Abstract

Chewing sticks are secondary forest products used by people of all ages, genders and professions in Benin but less investigated according to species concerned, their importance according to local communities and their pharmacological properties. For that purpose, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted among 105 local informants of 8 districts in southern and central Benin. The informants were requested to list the species used as chewing sticks and to rank them by priority. To assess pharmacological importance, phytochemical screening was done on four species listed as priority according to local perceptions. The most important plant families of chewing sticks harvested are Euphorbiaceae, Combretaceae, Anacardiaceae, Rubiaceae and Rutaceae. We recorded 35 species of chewing sticks which were grouped into three categories. Six major groups of chemical compounds were tested in four species listed as priority: alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, terpenoids and heteroside cardiotonics. Chemical groups found in selected plants have in general positive actions on dental care, but some such as heterosides cardiotonics found in Pseudospondias microcarpa (in traces) are not recommended because of the risks of cardiotoxicity known for these chemical compounds.

Key words: Chewing sticks, chemical compounds, Pseudospondias microcarpa, cardiotoxicity.