We are witnessing over these last thirty years a growing frequency of occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This observation is coupled with a reduction in discovery of new antimicrobials. Given the recurrence of difficult to treat infections caused by these pathogens become multidrug resistant, strengthening the antimicrobial arsenal is one of the main public health concerns. To this end, an ethnopharmacological approach has been developed. Within the framework of cooperation between the laboratory of Biochemical pharmacodynamics (University of Cocody, Côte d'Ivoire) and the laboratory of microbial biodiversity and ecology (LUBEM EA 3882, University of Brest, France), traditional self-medication habits affecting more than 70% of the population of Cote d'Ivoire were analyzed to identify new sources of antimicrobial compounds. In the first part of this study, an investigation of bacterial resistance in Côte d'Ivoire has revealed not just an increase in the frequency of occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in time, but also an evolution of resistant strains toward different types of antibiotics. In the second part, Morinda morindoides, an Ivorian medicinal plant aroused our attention for the research of antimicrobial substances. From 18 extracts from different organs of this plant the antimicrobial activity tests were performed. The acetonitrile extract of the root which exhibit the most interesting activity was used to isolate and characterize 12 antimicrobial phytomolecules. One of these compounds exhibits an original chemical structure named morindoidine. In addition to their antimicrobial activity, other biological properties of these substances have been evaluated such as their antioxidant potency, their cytotoxicity, their hemolytic activity and their molecular target. This assessment revealed a mode of action probably close to that of quinolones.
