Phytochemical Compositions in Some Nigerian Medicinal Plants and Their Pharmacological Properties: A Review

Abstract

Nigeria is naturally blessed with both savannah and tropical rainforests vegetation and these offer a wide distribution of plants believed to possesses secondary metabolites which are responsible for treating or curing various diseases. Several researches have been carried out in order to explore and identify the chemical compositions responsible for various pharmacological activities in Nigerian medicinal plants. This paper discussed the meaning and historical development of medicinal plants. A brief account of phytochemicals (alkaloids and flavonoids) were also given. The plants presented in this paper confirmed the pharmacological activities of these plants and includes; anticonvulsant, antioxidant, antibacterial, anxiolytic, antiinflammatory, antiulcer, anticancer, antiplasmodial, antitrypanosomal, antithypoid, antitumor, antileishmanial, antidiarrhoeal, antidiabetic, antituberculosis, analgesic as well as others. Keywords: