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Module 9: AFRICAN
Jim Duke

When you go to the tropics in your temperate winter climate, it's like going to your backyard in summer; many of the same cultivated annual food, herbal, medicinal and ornamental plants you know back home are also cultivated here. And if you've been to the tropics elsewhere, you'll see many of the same tropical perennial food, medicinal and ornamental species in Africa you saw in Latin America, or Hawaii, e.g. papaya, angel's trumpet, and African tulip tree (Spathodea) respectively. Here then, is just a partial listing of some of the medicinal plants of Kenya, East Africa, Africa, and the world, that you are liable to see on a Pharmacy from the Rainforest ecotour to Kenya, Tanzania and/or Uganda.

A. African Medicinal Plants in World Trade

Aloe "Aloe" (LILY FAMILY) Aloe among the top selling medicinal herbs in the US

Aspalathus spp. "Bush Tea" (LEGUME FAMILY)

Cassia acutifolia "Senna" (LEGUME FAMILY) Senna the laxative synergic SENNOSIDES

Catharanthus roseus "Madagascar Periwinkle" (DOGBANE FAMILY)

Centella asiatica "Gotu Kola" (CARROT FAMILY)

Dioscorea spp. "African Yams" (YAM FAMILY) Steroids, DIOSGENIN; SITOSTEROL

Harpagophytum "Devil's Claw" (SESAME FAMILY) GI and rheumatic ailments

Pausinystahlia yohimbe "Yohimbe" ( FAMILY) Aphrodisiac alkaloid YOHIMBINE

Phystostigma venenosum "Ordeal Bean" (LEGUME FAMILY) Antiglaucomic PHYSOSTIGMINE

Pygeum africanum "Pygeum" (ROSE FAMILY) OTC prostate remedy (ENDANGERED)

Rauvolfia vomitoria "African snakeroot" (DOGBANE FAMILY) RESERPINE, YOHIMBINE

Strophanthus spp. "Kombe" (DOGBANE FAMILY) STROPHANTIDIN (cardiac glycosides)

Strychnos icaja "Strychnine (STRYCHNINE FAMILY) GI problems, hernia, malaria

Tabernanthe iboga "Iboga" (DOGBANE FAMILY) Hallucinogen IBOGAINE

Tamarindus indica "Tamarind" (LEGUME FAMILY) HYDROXYCITRIC ACID

Trigonella foenum-graecum "Fenugreek" (LEGUME FAMILY) DIOSGENIN

Warburgia ugandensis "Pepper-Bark" (CANELLA FAMILY) POLYGODIAL antifeedant, antiyeast

Withania somnifera "Ashwagandha (POTATO FAMILY) WITHAFERIN; WITHANOLIDES

B. Pan African Medicinal Plants and Some Uses

Alchornea cordifolia "Christmas Bush" (SPURGE FAMILY) GI, respiratory and urinary ailments

Alstonia boonei "Emien" (DOGBANE FAMILY): Bark antimalarial ECHITAMINE; VOACANGINE

Anthocleista nobilis "Cabbage Tree"(STRYCHNINE FAMILY): Bk. anti-diabetic, - fertility,-venereal

Bersama abyssinica (MELIANTHACEAE): Bark anthelminthic, aphrodisiac

Bridelia feruginea (SPURGE FAMILY) Leaves eaten

Butyrospermum paradoxum (CHICLE FAMILY): Shea butter (seed fat) used for boils and rheumatism; bark for labor and parturition; leaves for collyrium and

Carapa procera (MAHOGANY FAMILY): Seed fat for burns, fungi, lice

Catha edulis "Khat" (BITTERSWEET FAMILY): Anorectic CNS stimulant

Chasmantyhera dependens (MOONSEED FAMILY) Toot antivenereal; leaves for bruise, fractures

Chlorophora excelsa "African Oak (MULBERRY FAMILY) Latex for tooth extraction

Chrysophyllum albidum "White Star Apple (CHICLE FAM.) Bark for malaria, yellow fever

Cocculus pendulus (MOONSEED FAMILY) Hypertension

Combretum micranthum (COMBRETACEAE) For guinea worms

Costus afer (GINGER FAMILY) Cough; hypertension

Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (PERIPLOCACEAE): Fever; inflammation, yeast

Dichrostachys cinerea (LEGUME FAMILY): Bark for leprosy, venereal disease

Elaeis guineensis "Oil Palm (PALM FAMILY) Roots for bronchitis, gonorrhea, metrorrhagia

Garcinia kola "Bitter Kola" (ST. JOHN'S-WORT FAMILY)

Khaya senegalensis "African mahogany" (MAHOGANY FAM): Ameba; malaria

Lonchocarpus sericeus "Senegal Lilac" (LEGUME FAMILY): ROTENONE (2-6%)

