How the Yoruba Culture of Nigeria use Dracaena Spp, Anacardium Occidentale and Magnifera India

The Dracaena arborea, (botanical name) that goes in various local names but called Peregun (yoruba); is a perennial tree up to 20m tall with deep green think leaves. Margin entire and leaves agave-like. It is found around homes and in distributed forests and also common in not too dry places.
The part used are the roots. The active chemical compounds are tannis and frustanol glycoside. The decoction (extraction of water soluble materials through boiling) of the root is highly effective for abdominal pains
Anacardium occidentale L., (botanical name). The common name is cashew nut tree.The local name is Kaju (Yoruba). It is a tree of about 10m high with a crooked trunk, rather sprawling crown and simple obovate leaves and resinous barks with a big fruit. It is mostly found in sandy and coastal regions. The part used are the bark, fruit, and twigs. The chemical compounds are tannins and Phenols.


The twig of the tree is used as chewing stick for mouth thrush, toothache and sore gums. The decoction (Extraction of the water soluble materials through boiling) of the bark is an effective remedy for malaria fever.
Spondias mombin, (botanical name). The common name is Hog plum and has local names like Iyeye/akika (Yoruba). It is usually referred to as a true forest species. The fruit has hard endocarp fruit, and is green when young but turns yellow when ripe. It is found in the forest and around homes in non - rocky soil. The part used are the leaves, fruits and bark. Its chemical compounds are Alkaloid and Glycoside.
The decoction of the leaves is a remedy for gonorrhoea (Yoruba = atosi) and also used as an aphrodisiac (sexual desire stimulator). The decoction of the bark can be taken for severe cough with inflammatory symptoms, while the leaves can used for malignant tumours. The leaves can be combined with Uraria chaeme and used as gargle to treat toothache and sore throat. It fruits are edible and helps increase brain activities in students. Its leave when eaten with alligator pepper lowers Blood pressure.