Table 1.
S/No | Plant | Family | Common Names |
Local Names | Parts Used | Chemical Constituents |
Action | References |
1 |
Hygrophila auriculata |
Acanthaceae | Indian paint brush |
Hausa: zazargiwa, kayarukumi |
Whole plant | Steroids, Alkaloids | Antibiotic | Odugbemi (2006) |
2 |
Peristrophe bicalyculata |
Acanthaceae | Tabanin dawaki, hargowandoki |
Whole plant | Alkaloids, Essential oils, Fatty acids |
Antimicrobial, it prevent Tuberculosis |
Okujagu (2008) | |
3 |
Amaranthus spinosus L. |
Amaranthaceae | Thorny pig weed |
Hausa :zaaki banza mai kaya,Igbo:inine ogwu,yoruba:tete kekere |
Whole plant | Tannins,saponins,amino acids,methyl derivative,cholesterol, oleanolic acid,stigmasterol,camp esterol |
Antipyretic | Okujagu (2008) |
4 |
Celosia isertii C.C. Townsend |
Amaranthaceae | Hausa: Nannaho Igbo: Eli-emi Onu Yoruba: Ajifowo |
Whole plant | Amaranthin celosianin Betanin |
Antihelmintic | Okujagu (2008) | |
5 | Mangifera indica | Anacardiaceae | Mango | Hausa: mangwaro Igbo: mangoro |
Stem bark, leaves, fruit |
Mangiferine | Anti-emetic, Anti-inflammatory | Okujagu (2008) |
6 |
Spondias mombin L. |
Anacardiaceae | Akika (Yoruba), Ijikere (Igbo) |
Leaves | Tannins, phenolic esters, Alkaloids, saponin |
Antiviral Antibacterial |
Okwu and Okwu (2004) | |
7 |
Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich. |
Annonaceae | Ethiopian pepper seed |
Sesedo (Yoruba), Uda (Igbo) |
Fruits | Volatile oil | Antimicrobial, | |
8 |
Catharanthus roseus L. G. Don |
Apocynaceae | Rose periwinkle |
Apabida (Yoruba) | Leaves | Vincrstine, vinblastine | Anti-leukaemic, anti-cancer, antihypertensive |
Elujoba et al, (2005) |
9 |
Rauwolfia vomitoriaAfz Or R. serpentine (L.) Benth ex. Kurz |
Apocynaceae | Serpent wood | Asofeyeje (Yoruba), Akata (Igbo) |
Leaves, Seeds |
Reserpine, deserpidine, rescinamine, yohimbine |
Antihypertensive |
Kokwaro, (1993); Sofowora (2008) |
10 |
Crytolopsis sanguinolenta (lindl( |
Apocynaceae | Igbo: oba Yoruba: igisoba |
Fruit | hydrocyanic acids | Anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory | ||
11 |
Aristolochia albida Duchartre |
Aristolochiaceae | Dutchman pipe |
Hausa :duman dutse,Igbo:isi okuko,Yoruba:para n funfun |
root | Aristolochic acids,aristolachine,aris tinic acids,aristidinic acids |
Anthelmintic,anti-inflammatory | Okujagu (2008) |
12 |
Ageratum conyzoides L. |
Asteraceae | Goat weed | Imiesu (Yoruba) | Whole plant | Phenols, Alkaloids | Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic properties. |
Kokwaro (1993) |
13 |
Kigelia Africana (Lam.) Benth |
Bignoniaceae | Sausage tree | Pandoro (Yoruba) Ishi (Igbo), Rahaina, nonon giwa (Hausa) |
Bark, Seed. | Naphthoquinones, Iridoids, |
Anti-malaria | |
14 |
Adansonia digitata L. |
Bombacaceae | Baobab, Monkey bread |
Kuka (Hausa), Osa (Yoruba) Osi (Edo), Oyili-akpu (Igbo), Kuwa (kanuri) |
Root, bark, seed, leaves, flower. |
Hydroquinone, proanthocyanidins |
Anti-inflammation | |
15 |
Afzelia africana Smith |
Caesalpiniaceae | Hausa: kawo Igbo: Akpalata Yoruba: Api Edo: Ariyan Efik: Enyin mbukpo |
Bark | Alkaloids, Tanins | Antihelmintic | Okujagu (2008) | |
16 | Cassia alataL. | Caesalpinaceae | Cassia | Asunran (Yoruba) | Leaves | Alkaloids, Saponins, Tannins, anthracionones and carbohydrates. |
