Local medicine in some African countries has utilized the plant parts of Dacryodes edulis to treat various ailments such as wounds, skin diseases, dysentery, and fever. Some of these diseases are caused by pathogenic bacteria. To validate the tradomedical applications of D. edulis, an investigation of the phytochemical, antimicrobial properties of the methanol extract of the seed was conducted, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis was also carried out to determine compounds responsible for these medicinal properties. The Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of Tannins, Phenols, Terpenoids, Flavonoids, Steroids, Phenolic compounds, and Glycosides in the extracts. Results from the antimicrobial screening revealed inhibition was against specific Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and the antimicrobial inhibition properties were acceptable when compared with the standard drug (ciprofloxacin). The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra showed a variation of the peaks indicating synergy among the functional groups present in the extract. Forty-four (44) peaks were observed in the Gas chromatographymass spectroscopy (GC-MS) spectra and the compounds with the highest percentage concentration where recorded and their medicinal properties correlated with the local utility of the plant's seed extract.

Chemical investigation of the anticholenestrases activity of the seeds of physostigma venenosum (ordeal or calabar bean, esere bean or calabar bohme) resulted in the isolation of sangainarine N-diglycoside. The structure of the compound was established using NMR spectroscopy of ( 1 H, 13 C, COSY, DEPT and HSQC) in combination with IR and MS spectral data. The seed of the plant was extracted by percolation using ethanol. The extract was partitioned to obtain chloroform, water, methanol, and pet-ether fractions. The chloroform fraction was discovered as the most active fraction in anticholinesterase activity. The compound displayed a very high anticholinesterase activity (99.5%) in an in vitro test. The result did not support the use of physostigma venenosum as an ordeal poison by the Calabar people of Nigeria to justify person accused of witch craft.