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Corchorus olitorius L. which belongs to Tiliaceae family is a cultivated herbaceous plant highly consumed as traditional leafy vegetables in Benin. Extracts from samples of different morphotypes leaves of this species were analysed for their phytochemical compositions, antioxidant and cytotoxicity activities. On each sample extract, qualitative phytochemical tests were used to detect the presence of bioactive molecules and evaluate their cytotoxicity using brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl assay. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of several phytochemical compounds in all samples of morphotypes studied but these have not a similar profile. Morphotypes with shiny rounded leaves have more phytochemicals (58% of phytochemicals compounds) than the other samples. Analysis of the potential antioxidant reveals a first category of morphotypes with high potential antioxidant capacity ranged from 27,859 to 32,985 mM EAA/g followed by second class of morphotype which ranged from 17,527 to 23,098 mM EAA/g . Regular consumption of C. olitorius such as varieties with rounded and non-shiny leaves, varieties with elongated and shiny leaves, varieties with red stems, varieties with elongated and non-shiny leaves with lateral lobes, would be useful for the treatment of various diseases induced by free radicals. The LC50 of morphotypes C. olitorius varies between 0.78 and 3.125 mg/ml indicating non toxicity. From this study, results justify the use of some morphotypes of C. olitorius in traditional medicine. Hence, these morphotypes are nutraceuticals leafy vegetables that must be promoted through development of food based products. Key words: Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant activity, cytotoxic activity, Corchorus olitorius, morphotypes, Benin.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important food consumed in every region in Republic of Benin; however, it remains a neglected and under-utilized crop. In order to assess the value of bean germplasm of the central region in the Republic of Benin for useful breeding programs, 57 accessions were collected from 23 villages. After a classification based on the morphological variables of the seeds, these accessions were evaluated using 30 morphological traits (18 qualitative and 12 quantitative) following the IBPGR descriptors in experimental field at Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Dassa. Based on the seeds morphological variability, the accessions have been grouped in 8 morphotypes. However, 9 morphological types were obtained with cluster analysis based on UPGMA classification method using qualitative variables, whereas in Principal Component Analysis (PCA) they were gathered into 4 clusters using quantitative variables. The accessions in cluster 1 (11 accessions) were identified as possessing the highest values in quantitative traits like days to maturity, and number of pods per plant. While accessions in cluster 2 (3 accessions) have had the lowest number of days to flowering and the highest pods length, the accessions of cluster 3 (23 accessions) presented the highest 100-seed weight. Correlation coefficient of 100-seed weight was positively significant (p ≤ 0.001) with leaf length, pod width, and seeds length while it was negatively correlated (p ≤ 0.05) with days to flowering, pod length and the number of seeds per pod. Cluster 3 accessions may serve as useful genetic material in future, for any breeding programmes to improve the productivity of other common bean accessions through hybridization. Key words: Common bean, cluster analysis, diversity, landraces, qualitative traits, quantitative traits.

Background Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important grain legume crop grown in the central region of the Republic of Benin. However, its production declined in recent years to the extent that its diversity is being threatened with extinction. Understanding the folk nomenclature and taxonomy, as well as use values that allow its maintenance in Beninese agricultural system, is a prerequisite to develop efficient strategies for its conservation. Knowing that each sociolinguistic group develop various uses and traditional knowledge for their crop genetic resources, we hypothesized that enhancement of farmers’ livelihood, thanks to the use values of common bean landraces, differ from one sociolinguistic group to another and contribute to their conservation in the traditional agriculture of central Benin. Methods Hundred and one common bean producers belonging to seven sociolinguistic groups selected through 23 villages of the region under study were surveyed. Data were collected through participatory research appraisal tools and techniques (individual interviews and direct observation) using a semi-structured questionnaire. Folk nomenclature and taxonomy of common bean, local uses, and factors affecting them were investigated. Results Across the seven sociolinguistic groups surveyed in the study area, five common bean generic names and 26 folk varieties corresponding to 12 landraces have been recorded. Folk nomenclature and taxonomy were mainly based on seeds’ coat color. The present study has revealed five common bean use values in the study area (food, medicinal, commercial, fodder, and mystic-religious), which are influenced by sociolinguistic groups. Leaves, roots, and seeds of three common bean folk varieties are used by surveyed farmers for disease treatment. Nine common bean folk varieties are considered by farmers as magical plants which have supernatural properties while several taboos for deities’ followers regarding Séssé landrace are inventoried across sociolinguistic groups. Level of education and age of respondents influence positively and significantly medicine and mystical-religious uses of common bean respectively while commercial use is positively influenced by age and negatively by gender. Conclusions Traditional values associated with common bean landraces in the central region of the Republic of Benin increase their chance of survival in the farming systems. Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents which influence common bean use values must be taken into account in future programs of conservation. However, an assessment of diversity and analysis of distribution of extend of common bean landraces in the study area is a necessity for the development of an efficient strategy of conservation of this genetic resource.

