Contribution to the study of plants in the Ivorian Pharmacopoeia: A monographic, phytochemical, and micrographic study of five medicinal plants belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family

Abstract

Medicinal plants play a vital role in addressing health problems, particularly in Africa. While encouraged by the WHO, their use requires rigorous control based on identification. In Côte d'Ivoire, among the most widely used botanical families is the Euphorbiaceae. This study presents, after a brief monographic description, a micrographic study of plants from this family, as well as the chemical composition of hydroethanolic extracts of their leaves. Five plants were studied: Alchornea cordifolia, Euphorbia hirta, Maesobotria barteri, Mallotus oppositifolus, and Mareya micrantha. The analyses performed included micrographic examination of leaf powders, phytochemical screening using thin-layer chromatography, and chemical analysis by HPLC-ESI(+)-Q/TOF. Microscopic examination identified the characteristic elements of the plant powders. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of secondary metabolites (alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, terpenes ….), confirming the potential as sources of bioactive molecules and highlighting the importance of their valorization. The chromatographic fingerprint was established for quality control purposes.