*4.6.2 Acacia nicolita var. adansonaii (Guill.* & *Perr.) Brenan*

 *A. nicolita* also known as gum Arabic occurs as a tree which can grow up to about 50 feet high. It has a dark brown bole with deeply fissured bark. The leaves are compound and alternately arranged with about 10 to 30 elliptical pubescent leaflets on each leaf. The flowers occur as round, yellow heads situated at the end of branches. Fruits are thick, gray and are well constricted hairy pods [50]. Various parts of *A. nicolita* have been used for the treatment of various cancers in Western Africa. These include cancers of the ear, eye and testicles. Roots of the plant are used to treat tuberculosis, its wood for the treatment of smallpox, and the leaves for the treatment of ulcers [51]. In the Katsina state of Nigeria, decoction of the pod is used for postpartum wound healing [52] and here also the young shoots and pods are used to stimulate lactation [53]. When the effect of the aqueous extract of *A. nicolita* was investigated on milk production in rats, it was observed that, the extract was able to significantly stimulate the release of prolactin. Also, it was observed that the mammary glands of estrogen-primed rats treated with the extract showed clear lobuloalveolar development with milk secretion [54]. Present in *A. nicolita* are tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, fatty acids and terpenes have been isolated from various parts of the plant. This plant is also known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-diarrheal, anti-hypertensive and anti-spasmodic, anti-bacterial, anti-helminthic, anti-platelet aggregatory, and anti-cancer activities [50]. Toxicological studies on *A. nicolita* showed that it has a low toxicity potential [55]. However it is also reported that repeated administration of doses higher than 250 mg/kg body weight for 28 days caused hepatotoxicity in rats [56].

#### *4.6.3 Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC*

*D. adscendens* is a herbaceous non-climbing perennial shrub that commonly occurs in tropical areas of Africa, South America, Asia, Australia and Oceania [57]. The plant thrives in varying habitats ranging from forests to grasslands and in secondary/disturbed vegetation. A decoction of the leave and stem is used for asthma and other diseases associated with smooth muscle contraction and epilepsy in Ghana [57]. It is used for the treatment of fever, pain and epilepsy in the Congo. In Brazil the plant is used in the treatment of ovary inflammation. It is used in Ghana to enhance lactation [22]. *D. adsendens* contains indole alkaloids, unsaturated fatty acids, tyramine, hordenine and saponins [58, 59]. Triterpenoid saponins, tetrahydroiso-quinolones, phenylethylamines and indole-3-alkyl amines have been isolated from the leaves [60]. *D. adscendens* causes dilation, relaxation of smooth muscles, anti-histamine effects and normalizes elevated liver enzyme levels [58].
