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Agbodjento E, Lègba B, Dougnon VT, Klotoé JR, Déguénon E, Assogba P, Koudokpon H, Hanski L, Baba-Moussa L, Yayi Ladékan E. Unleashing the Potential of Medicinal Plants in Benin: Assessing the Status of Research and the Need for Enhanced Practices. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1506. [PMID: 37050132 PMCID: PMC10097054 DOI: 10.3390/plants12071506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Medicinal plants play a crucial role in the primary health care of the population in developing countries such as Benin. The national universities of Benin conduct research on the pharmacological, toxicological, and phytochemical properties of these plants, but the resulting knowledge often does not lead to the development of phytomedicines for the improvement of public health. This study aims to assess the current status of research on medicinal plants in Benin. A literature review was conducted using various search engines, and the collected data was analyzed. The results indicate that research on the biological properties of medicinal plants is still in its early stages, with limited and inadequate methodological approaches. These limitations highlight the urgent need to enhance research practices and facilitate the development of effective and safe phytomedicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Agbodjento
- Research Unit in Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of Natural Substances, Research Laboratory in Applied Biology, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou 01 PB 2009, Benin
| | - Boris Lègba
- Research Unit in Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of Natural Substances, Research Laboratory in Applied Biology, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou 01 PB 2009, Benin
| | - Victorien Tamègnon Dougnon
- Research Unit in Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of Natural Substances, Research Laboratory in Applied Biology, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou 01 PB 2009, Benin
| | - Jean Robert Klotoé
- Research Unit in Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of Natural Substances, Research Laboratory in Applied Biology, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou 01 PB 2009, Benin
| | - Esther Déguénon
- Research Unit in Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of Natural Substances, Research Laboratory in Applied Biology, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou 01 PB 2009, Benin
| | - Phénix Assogba
- Research Unit in Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of Natural Substances, Research Laboratory in Applied Biology, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou 01 PB 2009, Benin
| | - Hornel Koudokpon
- Research Unit in Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of Natural Substances, Research Laboratory in Applied Biology, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou 01 PB 2009, Benin
| | - Leena Hanski
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lamine Baba-Moussa
- Laboratory of Biology and Molecular Typing in Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou 05 PB 1604, Benin
| | - Eléonore Yayi Ladékan
- Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Essential Oils, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou 01 PB 188, Benin
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