Background: Following ethnobotanical surveys, Combretum paniculatum Vent (Combretaceae); Trema orientalis (L.) (Cannabaceae) and Duguetia staudtii (Diels & Engl) (Annonaceae) were the plants most cited and recommended in the treatment of various dermatoses, including superficial mycoses. Fungal infections, which are a frequent reason for consultation in dermatology, often have enormous consequences for victims, especially immunocompromised individuals. Objectives: To evaluate the in vitro antifungal activities of aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts of these plants on two dermatophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytesR, Trichophyton rubrumR) and a yeast Candida albicansR 479 in order to confirm their use in traditional medicine and contribute to the fight against superficial mycoses which are on the rise in Ivory Coast. Methodology and results: Extracts from each plant were incorporated into Sabouraud agar using the double dilution method in tilted tubes. Dermatophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytesR; Trichophyton rubrumR) and the yeast Candida albicansR 479 were sensitive to both aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts in 70% of the plants studied. However, it was the 70% hydro-ethanolic extracts that were the most active on all fungal strains with lower MICs (between 01.56 and 50 mg/ml); IC50 values ​​ranging from (0.78 to 03.125 mg/ml). Conclusion and application of results: These results justify the traditional use of these medicinal plants and show that they would constitute a renewable and innovative source of therapeutic molecules that can be used to produce effective antifungals for the treatment of fungal dermatoses.

The study aims to assess the cutaneous toxicity and antifungal activity of the hydroethanol extract of Senna podocarpa, a plant used in traditional medicine. This research is essential to determine both the safety of using the extract on the skin and its efficacy against various fungal infections. Following OECD guideline 404 (2015), twelve Hyplus rabbits were treated with 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg doses of the extract to observe skin reactions, such as erythema and oedema, over 14 days. Antifungal activity was assessed using the double dilution slant tube method, followed by inoculation with Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Antifungal parameters such as MIC, MFC, and IC50 were determined. Senna podocarpa extract showed no dermal toxicity, with a mean irritation index (MII) of 0, indicating that it is neither irritant nor corrosive to rabbit skin. No skin lesions were observed, and the rabbits’ coats grew back 24 hours after application. In addition, the extract did not affect the weight of the rabbits, with those given 500 mg/kg even showing greater weight gain than those given 200 mg/kg. In terms of antifungal activity, the extract inhibited the growth of the fungi tested in a dose-dependent manner. The MIC and MFC were 6.25 mg/mL and 12.5 mg/mL for A. fumigatus, 25 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL for C. albicans, and 100 mg/mL for T. mentagrophytes.