The toxic effects of known analgesics in pains and stress management are major health concern globally. This study therefore investigated the phytochemical and analgesic property of commonly used medicinal plant in southwestern Nigeria for pain management. Clerodendrum volubile (CVL) was screened for phytochemical constituents following standard procedure. Forty two Wistar Albino Mice (WAM) of both sexes (35-40 g, n=6) were grouped into seven. Thirty minutes prior to intraperitoneal injection with 2 ml of 0.1% acetic acid, animals in groups I-III received plant extracts (1 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg respectively), IV-VI were treated with paracetamol (acetaminophen), aspirin and indomethacin while VII received saline water. Thirty minutes observation period was adhered to. Time related analgesic effect was also investigated. The results showed that the extract contained alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenols, anthraquinones, and flavonoids. Analgesic assay revealed methanol leaf extract of CVL demonstrated a dose dependent activity on the acetic acid-induced writhing. Writhing counts significantly reduced in mice administered with 1-100 mg/kg CVL (85.17±3.72, 57.17 ± 4.07 and 40.00 ± 2.08) compared to paracetamol, aspirin, indomethacin (76.50±7.64, 45.67± 2.73, 33.50 ± 4.23) and saline water (207.83±9.95). Percentage inhibition of abdominal constriction was dose dependent in methanol leaf extract of CVL (87.00±0.03%) relative to control (0.00%). These findings support the previously reported analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of extracts of other species related to the study plant.

The leaf extracts of Phyllanthus amarus Schum and Thonn. a common Western Nigerian weed, was investigated for phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activities. Hexane extracts demonstrated the highest extraction of 59% followed by Acetone (57%) and water (48%). Saponins, tannins, alkaloid flavonoids, balsam, anthraquinones and phenols were extracted in an acidic medium. Twelve microorganisms (8 bacterial species and 4 fungal species) were investigated for antimicrobial activities. Generally, the fungal species showed lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) than the bacterial species. The test organisms showed close susceptibility to the leaf extracts when compared with Bacitracin and Erythromycin. Generally, the combination of the leaf extract with either bacitracin or erythromycin alone demonstrated synergistic effect thus showing the potential benefit of combining these standard antibiotics with the leaf extracts of P. amarus for combating infections.

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Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants remains a veritable source of information leading to discovery of new lead compounds of pharmaceutical importance thus, the need for continual search for medicinal plants via ethnobotanical surveys in Nigeria. Structured questionnaires were administered amongst traditional healers. A few other anecdotal claims about efficacy of herbs from people who at one time or the other have used the plants for wound healing were also sampled. The result of an ethnobotanical survey of plants used in the treatment of wound in Ijebu North Local Government area of Ogun State and Ibadan North Local Government area of Oyo state of Nigeria are reported. A total of 71 species of plants covering 43 families were identified; representing 51 recipes. Carica papaya Linn, Elaeis guineensis Jacq, Chromolaena odorata Meull. Arg, Gladiolus psittacinus Hook.f., Vetivera kotschyana (Benth.) Stapf, Securidaca longipedunculata Fresen and Euphorbia laterifolia Linn were prominent among the recipes. Among all the families identified in the recipes, Euphorbiaceae was most mentioned (7.0%) followed by Compositeae, Fabacceae, Malvaceae and Meliaceae families (4.0%), Amaryllidaceae, Annonaceae, Arecaceae, Asphodeloideae, Asteraceae, Cucurbitaceae, Leguminosae, Musaceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, Solanaceae, Sterculiaceae, Zingiberaceae followed closely (3.0%) while Acanthaceae, Amaranthaceae, Anacardiaceae and others had 1.0%. Out of the recipes, 51.9% are either leaves only or in combination with other parts, while 21.5% are stem bark, 7.6% are seeds and 3.8% are roots, bulbs and fruits respectively. These plants could be investigated for potential leads for wound healing in animal subjects.