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Securidaca longepedunculata is a savannah shrub found growing in SouthWest Nigeria and some other areas in Africa. It has been reported to be used in the treatment of over a hundred ailments. Its root bark is included in several anti-cancer decoctions in Nigeria. Despite its reported use as an anti-cancer plant, there is a dearth of information on the anti-cancer potential of Securidaca longepedunculata in Nigeria. The aim of this research is to determine the cytotoxic and antimitotic activity of aqueous root bark extract of Securidaca longepedunculata. Securidaca longepedunculata aqueous root-bark extract was prepared and used for the study. Cytotoxic activity of S. longepedunculata extract was determined by the brine shrimp toxicity assay and Allium cepa assay was used to assess the anti-mitotic activity. Brine shrimp toxicity assay showed an LC50 of 25.1 µg/mL and the Allium cepa assay revealed that 100 mg/mL extract caused a reduction in mitotic index (MI) which was comparable to that of the standard drug, methotrexate. Securidaca longepedunculata has potential as a cytotoxic agent.

Thaumatococcus daniellii is an under-exploited, wild rhizomatous perennial herb from Africa that is classified as one of the non-timber forest products. The aril contains an intensely sweet and nontoxic protein used as sweetener in food and other related industries. This study evaluated the nutrient, antinutrient, minerals and sugars contents of T. daniellii seeds. The proximate analysis of the seeds in percent on dry basis revealed 9.18±0.04 ash, 10.52±0.10 moisture, 2.48±0.02 crude fat, 29.45±0.13 crude fibre, 6.67±0.05 protein, 41.70±0.73 carbohydrate and the energy value was calculated to be 213.29±0.11 Kcal/100 g. Minerals analysis of the seeds in mg/kg revealed the presence of sodium 113.00±0.

Securidaca longepedunculata is a savannah shrub found growing in tropical Africa. It is reputed to have more than a hundred medicinal uses and is a major component of anticancer decoctions in Nigeria. Despite its reported use as an anti-cancer plant, there is a dearth of information on the anti-cancer potential and mechanism of its anticancer activity. The present study is to identify the chemical constituents present in Securidaca longepedunculata  by quantitative Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis and determine the cytotoxic effect of the plant on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. Secondary metabolites in the extract were predicted using GC-MS. In vitro cytotoxic activity was determined using the trypan blue dye exclusion assay by incubating Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells with various concentrations of S. longepedunculata aqueous extract. Analysis by GC-MS revealed the presence of the following compounds: bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (90.99%), 1-decanol (4.17%) and cyclododecane (1.86%), phenol, 2, 21-methylene bis (1.32%), cyclopenten-4-one, 3-hydroxy-1, 2, 3, 5, 51-pentakis (trimethylsilyloxy)- (0.89%) and phenol, 2, 4-bis (1, 1-dimethylethyl)(0.78%). Securidaca longepedunculata aqueous extract (SL) was cytotoxic to Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells in vitro. The IC50 of SL on EAC cells was 67 µg/ml. The aqueous root-bark extract of S. longepedunculata contains bioactive agents and was cytotoxic to Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells in vitro.