BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM EIGHT PLANT SPECIES TRADITIONALLY USED IN MADAGASCAR AS MEDICINES: A mini-review

The aim of this mini-review was to give an overview on our recent findings on some plant species ethno-medically used in the south of Madagascar. Based on ethno-pharmacological approach, we used the consistent in vitro model systems and modern phytochemical techniques for the scientific validation of the bioactivity of selected medicinal plants and their molecules. In this work, we reported 45 compounds identified from the essential oils of four aromatic plants (Croton greveanus, C. borarium, C. geayi and Hazomalania voyronii). This oil displayed bactericidal. Eight biologically active molecules were isolated and characterized from four medicinal plants (Salacia leptoclada, Diospyros quercina, Eliea articulate and Cymbopogon pruinosus) justifying their use in traditional medicine. These results show that the Malagasy plant species can serve as source of antibacterial, antiplasmodial, cytotoxic and vasodilator hits.