Antiseptic, laxative and it also inhibits fungal growth |
Gill (1992); Sule et al (2010) |
17 | Cassia tora | Caesalpinaceae | Hausa: Talasa Yoruba Aborere |
Whole plant | Tannis, Alkaloids, Anthraquinones, Glycosides, Oil, Hydrocyanic acid, fatty acid |
Antimicrobial Activity | Sofowora (2008) | |
18 |
Daniella oliveri (Rolfe) |
Caesalpiniaceae | Balsam tree | Hausa: maje Igbo: Agba Yoruba: Ojia, iya |
Gum of bark | Alkaloid, Essential oil, tannin and oleoresin |
Anti-parasite | Onwukaeme (1993) |
19 | Cleome viscose L. | Capparidaceae | Spider plant | Hausa :tafarnuwan,Igbo;k eerem kerem,Yoruba a:ekuya |
Seeds, root | Coumarinolignans, cleomiscosin, marcrocyclic diterpenes |
Antiscorbutic,anthelmintic | Okujagu (2008) |
20 | Carica papaya L. | Caricaseae | Paw paw | Ibepe (Yoruba) | Fruits, latex, leaves |
Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Triterpenes |
anthelmintic, antifungal |
Gill (1992). |
21 |
Bryophyllum pinnatum Lam Oken |
Crassulaceae | Ressurection plant, Life plant |
Eru-odundun, Abomoda (Yoruba), Odaa opue (Igbo) |
Leaves, Roots, Leaf sap |
alkaloids, flavonoids and essential oils |
Antifungal, Antimicrobial, Anticancer. antihypertensive activity, prevent and treat Leishmaniasis, protect against chemically induced anaphylactic reactions |
Ghasi et al (2011) |
22 |
Mormodica charantia |
Curcubitaceae | Bitter lemon | Hausa Garapunu | Fruit | Steroids | Antidiabetic, Antioxidant | Abe (1974) |
23. |
Telferia occidentalis |
Curcubitaceae | Fluted pumpkin | Igbo: ugu | Seeds | Steriods, tannic acid | Prevention of adnopause, prevention of anaemia |
Tan (2002) |
24 |
Acalypha godseffiana pax |
Euphorbiaceae | Golden acalypha |
Yoruba: Jinwinni | Leaf Poultice |
antibiotic, bacteristatic, fungistatic |
Antibacterial | Odugbemi (2006) |
25 |
Acalypha wilkesiana Müll.-Arg. |
Euphorbiaceae | Copper leaf, beef steak plant |
Yoruba: Jinwinni, (Ijebu) aworoso |
Leaf | antibiotic, bacteristatic, fungistatic |
antimicrobials | Odugbemi (2006) |
26 |
Acalypha wilkesiana |
Euphobiaceae | Acalypha | Hausa: Jinwinni, Igbo: Jiwene, Yoruba aworoso |
leaf | Ethanol | Antmicrobial | Odugbemi (2006) |
27 |
Alchornea cordifolia_(Schum. & Thonn.) |
Euphorbiaceae | Christmas bush, Oliver |
Yoruba: èpa, esin, Hausa: bambami, Igbo: ubebe, |
Leaf | Alkaloids glycosides, saponins, steroids tannins, astringents |
Antiaborifacients | Burkill (1985): |
28 | Euphorbia hirta l | Euphobiaceae | Hausa: udani Igbo: |
Whole plant | Alkaloid, glycoside, tarderpenoids, sterols |
Antibacterial, anti-diarrhoea, Anti-asthmatic, | Onwukaeme (1993) | |
29 | Jatrophacurcas L. | Euphorbiaceae | Red fig nut flower |
Lapalapa (Yoruba) | Leaves | Volatile oil, Curcin, Saponins, Tannins |
Antimicrobial, antiseptic | Thomas (1989) |
30 |
Mallotus oppositifolius (Geisel) mull. Arg. |
Euphorbiaceae | Ukpo (Igbo), Kafar mutuwaa (Hausa), Eja (Yoruba) |
Leaves | Alkaliods, phenols, anthocyanins, butacyanin, flavonoids, steroids and tannins |
Anti-malarial and inhibits fungal growth. |
Farombi et al., 2001 | |
31 | Phyllanthus amarus | Euphorbiaceae | Stone breaker | Ite kwonwa nazu (Igbo), Geeron tsutsaayee (Hausa), Eyin olubi (Yoruba), Ebebenizo (Benin). |
