Abstract Phyllanthus L. is an important plant genus belonging to the family Phyllanthaceae. The species of the genus are mainly annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, trees, or climbers distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. The members of the genus are used in traditional medicine in the treatment of human ailments like dysentery, cancers, jaundice, wounds, ulcers, malaria, stomach disorders, fever, gonorrhea etc. The present review elucidates the phytochemical and pharmacological properties and ethno-medicinal applications of four species of genus Phyllanthus found in Nigeria. The most important of the compounds reportedly isolated from the species are lignans, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins etc. Literature reveals that the plants possess important pharmacological activities such as: anti-cancer, antidiabetic, antimalarial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant activities etc. We recommend that further investigations be conducted on the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of the plants to affirm their ethno-medicinal uses and to isolate and characterize the important bioactive compounds which may be utilized in pharmaceutical drug formulation. Keywords: Phyllanthus, phytochemicals, pharmacological, ethno-medicinal, pharmaceutical uses.