**2.17** *Xylopia aethiopica* **(Dunal) A. Rich. (Apocynaceae)**

*Xylopia aethiopica* is popularly known as the African pepper and locally called '*Hwentia'* in the Ghanaian Akan language meaning slender nose, referring to the shape of the fruit. *X. aethiopica* is known for its numerous medicinal properties in African traditional medicine. The bark infusion is used in the treatment of asthma, stomach aches and rheumatism. The bark powder is also applied topically on ulcerous wounds and used locally for the treatment of cancer and stomach ulcers. The root powder is known to relief toothache and pyorrhea [71].

The ethanolic extract of the dried fruits and leaves (300–300 mg/mL) were investigated for anthelmintic activity against earth worms. The anthelmintic activity of the fruit extract was more potent that the leaf extract. Both extracts demonstrated a concentration dependent activity with the fruit extract demonstrating significant paralytic and death times (*p* < 0.001) at 100 and 300 mg/mL [72].
