Abstract

Many surveys performed around the world have mentioned that among the plant species belonging to Combretaceae family, Terminalia catappa is the most requested medicinal plant. In recent decades, traditional healers in southern region of Côte d’Ivoire prefer to use the bark of Terminalia mantaly instead of those of T. catappa. The purpose of this study is to compare the pharmacological activities of these plants. The results of the anti-fungal activities of aqueous, hydroalcoholic and residual extracts on the growth of Aspergillusfumigates, a fungal pathogen, show that Terminalia mantaly water extract is 64 times more active than T. catappa water extract; hydroalcoholic extract of T. mantaly is 2 times more active than hydroalcoholic extract of T. catappa and residual extract of T. mantaly is 128 times more active than residual extract of  T. catappa. Analysis of these results shows clearly that T. mantaly extracts are more active than extracts of T. catappa. The choice of T. mantaly and abandon of T. catappa by traditional healers in making medicines against skin infections is due to abundance of this plant in all areas and settlements and its excellent activities on many pathogens.

Key words: Côte d’Ivoire, Terminalia catappa, Terminalia mantaly, antifungal activity.