*4.5.2 Euphorbia thymifolia wall*

 *E. thymifolia* is a softly hispid prostrate herb that is slender, cylindrical, pale green but often pink in color when fresh, becoming grayish green or dark purplish on drying. Stems are with white latex, spreading on the ground, 10–20 cm in length with a diameter from 1 to 3 mm [37]. *E. thymifolia* is traditionally used as a blood purifier, sedative, hemostatic, aromatic, stimulant, astringent in diarrhea and dysentery, anthelminthic, demulcent, laxative; and also in cases of flatulence, constipation; chronic cough; as an antiviral in bronchial asthma and paronychia. The dried leaves and seeds are given along with butter-milk to children in bowel complaints. Root is given in amenorrhea and gonorrhea. The oil is used as an insect repellant and in medicinal soaps for the treatment of erysipelas. It is also used as a vermifuge for dogs and farm foxes. Plant juice is employed in southern India as a cure for ring worms. The plant powder is given with wine as a remedy for bites of venomous reptiles. It is applied on the scalp with ammonium chloride to cure of dandruff. The fresh plant is considered vulnerary and used in ophthalmia and other eye troubles, ardor, sores, atrophy, dysentery and breast pain [24]. This plant is reported to be used as a galactagogue both in West-Africa and in India [24, 38].

#### *4.5.3 Hymenocardia acida Tul*

*H. acida* is a small tree of about 6 m high, gnarled and twisted with characteristic rough, rusty-red bark. It is widespread in tropical Africa [39]. The leaves of *Hymenocardia acida* are commonly used in Northern Nigeria alone or in combination with other plant parts to manage sickle cell disease. The plant contains carbohydrates, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides,

#### *Medicinal Plants Used as Galactagogues DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82199*

 resins, steroids and terpenes [38]. The root of this plant is reported to be used within West-Tropical Africa to stimulate lactation but [24] there are however anecdotal reports that this plant it is also given to diminish breastmilk supply. Ethnopharmacological studies of *H. acida* revealed an extensive array of medicinal uses, particularly from tropical African countries. In Senegal and Ivory Coast, an infusion or decoction of its leaves is used for the treatment of chest complaints, small pox, in baths and draughts as a febrifuge, and is taken as snuff for headaches or applied topically for rheumatic pains and toothaches. The bark and leaves are prescribed together with other plants in various ways in Nigeria for abdominal and menstrual pains and as poultices to treat abscesses and tumors. The powdered leaves of this tree are also used for the treatment of arthritis. Pharmacological activities reported on the plant include anti-ulcer, anti-plasmodial and cytotoxic activities [39].

## *4.5.4 Plagiostyles africana Prain exDe wild*

 *P. africana* trees grow in the lowland rainforest of south Nigeria and West Cameroons extending to Zaïre (the Democratic Republic of Congo). It reaches 16 m tall by 1.30 m in girth. The wood is light yellowish white and it is cut in Gabon to make spoons, combs and hair-pins. A wood-decoction is taken in the belief that it promotes milk-production [24]. The bark contains a white to yellowish viscid latex. The bark is used for chest-affections, and for fever [40].

#### *4.5.5 Ricinus communis L.*

 *R. communis* (castor oil plant) is a perennial shrub whose leaves have long petiole and palm like lobed blades. Fruit is three chambered, globose capsule with soft spines. When capsules mature, they split up into three cavities and the seeds are expelled out [41]. This plant is grown worldwide for the production of castor oil. *R. communis* exhibits various biological and pharmacological activities such as abortifacient effect, acid phosphatase inhibition, acid phosphatase stimulation, agglutin activity, alkaline phosphatase inhibition, anti-conceptive activity, antidiabetic activity, anti-infertility effects anti-inflammatory activity, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging activity, hepatoprotective activity, insecticidal activity and repellent properties [5, 41]. Castor oil is massaged over the breast after child-birth to increase the flow of milk as it stimulates the mammary glands. The leaves of castor can also be used to foment the breast for the same purpose [5, 24].

#### **4.6 Leguminosae**

#### *4.6.1 Tamarindus indica L.*

The tamarind (*T. indica*) is a common tree, especially in West Africa [42] and India. It is a moderate to large sized, evergreen tree that grows up to 24 m in height and 7 m in girth. *T. indica* has antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-venom properties and it is also used as a galactagogue [43]. It is indigenous to tropical Africa and is also cultivated in subtropical China, India and Spain. Initially, the fruit shows a reddish-brown color that turns black brown, becoming more aromatic and sour on ripening. The fruit pulp is used for seasoning, as a food component and in juices. *T. indica* has antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-venom properties and also used as a galactagogue [43]. Tamarind is most commonly used as a laxative and in the treatment of wounds and abdominal pains, followed by diarrhea, helminth

 infections, fever, malaria, aphrodisiac, respiratory problems and dysentery [42]. Its fruit is regarded as a digestive, carminative, laxative, expectorant and blood tonic [44]. Other parts of the plant have anti-oxidant [45], anti-hepatotoxic [46], anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, anti-cancer, anti-ulcer and anti-diabetic [47] activities. The flower and leaf are eaten as vegetables, while the germ obtained from the seed is used for manufacturing tamarind gum which is well-known as a component of jelly [5, 48]. Toxicity study in rat modules showed that tamarind pulp extract was generally safe and well tolerated at 5, 200, 1000 mg/kg body weight per day for 6 months [49].