Moringa oleifera "Horseradish Tree" (HORSERADISH TREE FAMILY) Water purification

Nauclea latifolia "African Peach" (COFFEE FAMILY): Leishmanniasis

Sclerocarya birrea "African Hog Plum" (CASHEW FAMILY) Diabetes; dysentery; malaria

Trema guineensis "African Elm" (ELM FAMILY); Bark for asthma, bronchitis, cough

Uvaria sp. "Finger Root" (PAWPAW FAMILY) Jaundice; malaria

Vernonia amygdalina "Bitter leaf" (ASTER FAMILY) VERNON cardiotonic, hypotensive

Voacanga africana (DOGBANE FAMILY): For mental disorders VOACANGINE analgesic

C. Major Local Kenyan and Tanzanian Medicinal Plants

Acokanthera schimperi "Arrow poison" Contains ouabain

Clutia abyssinica (SPURGE FAMILY) Convulsions, flu, hepatitis, malaria

Commiphora molmol (INCENSE FAMILY) Cult. In Kenya for the resin, an oral antiseptic

Embelia schimperi (MYRSINACEAE) Fruit for worms; stem bark for cramps

Entada abyssinica (LEGUME FAM.) Root for arthritis; roasted seed for conjunctivitis

Erythrina senegalensis "Coral Flower" (LEGUME FAMILY) Root for toothache, venereal diseases

Holarrhena floribunda (DOGBANE FAMILY) Bark for dysentery; fever; snakebite

Kigelia africana "Sausage Tree" (BIGNONIACEAE) Parturition; splenitis

Jateorrhiza palmata "Calumba" (MOONSEED FAMILY) Bronchitis, hypertension, impotence

Mallotus oppositifolius "Kamala" (SPURGE FAMILY) Dysentery, worms

Manniophytum flavum (SPURGE FAMILY) Dermatitis, yaws

Maytenus buchananii (BITTERSWEET FAMILY) Bark for boils, mouth sores, etc. MAYTINSINE

Mitragyna ciliata "Liberian Poplar" (COFFEE FAMILY) MITRAGYNINE as analgesic as codeine

Morinda citrifolia "Brimstone Tree" (COFFEE FAMILY) Dysentery; hypertension

Picralima nitida "Akuamma Seed" (DOGBANE FAMILY) Fever, hypertension,jaundice, malaria

Quassia africana (SIMAROUBACEAE) Bronchitis; dysmenorrhea; fever; pneumonia

Rauwolfia caffra "Quinine Tree" (DOGBANE FAMILY) AJMALINE; RESERPINE; YOHIMBINE

Salvadora persica "Toothbrush Tree" (TOOTHBRUSH TREE FAM.) Ancylostomiasis

Sansevieria liberica "Bowstring Hemp" (AGAVE FAMILY) Conjunctivitis, convlusions; hemorrhoids

Stephania dinklagei (MOONSEED FAMILY) CORYDINE (sedative) STEPHANINE

Tinospora caffra (MOONSEED FAMILY): Fever; tonic

Trichilia emetica "Barf Bark" (MAHOGANY FAMILY) Bark antidermatitis, antiinflammatory, emetic

Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides "Toothache Bark" (CITRUS FAMILY); BERBERINE CHELERYTHRINE antisickle cell

D. Cosmopolitan Weedy Medicinal Species Expected in Kenya/Tanzania

Abrus precatorius "Crab-s Eye" Colic, constipation, cough POISONOUS

Achyranthes aspera (PIGWEED FAMILY): Hemostatic; BETAINE; ECDYSTERONE; SAPONINS

Ageratum conyzoides (ASTER FAMILY)

Artemisia afra (ASTER FAMILY) Leaves for cold, constipation, cough, gout THUJONE

Borreria verticillata (COFFEE FAMILY) Stem juice antidermatitic; ess. oil inhibit E. coli and staph

Boscia senegalensis (CAPER FAMILY) for fungus, jaundice, malaria, venereal disease

Calotropis procera "Giant Milkweed" (MILKWEED FAMILY) CARDIAC GLYCOSIDES

Datura metel (SOLANACEAE; POTATO FAMILY) atropine; scopolamine

Datura stramonium "Jimsonweed" (SOLANACEAE; POTATO FAMILY) atropine; scopolamine

Emilia sonchifolia (ASTER FAMILY) Leaves febrifuge; juice for conjunctivitis

Eupatorium odoratum (ASTER FAMILY) Cough, malaria

Euphorbia hirta (SPURGE FAMILY) Dysentery, enteritis;

Heliotropium indicum (BORAGE FAMILY) Pyrollidzidine alkaloids

Hilleria latifolia (POKEWEED FAMILY) Jaundice; guinea worms; urethritis

Hoslundia opposita (MINT FAMILY) Antimalarial

Jatropa curcas "Physic nut" (SPURGE FAMILY) POISONOUS purgative

Ocimum gratissimum "Fever Plant" (MINT FAMILY) EUGENOL,THYMOL

Portulaca oleracea "Purslane" (PURSLANE FAMILY): Extracts antidiabetic, myorelaxant

