ETHNOBOTANY AND ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF PLANTS SOLD IN THE MARKETS OF BOUNDIALI (NORTHERN IVORY COAST)

The vegetation of northern Cote d Ivoire is renowned for its floristic diversity, particularly its medicinal plants commonly used traditionally to treat infectious diseases. However, rapid urbanization and the resulting human pressures threaten the disappearance of numerous species, creating an imbalance in its biodiversity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts from 10 medicinal plants from this flora against bacteria of the genera Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas, as well as enterobacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Proteus mirabilis), which are responsible for opportunistic infections. These bacteria include both wild-type and multidrug-resistant strains. Ten ethanolic extracts from 10 plant species belonging to 9 botanical families were prepared for diffusion tests in agar plates. Based on their activity against germs, the extract of Funtumia africana Stapf (Apocynaceae) was selected to determine antibacterial parameters (MIC and MBC) using the macrodilution method in liquid medium. The largest inhibition zone diameter (28 ± 1.2 mm) was obtained with the extract of this plant at a concentration of 50 mg/mL. This extract also yielded the best MIC (0.04 ± 0.0 mg/mL) and MBC (0.39 ± 0.2 mg/mL). Furthermore, phytochemical sorting by thin-layer chromatography detected the presence of several phytoconstituents, including saponins, tannins, flavonoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, and sesquiterpenes, which are likely responsible for the observed activity.