"Déamélatsougo": a natural antimicrobial

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Extract from the article: Acanthospermum hispidum, known as "Damelatsu'nko" or "Déamélatsougo" in Ewe, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. Originally from South America, it is now found throughout most of Africa and Asia. Déamélatsougo grows from

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Acanthospermum hispidum, known as "Damelatsu'nko" or "Déamélatsougo" in Ewe, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. Originally from South America, it is now found throughout most of Africa and Asia. Déamélatsougo grows from a taproot with fine secondary roots and has sessile leaves arranged in opposite pairs. Widespread in West Africa, this plant is recognised for its therapeutic importance.

Acanthospermum hispidum is used in traditional medicine for its antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal and vermifuge properties. The results of several studies confirm its remarkable therapeutic capabilities.

Antifungal activity

A study conducted at the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny and the École Normale Supérieure (ENS) in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, showed that the 70% ethanolic fraction of Acanthospermum hispidum has marked antifungal activity against the in vitro growth of Candida albicans.

A study carried out at the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny and the École Normale Supérieure (ENS) in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, showed that the 70% ethanolic fraction of Acanthospermum hispidum has marked antifungal activity against the in vitro growth of Candida albicans.

Another study, carried out by the Laboratoire de Biotechnologie Microbienne at the Faculté des Sciences et Techniques in Fez, Morocco, and the Université de Lomé in Togo, assessed the antimycobacterial activity of Acanthospermum hispidum extracts against Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium aurum.The results indicate that the ethyl acetate extract of the plant shows significant activity against these non-pathogenic mycobacteria, suggesting potential efficacy against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

An antimicrobial and antioxidant

According to a 2003 review entitled "Antimicrobial activity of the leaves and flowering tops of Acanthospermum hispidum", the plant's leaves have antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. The alcoholic extract of the leaves and flowers showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, while the aqueous extract showed no antibacterial activity, probably due to the absence of alkaloids in the aqueous extraction. The aqueous leaf extracts also showed antiviral activity against herpes viruses and retroviruses, due to a carbohydrate in the plant.

Recipe 1: In cases of malaria, a decoction of the plant is recommended.Take 10 bunches of Damelatsu'nko leaves in 2 litres of water.Leave to stand for ten minutes or so and drink the tea. 1 glass of bamboo 3 times a day, morning, noon and evening, after meals. 

Recipe 2: Rub the leaves with your hands and chop them into small pieces. Cut two whole lemons and squeeze them over the rubbed leaves in a container. The patient covers himself with thick sheets and inhales. This will allow perspiration to take place.

Raymond DZAKPATA