Antimicrobial Potential, Phytochemical Profile and Toxicity of Euphorbia hirta and Ocimum gratissimum, Two Medicinal Plants Used in the Traditional Management of Vaginal Infections in Northern Benin

Résumé fourni par la source

Background: Vaginal infections represent a major public health problem, particularly in regions where access to quality medical care is limited. In this context, phytotherapy, especially the use of medicinal plants such as Euphorbia hirta and Ocimum gratissimum, constitutes a popular therapeutic alternative for treating these vaginal infections in northern Benin. This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial potential, phytochemical profile, and toxicity of Euphorbia hirta and Ocimum gratissimum, two species of medicinal plants used in Beninese traditional medicine. Methodology: Aqueous, ethanolic, and hydroethanolic extracts were prepared by maceration. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using classical microbiology methods on eight clinical strains isolated from women suffering from vaginal infections. The lethal concentration (LC50) of the different extracts was determined using Artemia salina larvae. The identification of biomolecules was carried out using colorimetric methods. Results: Preliminary results suggest notable antimicrobial activity, although significant differences were observed between the two species studied. Inhibition diameters varied significantly (P Conclusion: These data confirm the pharmacological interest of these plants while highlighting the need for cautious use and pave the way for further research on these species. As a future perspective, we will evaluate the immunomodulatory potential and study the mechanism of action of the extracts of the two plants on the microbial strains responsible for vaginal infections.

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