Variability of ethnobotanical uses and biological activities of three aromatic plants from three regions of Burkina Faso: Acanthospermum hispidum DC; Vitex simplicifolia Oliv. and Vetiveria nigritana (Benth)

Abstract

Traditional medicine in Burkina Faso relies heavily on aromatic plants for the treatment of malaria, bacterial infections, fevers, and related illnesses. Acanthospermum hispidum , Vitex simplicifolia , and Vetiveria nigritana are widely cited species, yet their essential oil composition and biological activities remain underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the ethnobotanical importance, chemical composition, and biological activities (antibacterial and antiplasmodial) of essential oils from these three medicinal plants collected across different ecological regions of Burkina Faso. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in the Centre-North, Centre, and Cascades regions. Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC–MS. Antibacterial activity was assessed using MIC and MBC assays, while antiplasmodial activity was evaluated in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum (3D7 strain). Multivariate statistical analyses (Pearson correlation and PCA) were applied to explore the relationships between chemical composition and biological activity. Ethnobotanical data revealed high citation frequency of the studied species for malaria and fever management. Essential oil yields varied by species and region, with Vitex simplicifolia (Cascades) showing the highest yield (13%). GC–MS analysis indicated terpene-rich profiles dominated by sesquiterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes. Vetiveria nigritana exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity (MIC = 0.625 mg/mL) and excellent antiplasmodial activity (IC₅₀ = 0.87 µg/mL), comparable to chloroquine. Oils from Acanthospermum hispidum also showed excellent antiplasmodial activity, while Vitex simplicifolia displayed moderate to promising activity depending on region. Correlation analysis highlighted a strong association between oxygenated sesquiterpenes, particularly spathulenol, and antiplasmodial activity. PCA clearly discriminated species according to chemical composition and biological properties. This study provides scientific validation of the traditional medicinal uses of Acanthospermum hispidum , Vitex simplicifolia , and Vetiveria nigritana . The findings emphasize the importance of chemical composition, especially oxygenated sesquiterpenes, in determining essential oil bioactivity and support the potential of these plants as sources of natural antimalarial and antibacterial agents.