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

Atindéhou Gabin DOSSOU¹, Cyrille Alodé VODOUNON^1, , Michéline AGASSOUNON DJIKPO TCHIBOZO², Tenor Dias-Mendel ALLODE¹, Arlette ADJATIN³ and Haziz Abdel SINA OROU⁴

¹Laboratory of Natural Sciences and applications. ENS-Natitingou, National University of Sciences, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics. 01BP526 Goho Abomey; Republic of Benin

²Standards and Quality Control Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Abomey-Calavi

³Laboratory of Genetics, Biotechnology and Applied Botany, Ecole Normale Supérieure des Biosciences and Applied Biotechnologies of Dassa-Zoumé. National University of Sciences, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics, Benin

⁴Laboratory of Biology and Molecular Typing in Microbiology, University of Abomey-Calavi, 05 BP 1604 Cotonou, Benin

Cite this paper:
Atindéhou Gabin DOSSOU, Cyrille Alodé VODOUNON, Michéline AGASSOUNON DJIKPO TCHIBOZO, Tenor Dias-Mendel ALLODE, Arlette ADJATIN and Haziz Abdel SINA OROU. 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. American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology. 2025; 13(4):61-67. doi: 10.12691/ajidm-13-4-2

Abstract

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 < 0.05) between 5 mm and 22 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) ranged from 1.56 to 50 mg/ml and 6.25 to 50 mg/ml, respectively. All extracts except the aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum had a bacteriostatic effect on the tested strains. The extracts tested on Artemia salina proved to be non-toxic at the tested doses. The LC50 ranged between 2.5 and 9.36 ± 3.27 mg/ml. The phytochemical profile of the two species justifies their antimicrobial activity and safety of use. 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.

Keywords:
E. hirta - O. gratissimum - Antimicrobial activity - Vaginal infections – Toxicity- phytotherapy

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