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Bryophyllum pinnatum Linn (Crassulaceae) is a shrub with simple or trifoliate petiolate leaves used mainly in folk medicine to alleviate pains of various intensities and etiologies. The analgesic potency of the aqueous extract of the leaves of B. pinnatum was investigated using animal models. Results showed that the aqueous extract of B. pinnatum was devoid of severe toxic effects (LD 50 ¼ 660.9 AE 2.65 mg=kg body weight), increased the pain threshold in rats using the hot plate or thermal methods, inhibited or reduced phenylbenzoquinoneinduced writhing or abdominal stretches in mice in a dose-dependent manner, and produced a weak or an inferior anti-inflammatory activity than aspirin. It is concluded that the aqueous extract of B. pinnatum can demonstrate strong analgesic potency comparable in a times-and dose-dependent manner to a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

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Cola nitida Linn (Sterculiaceae) is an economic plant widely distributed throughout West Africa and possibly other parts of Africa.Members are malvalves because of their lobular nature. Because of its ubiquity, the plant plays an important role in commerce, and in social activities where it is casually eaten without prescription or restriction. The ethnopharmacological effects of bolus ingestion of 30g of Cola nitida was investigated on visually acute and healthy volunteers in order to determine its ocular implications or effects. Results showed that Cola nitida had no effecton the pupil diameter, visual acuity and intraocular pressure but improved the near point of convergence by 43% and increased the amplitude of accommodation by 11% while existing heterophorias are ameliorated. The stimulating effect of Cola nitida might overcome asthenopic symptoms with convergence insufficiency and allows near work to be donewithout stress. Somnolence and ocular muscle imbalance common features of the elderly canbe ameliorated or relieved.