Whole plant | Insulin, Saponin, Tannins. |
||
32 |
Ocimum gratissimum L |
Lamiaceae | Clove basil, Sweet basil, tea bush, Scent leaf or fever plant |
Efinrin (Yoruba), Nchu-anwu, Ahuji (Igbo), Daidoya (Hausa) |
Leaves, Essential oils |
Curcumin, flavonoids, isoflavone, flavones, anthocyanin, catechin and isocatechin; Alkaloids, Saponins, Cardiac glycosides and Anthraquinones |
It prevents breast cancer and fat accumulation. It inhibits growth of disease causative microorganisms (antimicrobial). It has antioxidant activity and also preventing the formation of oxidized Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL), which is considered to induce cardiovascular disease |
Obho (2006)
Amic et al., (2003); Nwinyi et. al. (2009); |
33 | Allium cepa Linn | Liliaceae | Onions | Alubosa (Yoruba) | Bulbs | Alicin, quercetin, allyl propyl disulfide |
Prevents irregular heart beat and abnormal blood pressure. It also prevents cancers, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), bronchitis, dry or stubborn cough and blood clots. |
Ozougwu and Eyo (2011) |
34 | Allium sativum L. | Liliaceae | Garlic | Aayu (Yoruba) | Bulbs | peptides, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenols |
Anti-bacteria and also prevents high blood pressure |
Gill, 1992 |
35 |
Erythrophleum suaveolens Guill. & Perr. |
Leguminosae | sassy, sasswood, red water tree and ordeal tree |
Obo Erunobo, olu-obo, Ajeku, Obo (Yoruba), Gwaska (Hausa), inyi,akpa. (Igbo) |
Stem bark | Saponins | Anti-oxidants, antiviral, Antihelminthic, antimicrobial, anticancer |
Lawal et al, 2010; Akinpelu et al, 2012 |
36 |
Abelmoschus esculentus_(Linn.) |
Malvaceae | Okro, lady's fingers. |
Yoruba: ila | Fruit | alkaloids. uricant. aromatic substances |
antibiotic, bacteristatic, fungistatic | Odugbemi (2006) |
37 |
Hibiscus sabdariffa L. |
Malvaceae | Red Sorrel | Yakuwa (Hausa), Karasu (Kanuri), Tabwa (babur) |
Whole plant | Protocatechuic acid | Anti-malaria | |
38 | Sida acuta Burm. F | Malvaceae | Horn bean leaf |
Esoketu, Iseketu (Yoruba) |
Leaves, Roots |
Alkaloids, Phenols, Fatty acids, Coumarins, Sterols, Triterpenoids |
Antipyretic and has inhibitory activity against disease causing bacteria |
Iroha et al 2009 |
39 |
Azadirachtaindica (A.Juss.) |
Meliaceae | Neem | Dongoyaro | leaves | Quinine | Anti-malaria. | Lawal et al, 2010 |
40 |
Azadirachta indica A.Juss. |
Meliaceae | Neem | Dongoyaro | Leaves | Quinine | Anti malaria, insecticide | Lawal et al, 2010 |
41 |
Acacia polyacantha Wild. |
Mimosaceae | Edi (Yoruba) | Bark | Alkaloid, Tannins, Saponins, Resins |
Anti-malaria | ||
42 |
Pentacletha macrophylla Benth |
Mimosoideae | Oil bean tree | Igbo: ugba, ukpaka, akpaka Ijaw: ukpakara Yoruba Apara |
Leaves | Saponin, tannins, paucine |
Anticarcinogenic | Onwukaeme (1993) |
43 |
Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam |
Moraceae | Jack fruit | Fruits | dihydromorin, steppogenin, norartocarpetin, artocarpanone, and artocarpesin |
Anti-ulcer | Lawal et al, 2010 | |
44 |
Moringa oleifera Lam. |
Moringaceae | Drumstick tree |
Moringa | Leaves, Seeds |
Saponins, Riboflavin, Sterols |
Antioxidants, antimicrobial | Odugbemi (2006) |
45 |
Passiflora foetida L |
Passifloraceae | Stinking passion flower |
