The importance of information dissemination cannot be overemphasized in educating man as to the gifts of nature. Medicinal plants are potential and valuable source for pharmaceutical products due to their inherent constitutes, availability and usefulness in curing diseases in their raw and cooked form. Momordica charantia (MC) called Bitter Melon is a plant whose immense values are yet to be discovered. Analysis of the plant revealed the presence of Saponin, flavonoid, Alkaloid, steroidalglucoside and proteins such as α-and ß-Momorcharin and MAP-30. The root and fruits of MC contained about 12.84% and 70% of ash respectively and the elements present are Silicon, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Sodium and Iron. 0.3% of the total alkaloids from the fruits contain 0.035% Charantin and the Steroidal glucosides of the fruits are mixtures of B-D-glucose-ß-Sitosterol and D-5, 25-Stigmastadiene-ß-ol. 32-35% purgative fixed oil reported in the seed contains Stearic, Oleic, Linoleic and Eleostearic acids. Proteins such as Albumin, Globulin and Glutein-rich in amino acids are present in addition to vitamin B, carotene and α-Aminobutyric acid. Documented properties of MC include antihelmintic, antibacterial, antibiotic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, purgative and antioxidant. Bitter Melon has the ability to reduce the blood sugar level in diabetics by enhancing cells uptake of glucose and promote insulin release. It also has the ability to inhibits Guanylate cyclase (GC) an enzyme linked to the pathogenesis and replication of psoriasis and cancer, as well as in secretory diarrhea. The inhibition of GC in secretory diarrhea could go along way in preventing this disease. The ribosome inactivating proteins (α and ß - momorcharin) and MAP-30 from MC are capable of inhibiting the HIV infection and replication in-vitro and could be useful in establishing anti-viral drugs, accessible and affordable to the people in less developed countries.

Croton penduliflorus herbal abortifacient is widely used in western Nigeria amongst young women to control their fertility and for treatment of fibroids. It has been reported that feeding the seed to mice and toad produced toxic effects and pathological lesions in the kidneys in mice and toads. Depo provera an Orthodox injectable hormonal contraceptive has also been implicated in the alteration of metabolic parameters in some users. This study was designed to compare the effects of 10 days oral administration of the ethanolic extract of Croton penduliflorus seed (CPE) and intra-muscular injection of one dose of Depo provera in non pregnant and pregnant rabbits. Forty healthy, acclimatized female rabbits (1.2-1.4 kg) Body wt were randomly assigned to 8 groups-: 5 groups were made pregnant and 3 groups non pregnant. Each of the 6 groups were administered either Depo provera or one of varied doses of CPE. Two groups served as pregnant and non-pregnant controls. All animals were fasted for 18 hours after withdrawals of treatment and sacrificed after anaesthesia. Venous blood samples from groups were analyzed for haematological, biochemical and hormonal profiles using standard protocols. Histopathological examination of internal organs was done. Results were analyzed using EPI-infor. (Var.6), students t- test and ANOVA. CPE caused foetal resorption in pregnant rabbits, and pathological lesions in the lungs liver and kidney of some rabbits. Reduction in RBC count, elevation of serum glucose and lowered FSH, LH and Oestrogen levels of treated rabbits were also observed. Extracts of Croton penduliflorus caused foetal resorption, alteration of metabolic parameters and induced pathological lesions in some internal organs.