Variability study of agro-morphological characteristics is important for varietal improvement and plant breeding program. For this, 148 chili pepper landraces (Capsicum annuum L.) collected from Northern Benin were characterized using 39 (21 qualitative and 18 quantitative) morphological characters. The trial was conducted in a Fisher block design with 3 replicates at the experimental station of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FAST) of Dassa based in Central Benin. The results revealed considerable morphological variability between landraces. Twenty nine (16 quantitative and 13 qualitative) variables among the 39 examined were discriminatory and group the landraces into 4 classes when considering the qualitative variables. With quantitative variables, 9 groups were obtained. The correlations between the studied quantitative variables show that the yield parameters are correlated with the variables related to the vegetative part of the plant. This study will help breeders to better select their parents for crossing in order to produce desirable and high yielding varieties.

Chili peppers play a significant role in the world diet and can contribute to the improvement of horticultural producers’ incomes. In Benin, chili pepper production is hampered by many challenges that need to be characterized, prioritized and addressed. Moreover, the existing diversity, as well as the agronomic potential, of the varieties being cultivated in Benin is still not well understood. In order to define the scientific basis for the improvement of chili pepper production and the preservation of its diversity, one hundred villages were randomly selected and surveyed in Northern and Central Benin by using participatory research appraisal tools and techniques. Twelve production constraints were identified, of which low productivity (19 %), soil infertility (18.5 %), drought (18.3 %), pests and disease susceptibility (17.9 %), early fall of plant organs (15 %) appear as the most important. In terms of diversity, 77 chili pepper varieties (40 from the frutescens group, 24 from the annuum group and 13 from the chinense group) including 72 local and five introduced varieties (Tatache, Yeyekouka, Yeyekouokoure, Cote d’ivoire and MC) were found. The number of varieties varies from three to seven (four on average) per village and from one to five by household. The proportion of loss of diversity per village varies from 0 to 75 % with an average of 26.61 %. Susceptibility to pests and diseases (37.1 % of responses), early fall of plant organs (11.6 % of responses) and susceptibility to drought (8.5 %), were the most important reasons given in attempts to explain the loss of diversity. Farmers’ varietal preference criteria are essentially agronomic (90.4 % of responses). The participative agronomic evaluation revealed that the varieties of frutescens group are significantly higher with respect to the evaluated variables, but they are less appreciated by the consumers.

Kersting’s groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum) locally named “Doyi” is a grain legume of high nutritional and economic value widely consumed in Benin but neglected by the scientific research and the development programmes. In order to document the indigenous knowledge related to the production, diversity and use of this crop and to collect samples for characterisation and evaluation, 30 villages from South and Centre of Benin were randomly selected and surveyed. In each village, 10–15 producing households (374 farmers in total) were chosen as above and interviewed using participatory research appraisal tools and techniques. The study revealed that the production of Kersting’s groundnut is particularly concentrated in central Benin (departments of Zou and Collines), but is seriously declining for ten reasons. As reported by farmers, the most important factors of those included the high cost of production (40.7 % of responses), the susceptibility of cultivars to high soil moisture (25.5 % of responses) and the complexity of the cultural practices (25.2 % of responses). Only three local cultivars differing mostly by the colour of seed coat (white, red and black) were recorded. The white seeded cultivar was the most cultivated and preferred for consumption. Gender role analysis indicated that young women were the most involved in the cultivation of M. geocarpum. Phenotypical analysis of the different accessions (32 in total) collected during the study revealed only three groups that differ mainly in leaf width, yield and date to 50 % flowering. Agronomic evaluation indicated a significant difference (p

