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This study is able to record the remaining available information on phytocosmetics in traditional medicine orally passed down through generations in South West Nigeria.

The anthelmintic potentials of the chloroform and methanol extracts of Buchholzia coriacea Engler seed were investigated. In folklore medicine, B. coriacea (Capparidaceae) is believed to be useful in the treatment of various kinds of ailments and diseases. At doses of 10 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, the extracts were tested against Eudrilus eugeniae (earthworm) and Bunostomum phlebotomum (cattle hookworm). The extracts exhibited dose-dependent anthelmintic effects on the earthworms and hookworms. The methanol extract at 50 mg/kg was the most active extract against the helminths, and the activity of the methanol extract was not significantly different from that of piperazine hydrate (reference drug, 10 mg/kg) against the earthworms.

Infectious diseases are main causes of morbidity and mortality in man, especially in developing countries. [1] The emergence of multidrug resistant organisms to known antibiotics leading to several deaths worldwide has led to the interest of scientists in exploring plants, herbal products and traditional medicine for the identification of safe and effective remedies to ailments of microbial origin. [2] Euphorbia heterophylla Linn belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae, a family represented by the trees, shrubs, herbs and characterized by presence of white milky latex which is more or less toxic. [3] It consists of about 300 genera and about 7,000 species. [4] The genus Euphorbia is one of the largest genera in the Euphorbiaceae family with about 1,600 species [5] which has been subjected to numerous chemical studies. [6] E. heterophylla Linn (syn. E. geniculata