The stembark of Ficus sycomorus was collected, dried and extracted to screen for some chemical constituents and study its effect on muscle contraction. The duodena and recti abdominis of 10 guinea pigs weighing between 330 and 34 g and 10 frogs weighing between 180 and 201 g, respectively were isolated and used for this study. The extract was tested to see its effect on acetylcholine-induced contraction on kymograph. The extract reduced the acetylcholine contractile responses of guinea pigs duodena and recti abdominis muscles of frogs significantly, thus showing inhibitory effect on muscle contraction. The extract showed the presence of gallic tannins, saponins, reducing sugars, alkaloids and flavone aglycones. It was concluded that the extract has inhibitory effect on both smooth and skeletal muscles contractions and contains important constituents for pharmacological activities.

Ethnobotanical survey was conducted on anticancer plants in Askira/Uba local government area of Borno State, Nigeria. Administration of questionnaires and oral interviews to 20 traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) and field trip were carried out in the study area. A total of 65 different plants belonging to 41 families were identified during the survey. Six plants belong to the Caesalpinioideae, 5 from Fabaceae, 4 each from Mimosoideae and Euphorbiaceae and 3 from Burseraceae. The most frequently implicated plants as anticancer among respondents were Securidaca longepedunculata (Polygalaceae), Andira inermis ssp. rooseveltii (Fabaceae), Pterocarpus erinaceus (Fabaceae), Carissa edulis (Apocynaceae), Detarium microcarpum (Caesalpinioideae) and Cassia sieberiana (Caesalpinioideae). These 65 plants should be investigated scientifically to ascertain their acclaimed anticancer properties with the view to develop new drugs.

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This study was designed to evaluate the antidiabetic profile and the hypoglycaemic activity of aqueous root extracts of L. hastata in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats model. Eighty five albino rats were used for this study out of this thirty five were used subjected to experimental diabetes by the use of alloxan at a dose of 160 mg kg(-1) body weight. Seven experimental groups of five rats per group (A-G) were used for this study. A standard antidiabetic drug (insulin) group (B) and normal saline group (G) serves as positive control. The blood glucose lowering activity of the extract, insulin and normal saline groups were monitored at 0, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 hpost extract administration. On the other hand the remaining fifty albino rats were used to determine the acute toxicity and the hypoglycemic activity of the extract. The blood glucose levels of the rats were monitored at 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post extract administration. Oral administration of aqueous root extract at 600 and 800 mg kg(-1) b.wt have significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the blood glucose in diabetic albino rats. On the other hand the hypoglycemic activity of the aqueous root extract on normal rats at dose of 1000 mg kg(-1) b.wt have significantly (p < 0.05) decreases blood glucose level in normal albino rats. The results of the current study have demonstrated the antidiabetic and hypoglycaemic effects of L. hastata aqueous root extracts and underscore its potentials in the management of diabetes mellitus especially following prolonged use in days.