Nine-nine | Roots, Leaves, Fruits |
chrysoeriol, apigenin, luteolin, kaempferol, isoschaftoside, 2′-xylosylvitexin, isovitexin and vitexin |
Antispasmodic, antibacterial, antihypertension, antiproliferative activity on human breast adenocarcinoma |
Moongkarndi et al., 2004 |
46 |
Cymbopogon citrates |
Poaceae | Lemon grass | Kooko oba (Yoruba) Isauri (Hausa), Achara ehi (Igbo Ikon (Efik). |
Leaves | Essential oils (e.g Citral), Limonine, Camphene, citronella, Geraniol, Alkaloids. |
Anti-malaria. | Odugbemi (2006) |
47 |
Piper guineense Schum |
Piperaceae | African black pepper |
Iyere, Ata-iyere (Yoruba) |
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds |
alkaloidal amides (Piperanine, dihydrowasanine, isobutyl-(E,E)-2, 4-decadienamide) |
Antipyretic, Antiemetic, antiparasitic, antimicrobial and antifungal activities |
Ngane et al., (2003); Ekanem et al., (2004) |
48 | Piper nigrum L. | Piperaceae | Black pepper | Uziza (Igbo), Iyere (Yoruba), Masoro (Hausa) |
Fruits | eugenol, kaempferol, myrcene, piperine, quercetin, chavicin and rutin black pepper. |
It inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines that are produced by tumour cells (anti-tumourigenic). It is also immunostimmulatory, stomachic, carminative, anticholestrolemic and anti-oxidant. It also inhibits the growth of malaria parasite. |
Shaba et al. (2012) |
49 |
Peperomia Pellucida L. |
Piperaceae | pepper elder | Bark | alkaloids, flavonoids, tannin, saponins and Tepernoid |
Prevents gout, anti-arthritic, Anti-cancer, Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antfungal |
Odugbemi (2006) | |
50 | Citrus aurantifolia | Rutaceae | Orange (Lime) |
Olome (Igbo), Osan-wewe (Yoruba) Lemun tsami (Hausa), Lemun tsamtsam (Kanuri) |
Fruit, Leaves | Ascorbic acid, asparagine, acetic acid, essential oils. |
Anti-malaria | Odugbemi (2006) |
51 | Capsicum annum | Solanaceae | Ball pepper | Hausa: kananan barkomo Yoruba: Ata wewe Igbo: ose ogologo |
Fruits, and leaves |
Capsaicin, capsaicinoids |
Antimicrobial, prevention of heart attack and stroke |
Odugbemi (2006) |
52 |
Cola millenii K. Schum |
Sterculiaceae | monkey cola | Obi-edun (Yoruba) | Fruits | phytosterols, polyphenols (tannins, flavonoids), saponins, alkaloids, saponin glycosides, steroids and triterpenoids, glycosides, hydrolysable tannins, phenols and volatile oils |
Antiviral, reduces the low density lipoprotein, i.e. the cholesterol involved in depositing fat in the Arteries prevent blood clotting which can reduce risk of heart attack or stroke. |
Lawal et al, 2010 |
53 | Cucurma longa L. | Zingiberaceae | Tumeric | Tumeric | Roots | Curcumin, Tumeric oils, Terpenoids |
It prevents cancerous growth. It also aids digestion of fats. It helpful in preventing the blockage of arteries that can gradually cause a heart attack or stroke |
Odugbemi (2006) |
54 |
Zingiber officinale Roscoe |
Zingiberaceae | Ginger | Ginger | Rhizome | Gingerols, shogaols, zingerone and paradol |
It prevents chilblains and circulatory problems such as Raynaud's disease. It is highly antiseptic, activating immunity and dispelling a whole variety of bacterial and viral infections. It also inhibits blood clotting. |
Ozougwu and Eyo (2011) |