vegetable in a soup (Soladoye et al. 2010). The leaf decoction is given in malarial fever (Jeeva et al. 2006; Allabi et al. 2011; Reddy et al. 2012), phlegm (Kumar & Pullaiah 1999) and asthma (Sambandan & Dhatchanamoorthy 2012). Leaf paste is applied in headache (Sharma et al. 2010) and to reduce skin infections (Sen et al. 2011). The leaves of V. cinerea are softened on fire and crushed along with Inuka (Solenostemon latifolius) and Mungangati (Adenia reticulata) to make a paste; this is used as a remedy against snakebite by the traditional healers of Gabon (Akendengue ´ & Louis1994). Tea from leaves is imbibed to treat measles by the people of Montserrat in West Indies (Brussell 2004). The local populations of Vietnam have been traditionally making use of the leaves of the plant in hepatitis, fever and diarrhoea (Ueda et al. 2002). Leaves of the plant are used as vermifuge and febrifuge (Akendengue ´ 1992; Igoli et al.2005; Toyang & Verpoorte 2013). In Uganda, the leaves and roots of the plant are taken orally to treat sexual impotence and erectile dysfunction (Kamatenesi-Mugisha & Oryem-Origa 2005) while shoot infusion is used to ward off spirits and as a good luck charm (Tabuti et al. 2003; Ssegawa & Kasenene 2007).