Chemical Screening of Medicinal Plants used in the Traditional Pharmacopoeia of Niger

Abstract

The demand for inexpensive treatment methods to meet primary health care needs in Niger has increased interest in traditional medicine. A survey of plants used by traditional healers was under taken. A total of 185 plant samples from 59 species (31 families) were screened for chemical compo sition. The following constituent distribution was observed (number of samples): flavonoids (79); steroids (78); tannins (61); alkaloids (41); quinones (34); cyanoglucosides (4).