The most cited plant drugs during an ethnobotanical survey conducted for traditional healers and resource persons in southern Benin, used in the treatment of female infertility, were the subject of a phytochemical screening. It aims to determine the chemical substances that are conferred on the plants. These chemical substances are the pharmacological properties that are used for the treat of ailment recognized as being the origin of this disease. As a result, we studied the cytotoxicity of each herbal drug. In total, the organs of 17 plant species involved in this study are Aframomum melegueta, Allium cepa, Anchomanes deformants, Baphia nitida, Carissa spinarum, Elaeis guineensis, Garcinia cola, Kigelia africana, Monodora myristica, Morinda lucida, Musa sapientum, Olax subscorpioidea, Piper guineense, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Pupalia lappacea, Tetrapleura tetraptera, Xylopia aethiopica. The results obtained indicate that the richness in phytochemical element is a function of the species. Thus, Aframomum melegueta, Garcinia kola, Monodora myristica, Tetrapleura tetraptera, Xylopia aethiopica, and Anchomanes difformis are rich in catechin and/or gallic tannins, mucilages, reducing compounds, anthocyanins and/or leucoanthocyanins. On the other hand, no drugs is at same time rich in free anthracenics, steroids and / or terpernoids, alkaloids, saponosides, and quinone derivatives. The calculated CL50 values for each of the plant organs are all greater than 0.1 mg / ml. None of them is toxic. However, the non-toxicity of an herbal drug does not mean the same with the multispecies recipe in which it is used. Pharmacological tests of the various recipes used are also of significant importance.

La procreation a ete et continue d’etre de nos jours la raison fondamentale du mariage en Afrique depuis les temps immemoriaux. L’infecondite du couple est vue comme une fatalite que ce dernier doit combattre a tout prix durant une bonne partie de sa vie. En vue de connaitre les recettes utilisees au Benin pour traiter la sterilite feminine, une enquete a ete entreprise en direction des traditherapeutes et des personnes ressources dans les departements de l’Oueme et du Plateau au Sud-Benin. Au total 93 traditherapeutes et personnes ressources ont ete enquetes. Il s’agit d’une enquete ethnobotanique basee sur des interviews individuelles semi-structurees qui a permis de recenser 123 recettes dans lesquelles interviennent 90 especes vegetales appartenant a 86 genres et 47 familles dont les plus representees sont les Leguminosae (10%), les Euphorbiaceae (6,67%), les Annonaceae (5,55%). Les organes des especes comme Anchomanes difformis , Aframomum melegueta , Allium cepa , Baphia nitida , Carissa spinarum , Elaeis guineensis , Garcinia kola , Kigelia africana , Monodora myristica , Morinda lucida , Musa sapientum , Olax subscorpioidea , Pupalia lappacea , Tetrapleura tetraptera , Piper guineense , Pterocarpus erinaceus , Xylopia aethiopica sont les plus cites dans les recettes. Ces plantes contribuent a soulager plusieurs couples infertiles et meritent d’etre protegees pour la posterite. © 2017 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Mots cles: Infecondite, recettes, traditherapeutes, personnes ressources, Sud Benin English Title: The ethnobotanical study of plants used in women infertility treatment in the departments of Oueme and Plateau in South of Benin English Abstract Procreation has been and continues to be today the fundamental reason for marriage in Africa since immemorial time. Infertility of the couple is seen as a fatality that it seeks to fight at all costs for a good part of his life. To know the recipes used in Benin to treat female infertility, a survey was undertaken towards the traditional healers and resource persons in the departments of Oueme and Plateau in South of Benin Republic. On the whole, 93 traditional healers and resource persons were surveyed. This is an ethnobotanical sample survey which has permitted to identify the causes of female infertility and 123 recipes in which involved 90 plant species belonging to 86 genera and 47 families, the most represented being Leguminosae (10%), Euphorbiaceae (6.67%), Annonaceae (5.55%). The organs of species such as Afromomum melegueta , Allium cepa , Baphia nitida , Carissa spinarum , Elaeis guineensis , Garcinia kola , Kigelia africana , Monodora myristica , Mrinda lucida , Musa sapientum , Olax subscorpioidea , Pupalia lappacea , Tetrapleura tetraptera , Pterocarpus erinaceus , Xylopia aethiopica are the most cited in the recipes. These plants contribute to relieve several infertile couples and deserve to be protected for posterity. © 2017 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Keywords: Infertility, recipes, traditional healers, resource persons, South of Benin