474
leaves. The group, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species, is widely distributed
and is the third-largest plant family in terms of number of species behind only to
the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae (Judd et al. 2002). The largest genera are
Astragalus (over 2400 species), Acacia (over 950 species), Indigofera (around 700
species), Crotalaria (around 700 species), and Mimosa (around 500 species),
which contain around 9.4% of all flowering plant species (Magalion and Sanderson
2001). The family itself is the most common family found in tropical rainforests
and in dry forests in American and Africa. It has traditionally been divided into
three subfamilies: Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae, and Papilionoideae (Lewis
et al. 2005) and includes almost all the major pulses like mung, urad, pigeon pea,
moth bean, cow Pea, adzuki bean, etc. The plant species under Fabaceae family
with medicinal importance includes Cassia, Senna, Mimosa, Crotoleria etc. which
H. Tijjani
Department of Biochemistry, Natural Product Research Laboratory, Bauchi State University,
Gadau, Nigeria
M. C. Olisah
Deparment of Medical Biochemistry, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University,
Anambra, Nigeria
K. C. Patrick-Iwuanyanwu
Nutritional Biochemistry and Toxicology Unit, World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence,
Centre for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR),
University of Port-Harcourt, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt,
Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Environmental Toxicology Unit, World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence, Centre for Public
Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port-Harcourt,
Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
J. B. Adetunji
Nutritional and toxicological Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry Sciences,
Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria
J. C. Ifemeje
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu
Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria
M. Akram
Department of Eastern Medicine and Surgery, Government College University Faisalabad,
Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
B. M. Moboladji
Environmental Toxicology Unit, World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence, Centre for Public
Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port-Harcourt,
Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Training and Research Unit in Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
P. C. Onyeike
Department of Microbiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria
S. Das et al.
leaves. The group, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species, is widely distributed
and is the third-largest plant family in terms of number of species behind only to
the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae (Judd et al. 2002). The largest genera are
Astragalus (over 2400 species), Acacia (over 950 species), Indigofera (around 700
species), Crotalaria (around 700 species), and Mimosa (around 500 species),
which contain around 9.4% of all flowering plant species (Magalion and Sanderson
2001). The family itself is the most common family found in tropical rainforests
and in dry forests in American and Africa. It has traditionally been divided into
three subfamilies: Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae, and Papilionoideae (Lewis
et al. 2005) and includes almost all the major pulses like mung, urad, pigeon pea,
moth bean, cow Pea, adzuki bean, etc. The plant species under Fabaceae family
with medicinal importance includes Cassia, Senna, Mimosa, Crotoleria etc. which
H. Tijjani
Department of Biochemistry, Natural Product Research Laboratory, Bauchi State University,
Gadau, Nigeria
M. C. Olisah
Deparment of Medical Biochemistry, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University,
Anambra, Nigeria
K. C. Patrick-Iwuanyanwu
Nutritional Biochemistry and Toxicology Unit, World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence,
Centre for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR),
University of Port-Harcourt, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt,
Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Environmental Toxicology Unit, World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence, Centre for Public
Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port-Harcourt,
Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
J. B. Adetunji
Nutritional and toxicological Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry Sciences,
Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria
J. C. Ifemeje
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu
Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria
M. Akram
Department of Eastern Medicine and Surgery, Government College University Faisalabad,
Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
B. M. Moboladji
Environmental Toxicology Unit, World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence, Centre for Public
Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port-Harcourt,
Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Training and Research Unit in Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
P. C. Onyeike
Department of Microbiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria
S. Das et al.