To contribute to the valorization of Corchorus plants, fifteen (15) communities in Côte d'Ivoire have been visited and 432 participants were selected, during an ethnobotanical survey. This survey helped us to identify four (4) different species of Corchorus which are: C. aestuans, C. lobatus, C. olitorius and C. tridens. These different species are grown by farmers in general and also by farmers of vegetables and foods crops. In Côte d'Ivoire these plants are called "Kroala". Kroala is the name given by Baoulé people from the centre part of Côte d'Ivoire. Krola can be used as main ingredient in the cooking of soups and it can also be used as medicinal plant. At food level, the leaves of different species of Corchorus are used in the cooking of soups for several meals throughout the country. At ethnomedicinal level, these different plant species are used in the treatment of several pathologies such as anemia, constipation... For instance, leaves, roots, leafy stems and seeds of these plant species are used to make several monospecific drugs recipes. For the benefits brought by Corchorus plants to people, the growing of these plants must be encouraged throughout the country. Ces espèces sont cultivées à la fois par les paysans et les maraîchers. En Côte d'Ivoire, ces plantes sont nommées « Kroala » qui est une appellation propre au groupe ethnique Baoulé localisé au centre du pays. Kroala est utilisé à la fois comme plante comestible et médicinale. Au plan alimentaire, les feuilles de ces espèces du genre Corchorus sont consommées sur l'étendue du territoire en sauce accompagnant plusieurs mets. Au plan ethnomedicinal, ces espèces interviennent dans le traitement de plusieurs pathologies telles que l'anémie, la constipation…Diverses parties de ces plantes sont utilisées à cet effet : les feuilles, les racines, les tiges feuillées et les graines, pour préparer plusieurs recettes médicamenteuses monospécifiques. Pour leurs importants apports aux populations, la culture de ces plantes doit être encouragée dans le pays.

Aims: Corchorus aestuans and Corchorus olitorius are two species of the genus commonly mentioned in Côte d'Ivoire as medicinal plants whose leaves decoctions are used to treat various diseases. To avoid cases of intoxication in traditional treatments, this study evaluates the acute toxicity of these plant species by having mice gorge on increasing doses of crude aqueous extract. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the Pharmacognosy Laboratory of Félix HOUPHOUËT-BOIGNY University (Côte d'Ivoire), between march 2016 and september 2016. Methodology: To assess the acute toxicity of the two extracts, we used 110 mice of SWISS breed. These animals aged four to six weeks were of both sexes (55 mice for each sex) and weighed between 13 and 26 g. Before the manipulations, the animals were fasted 12 hours before being divided into 11 batches of 10 mice receiving extract 1 (Corchorus aestuans) and extract 2 (Corchorus olitorius). We observed the effets of each phytomedecine on mice in different batches. Results: Aqueous extracts of Corchorus aestuans and Corchorus olitorius (Malvaceae), administered orally, exert a dose-response effect. Concerning toxicity activities, Corchorus olitorius is not toxic. However, Corchorus aestuans is slightly toxic in the conditions of this study. The dose which kills half of the animals (LD 50 ) is 3999.93 mg/kg by oral voice (vo).  This dose is the threshold of toxicity of the plant in the conditions of this study. Fortunately, this toxicity threshold is not accessible in therapy. The phytomedicine, in the conditions of use in traditional medicine in Côte d'Ivoire, is not toxic. Conclusion: The two plant species thus offer an interesting margin of safety, which is reassuring as to the use of the decoction, for the treatment of various pathologies.

In the search for plants able to fight against diabetes, we have initiated an ethnopharmacological survey on the markets of the city of Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire. The markets of three communes in the city were visited for this purpose: Yopougon, Abobo and Adjamé. In Yopougon, we visited Wassakara market. The large Abobo market and the Gouro market were respectively chosen for Abobo and Adjamé. This choice was justified by an impressive number of medicinal plants sellers in these markets. The survey interviewed 120 herbalists on the basis of a questionnaire sheet. These investigations revealed 27 species of plants used in traditional medicine, in the treatment of diabetes. These plant species belong to 20 botanical families with four strongly represented which are Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Rubiaceae. Three parts of plants are indicated by herbalists in the treatment of diabetes: leaves, twigs and whole plant. The preparation techniques are decoction and kneading. The preparations are used for drinking and purging by diabetic people. In relation to citation frequencies, two plants are regularly used. They are Phyllantus amarus (Fc = 9.86%) and Nauclea latifolia (Fc = 9.49%). These two plants were frequently encountered during our surveys. They are the most important species indicated against diabetes by Abidjan population. Both of these species of plant should be subject of other studies to prove the scientific basis of their empirical use in traditional medicine.

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In Côte d'Ivoire, the prevalence rate of diabetes is 9.6%. This rate is high and worrying. However, there is no satisfactory therapy for this pathology described as a "silent killer". It is therefore essential to find an alternative through the heritage of plant resources used in traditional medicine. The decoction of Piliostigma thonningii leaves is frequently used by Ivorian traditional therapists. This study focuses on this plant species by performing a phytochemical screening and evaluating the acute toxicity of aqueous extracts from the plant's leaves. In laboratory, the phytomedicine was explored for its pharmacodynamic effects. After fasting the mice for 12 hours, the stock solution of 200 mg/ml was administered by gavage at a volume of 0.6 ml per 20 grams of body weight. The toxicological study showed that the aqueous extract from leaves of Piliostigma thonningii did not show toxic effect on the animals. The phytochemical screening of the tested sample in Pharmacodynamics revealed various chemical groups: alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, polyphenols, quinones, saponosides and catechic tannins. Polyphenols, alkaloids and flavonoids are believed to be responsible for the anti-diabetic activity. This preliminary verification, based on pharmacological and phytochemical tests, confirms the traditional therapeutic use of the tested plant.