Typhoid and paratyphoid fevers are serious infectious diseases caused by enterobacteria of the genus Salmonella that become resistant to existing antibiotics. As part of the valorization of medicinal plants used in the treatment of typhoid fever in Benin, an ethnopharmacological investigation was conducted among 109 traditional healers, 151 herbalists and 130 elderly people in thirteen communes targeted in the departments of southern Benin.

At the end of the investigation, 109 plant species belonging to 100 genera and 52 families were identified. These inventoried plant species are used in 235 recipes. Leaves (68%) are the most used plant organs in the form of decocities (91%) and are administered orally (99,74%). The fruits of Citrus aurantifolia (31,79%) are the most used in these recipes, followed by leaves of Corchorus olitorius (23,85%), Senna siamea (20,51%) and roots of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (16,1%). This study provides a database for further anti-typhoid drug formulation studies.