. indica at 1, 2 and 4 mg/ml and that of P. ovalis at 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/ml relaxed, dose-dependently, the rat tracheal smooth muscle strip previously contracted by acetylcholine at 0.055 mmol/l.

Satellite monitoring of land-use and land-cover changes in northern Togo protected areas

Remote-sensing data for protected areas in northern Togo, obtained in three different years (2007, 2000, and 1987), were used to assess and map changes in land cover and land use for this drought prone zone. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was applied to the images to map changes in vegetation. An unsupervised classification, followed by classes recoding, filtering, identifications, area computing and post-classification process were applied to the composite of the three years of NDVI images. Maximum likelihood classification was applied to the 2007 image (ETM+2007) using a supervised classification process. Seven vegetation classes were defined from training data sets. The seven classes included the following biomes: riparian forest, dry forest, flooded vegetation, wooded savanna, fallows, parkland, and water. For these classes, the overall accuracy and the overall kappa statistic for the classified map were 72.5% and 0.67, respectively. Data analyses indicated a great change in land resources; especially between 1987 and 2000 probably due to the impact of democratization process social, economic, and political disorder from 1990. Wide-scale loss of vegetation occurred during this period. However, areas of vegetation clearing and regrowth were more visible between 2000 and 2007. The main source of confusion in the contingency matrix was due to heterogeneity within certain classes. It could also be due to spectral homogeneity among the classes. This research provides a baseline for future ecological landscape research and for the next management program in the area.

Ethnobotanical Knowledge of Sterculiasetigera Del. in the Sudanian Zone of Togo (West Africa)

Ethnobotanical knowledge is useful in development of management and conservation of plant genetic resources. In this study, ethnobotanical investigations were conducted in Sudanian zone of Togo to identify use values knowledge of Sterculia setigera tree. Information was obtained with the aid of semistructured interviews. Three (3) ethnic groups: Bassar, Moba, and Konkomba belonging to ten (10) localities were investigated. Use knowledge of Sterculia setigera through these ethnic groups was assessed using four use indices: reported use (RU), plant part value (PPV), specific reported use (SU), and intraspecific use value (IUV). Sixty (60) informants of 43 years old were interviewed. The plant parts values and specific uses are raised more in the Moba’s ethnic group. The main quoted uses are medicinal, religious, food, and cosmetic. Thus, fourteen (14) treatments of ailments are assigned to it. Considering the various uses, it is crucial to validate scientifically the therapeutic uses and safety of these plants through phytochemical screening, different biological activity tests, and toxicological studies.