ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY AND IDENTIFICATION OF PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OF WALTHERIA INDICA L. (MALVACEAE), A PLANT TRADITIONALLY USED TO TREAT INFANTILE DIARRHEA IN BOUAKE (COTE D'IVOIRE)

Abstract Infantile diarrhea remains a significant public health problem in Côte d'Ivoire. Populations often turn to traditional pharmacopoeia for the management of this condition. The present study aims to promote medicinal plants used against infantile diarrhea in Bouaké. It focuses in particular on Waltheria indica L. (Malvaceae), traditionally used in the treatment of this condition. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted among herbalists and phytotherapists in the city of Bouaké. Its purpose was to identify the species used in the traditional treatment of infantile diarrhea. Waltheria indica L. was selected for this study because of its frequent use against this condition. A phytochemical characterization of its extract was then carried out in the laboratory. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of several groups of secondary metabolites. These include polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, alkaloids, tannins, coumarins, saponins, sterols and polyterpenes. The presence of these different groups could contribute to the traditional uses reported for this species. These results provide preliminary data on the ethnobotanical and phytochemical interest of W. indica. They also constitute a basis for further pharmacological studies. This work will notably make it possible to evaluate its therapeutic potential in the management of infantile diarrhea. Keywords: infantile diarrhea, traditional pharmacopoeia, phytochemical characterization, secondary metabolites.