Ethnomedicinal use and phytochemical screening of Entada africana Guill. & Perr from the Republic of Benin

Entada africana, a West African plant of the Fabaceae family, has been widely used in ethnomedicine for treating various conditions like malaria, hepatitis, wound healing, arthritis, rheumatism and gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders [1]. Additionally to its numerous properties, a potential analgesic effect has been observed with five other plants, in a gel formulation for the treatment of pain-related diseases based on a traditional recipe from the northern region of Benin [2]. Despite its high relevance, information on the active compounds responsible for its various activities is still limited. This study aimed to document the knowledge of the local traditional healers on medicinal plants like E. africana used for the treatment of bone fractures and their usage in the regions of Atakora and Donga in Benin using a validated survey and to elucidate the phenolic components of its leaf extract by HPLC-DAD and LC-ESI-MS. The ethnomedicinal study led to the record of 34 species belonging to 23 families, used for the treatment of fractures and sprains. Among them is E. africana traditionally called „Wondorou” in the ethnic group „Bariba”. The leaves of E. africana are used as an infusion for the process of massage, while the powdered bark of the roots is used in the wound of the fracture during the treatment. Both parts can be used fresh or dried. The phytochemical investigation of leaves extracts resulted in the isolation and structure elucidation of three known phenolic compounds, identified as gallic acid, namely 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid, naringenin and isoquercetin known as quercetin-3-O-glucoside additionally to naringenin-7-O- glucoside previously identified. E. africana represents a relevant plant, which needs to be thoroughly investigated considering its rich phenolic profile. Further studies need to be performed for testing its active compounds for their anti-inflammatory activity to confirm its ethnomedicinal use in the traditional medicine of Benin.

Acknowledgements:

We thank the DAAD and the University of IRGIB Africa for financing this project, the members of the National Association of Traditional Medicine Practitioners of Benin, Mr. Rodolpho Natta, the botanist Mr. Pierre Agbani and Mr. Lothar Hennig.

References:

[1] Baidoo MF et al. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants 2019; 12: 36 – 42

[2] Vissiennon Z et al. Anti-inflammatory effects of novel gel-formulations with traditional used plants in Benin. Planta Med 2011; 77 (12): PF67