A review of aromatic herbal plants of medicinal importance from Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is blessed with a rich source of aromatic flora, many of which have not been previously investigated for their chemical constituents and biological potentials. This flora constitutes a rich source of potential spices or flavoring, ingredients of formulae intended for pharmaceutical administration, and for perfumery. Interestingly, essential oil constituents such as 1,8-cineole, precocene, 6,10,14-trimethyIpentadecan-2-one, eugenol, β-caryophyllene, α-pinene, α-terpineol and even hitherto uncommon compounds such as zerumbone and rare terpenoid esters have been isolated and characterized from these plants. In addition, some of the studied volatile oils have exhibited biological activities of importance such as antimicrobial and cytotoxicity. The majority of these aromatic plants occur either as perennial or annual herbs which are suitable for cultivation purposes in herbal gardens, traditional medicinal centers, parks, research institutes and forest reserves. This paper presents a review of some of the endemic aromatic and medicinal plants of Nigeria with a view to ascertaining their suitability as raw materials for the pharmaceutical and perfumery applications.