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In Benin, malaria is a major public health concern, especially for children under five years and pregnant women. Considering the inefficiency of the health centers in some regions, people use plants for their primary health care. This study aimed to identify and document the medicinal plants used in the treatment of malaria in four departments (Littoral, Oueme, Plateau and Zou) of south Benin. Data were recorded using interview and field observation. 42 informants including 15 traditional healers and 27 medicinal plants sellers with an average of fourteen years of experience were interviewed. Plants were identified by a botanist from the National Herbarium of Benin. The study revealed that a total of 34 plants species belonging to 33 genera and 24 families were collected. The most frequently cited plant species was Chamaecrista rotundifolia, Senna siamea and Dialium guineense. Caesalpinioideae and Rubiaceae are the most families mentioned by the informants. The most common preparation method is decoction and the route of administration is oral. The results contributed to the conservation of empirical knowledge of medicinal plants used for the treatment of malaria and could help to identify new research topics in connection with the implementation of Traditional Medicines. Key words: Medicinal plants, malaria, traditional knowledge, Benin.

Casuarina equisetifolia (L.) (Casuarinaceae) and Oxalis corniculata (L.) (Oxalidaceae), two medicinal plants used in Benin were screened for their antifungal activity against six strains of the genus Aspergillus (Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus nidulans). The antioxidant activity and phytochemical constituents were also examined. The extracts were screened for the presence of alkaloids, coumarin, anthracene derivatives, flavonoids, lignans, essential oils, naphtoquinones and terpenoids. The antifungal activity was carried out using agar diffusion method, while antioxidant activity was determined by the 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazine method. Phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of flavonoids, anthracenic derivatives, essential oil, pigments, terpene and triterpene in the leaves of O. corniculata and terpene and pigments in the fruits of C. equisetifolia. The antifungal activity of extracts is more marked on the sporulation (17.74 to 99.48%) than the mycelia development (7.69 to 65.71%). Methanol and hydro-ethanol extracts showed the best inhibitory percentage of DPPH radical (78 to 95%). Key words: Medicinal plants, antifungal and antioxidant activity, phytochemical.