Table 1.
Some Phytomedicinals in the International Market
| Plant species | Action | Constituents | Countries |
|
Ancistrocladus abbreviatus |
Anti-HIV | Michellamine B | Cameroon and Ghana |
|
Corynanthe pachyceras |
Male stimulant | Corynanthidine, corynanthine, yohimbine. |
Ghana |
| Tamarindus indica | Insecticides | Pectins | Egypt |
| Rauvolfia vomitoria | Tranquilizer and antihypertensive |
Reserpine, yohimbine | Nigeria, Zaire, Rwanda, Mozambique, |
| Cinchona succirubra | Anti malarial | Quinine | West African countries |
| Syzigium aromaticum | Dental remedy | Eugenol, terpenoids | East African countries, Madagascar |
| Agava sisalana | Corticosteroids and oral contraceptives |
Hecogenin | Tanzania |
|
Physostigma venenosum |
Opthalmia | Physostigimine (eserine) | Calabar (Nigeria), Ghana, Cote D'ivoire |
| Prunus africana | Prostate gland hypertrophy | Sterols, triterpenes, n-docosanol | Cameroon, Kenya, Madagascar |
| Catharanthus roseus | Anti-Leukemia and Hodgkin's disease |
Triterpenoids, tannins and alkaloids |
Madagascar |
|
Zingiber officinale (Ginger) |
Spice, carminative and medicinal products |
Gingerol | Nigeria |
|
Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium |
Insecticides | Pyrethrins | Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa |
Source: Adapted from Okigbo and Mmeka (2006: 86).