Table 1 Spices used in the present study and evidence of their activities

Aframomum citratum (Pereira) K. Schum. (Zingiberaceae)

37 736/HNC

Malaria, aphrodisiac, cancer [4, 6]

Fruits. leaves. seeds

Antimicrobial: Ethylacetate extract of fruits on Ec. Pa. Sa[7]

Cytotoxicity of fruits crude methanol extract [weak activity on leukemia CCRF-CEM and CEM/ADR5000 cells, and pancreatic MiaPaCa-2 cell lines] [4]

Aframomum melegueta (Roscoe) K. Schum. (Zingiberaceae)

39 065/HNC

Malaria, dysentery, carminative, dysmenorrheal, fertility, rubella, leprosy, cancer [6, 8]

Fruits, leaves

Antimicrobial : Aqueous and ethanol extract of leaves on Fo. An[9] Methanol extract of fruits (Q) on Sa. Bs. Ec. Pa. Ca[8]

Cytotoxicity of fruits crude methanol extract [weak activity on leukemia CCRF-CEM and pancreatic MiaPaCa-2 cell lines and significant activity on CEM/ADR5000 cells with IC₅₀ value of 7.08 μg/ml] [4]

Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Linn) Cor. (Lauraceae)

22 309/SRFC

Cancer [4]

Fruits, leaves. bark

Antimicrobial : Cd, Cm, Lt, Fp[10, 11]

Cytotoxicity of leaves crude methanol extract [weak activity on leukemia CCRF-CEM and CEM/ADR5000 cells, and pancreatic MiaPaCa-2 cell lines] [4]

Dorstenia psilurus Welwitch (Moraceae)

44 839/HNC

Snake bite, rheumatism, head and stomach ache, hypertension, cancer [4, 12, 13].

Leaves, roots

Cytotoxicity of roots crude methanol extract [Significant activity with IC₅₀ values of 7.18; 7.79 and 9.17 μg/ml respectively on leukemia CCRF-CEM cells, CEM/5000 cells and pancreatic MiaPaCa-2 cell lines] [4]

Fagara leprieurii (Guill and Perr) Engl. (Rutaceae)

37 632/HNC

Gastritis, gingivitis. bilharzias, antidiarrhoeal, cancer, laxative, antimicrobial, ulcer, gonorrhea, kidney ache., sterility [4, 14, 15]

Bark, leaves. roots

Antimicrobial : Ethanol extract of the seeds on Ca. Cn. Mg. Tm. Tr. Bci. Af. Afl. Sb[6]Essential oil : Sa[15]

Cytotoxicity of seeds crude methanol extract [weak activity on leukemia CCRF-CEM and pancreatic MiaPaCa-2 cell lines and significant activity on CEM/ADR5000 cells with IC₅₀ value of 8.13 μg/ml] [4]

Imperata cylindricum Beauv. var. koenigii Durand et Schinz (ramineae)

30 139/SRFC

Diuretic, anti-inflammatory, dysentery, urinary tract infections, cancer [4, 16, 17]

Leaves, roots

Cytotoxicity of roots crude methanol extract [Significant activity with IC₅₀ values of 8.4; 7.18 and 12.11 μg/ml respectively on leukemia CCRF-CEM cells, CEM/5000 cells and pancreatic MiaPaCa-2 cell lines] [4]

Monodora myristica Dunal (Annonaceae)

2 949/SRFC

Insecticidal, diuretic, constipation, anti-hemorrhage, headache, wounds, worm infections,cancer [4, 15, 18, 19]

Fruits, leaves. seeds

Antimicrobial : Fm. Afl. Af[18]; Essential oil : Af. Bc. Bs. Cgl. Ec. Kp. Sa. Sf[15]. Cytotoxicity of fruits seeds methanol extract [weak activity on leukemia CCRF-CEM and CEM/ADR5000 cells, and pancreatic MiaPaCa-2 cell lines] [4]

Pentadiplandra brazzeana Baill. (Capparaceae)

42 918/HNC

Gastric ulcer, cancer [4, 20]

Fruits, leaves

Cytotoxicity of roots crude methanol extract [weak activity on leukemia CCRF-CEM and CEM/ADR5000 cells, and pancreatic MiaPaCa-2 cell lines] [4]

Piper guineense (Schum and Thonn) (Piperaceae)

6 018/SRFC

Cough, bronchitis, rheumatism, insecticidal, anemia, carminative, stomach ache, cancer [4, 8, 21]

Fruits, leaves. bark

Insecticidal : Cs[20]Antimicrobial (Q); Ec. Sa. Bs. Pa. Ca. An[8, 22]

Scorodophloeus zenkerii Harms (Caesalpiniaceae)

44 803/HNC

Cancer [4]

Leaves. roots

Antimicrobial : Essential oil of stem bark on Ec, Sa, Bs, Cu [23].

Cytotoxicity of fruits crude methanol extract [weak activity on leukemia CCRF-CEM and CEM/ADR5000 cells, and pancreatic MiaPaCa-2 cell lines] [4]

Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum. & Thonn) Taub. (Mimosaceae)

12 117/SRFC

Pain, arthritis, epilepsy, convulsion, gastric ulcer, cancer [4, 20]

Bark, leaves. roots

Cytotoxicity of fruits crude methanol extract [weak activity on leukemia CCRF-CEM and CEM/ADR5000 cells, and pancreatic MiaPaCa-2 cell lines] [4]