Solanum incanum "Bitter Apple" (POTATO FAMILY) SOLANINE

Solanum nigrum "Black nightshade" (POTATO FAMILY) SOLANINE, SOLASODINE

Spigelia anthelmia "Wormseed" (STRYCHNINE FAMILY) DANGEROUS Anthelminthic

E. Local Food Farmacy

1. Afromamomum melegueta (GINGER FAMILY): Fruit considered aphrodisiac. Seeds contain gingerol and shogaol, the same acrive ingredients in ginger (MMI)

2. Piper guineense Ashanti Pepper (PEPPER FAMILY) Leaves for dysmenorrhea, infertility

3. Pycanthus kombo "African Nutmeg" (NUTMEG FAMILY) Edible seeds for dermatitis, thrush

4. Sesamum indicum "Sesame Seed" (SESAME FAMILY); Sesamim synergic with pyrethrum

5. Xylopia aethiopica "Ethiopian Pepper" (PAWPAW FAMILY): Promote fertility, lactation; CARENE; CINEOLE; LIMONENE

F. Pantropical Food "Farmacy" Species: Following are a list of some pantropical food species with parenthetic inclusion of some of the nutraceuticals found in significant quantities in the plant); Avocado (MUFAs); balsam pear (compound Q, momocharin), beans and other legumes (biochanin, daidzein, formononetin, genistein, or estrogenic isoflavones); cassava (HCN); chocolate (theobromine, theophylline),citrus (limonene, limonoids); coconut (aluric acid) coffee (caffeine, chlorogenic acid, theobromine, theophylline);, cola (caffeine, theobromine, theophylline); cowpea (folic acid); fenugreek (diosgenin); garlic (allicin),grape (pycnogenol, resveratrol); jujube (betulinic acid);oilpalm (tocotrienol); okra (gossypol); onion (ajoene,allicin, quercetin), papaya (chymopapain,papain), peanut (isoflavones, pycnogenol) pineapple (bromelain); pumpkinseed (alanine, glycine, glutamic acid, pectin, tryptophan); soybean and other legumes (biochanin, daidzein, formononetin, genistein); sweet potato (carotenoids); tea (caffeine, theobromine, theophylline) tomato (GABA, lycopene); velvet-bean (l-dopa); yam (disogenin)

G. Medicinal Spice Rack: chile (capsaicin, salicylates); cloves (eugenol); ginger (gingerol, shogaol, zingibain), lemongrass (citral, citronellal, citronellol); nutmeg (myristicin); sesame (sesamin); turmeric (curcumin).

Food for thought: If man evolved in Africa and radiated out, only last reaching Latin America, why are most of our modern food plants species that originated, not in Africa, but in the Middle East and Latin America.

Coffee is native to Africa but more coffee is now produced for world market in Brazil and Colombia today. Conversely, chocolate and vanilla, though native American, are now more produced in Africa. Why?

What food and medicinal crops, now widely distributed in tropical Africa, would not have been there before Columbus discovered America.

If evolutionary diet is important for health, as the Paleolithic Prescription (Boyd Eaton) argues very effectively, and evolution proceeded from Africa to the Middle East, then the Far East and Europe, with what foods in today's markets have our genes been longest associated?

If evolutionary diet is important for health, why not evolutionary medicines. But there again, more of our herbal medicines and phytomedicinal drugs are based on European/Near Eastern species than on the longer-associated African/Far Eastern species.

Traditional Med Coevolution Millenia Generations

(Years)

EUROAMERICAN 500 0.5 25

AMERINDIAN ~20,000 20 1,000

AYURVEDIC ~1,000,000 1,000 50,000

CHINESE ~1,000,000 1,000 50,000

JAMU ~1,000,000 1,000 50,000

AFRICAN ~2,000,000 2,000 100,000

Coevolution of Man with Traditional Medicine Systems

AFRICAN MINTS

Achyrospermum oblongifolium Bak. (W)

Acollanthus pubescens Benth. (W)

Acrotome inflata Benth. (E)

Aeolanthus canescens Guerke (E)

Aeolanthus gamwelliae G Tayl. (E)

Aeollanthus suaveolens Mart. (W)

Ajuga ophrydis Burch. (E)

Alvesia rosmarinifolia Welw. (E)

Anisomeles indica (Linn.) O Ktze. (W)

Ballota africana Benth. (E)

Basilicum polystachyon (Linn.) Moench (W)

Becium knyanum G Tayl. (E)

Becium obovatum NE Br. (E)

Becium obovatum (E Mey.) NE Br. (W)

Becium obovatum NE Br. var. hians NE Br. (E)

Coleus barbatus Benth. (E)

Coleus esculentus G Tayl. (E)

Coleus sp. (E)

Endostemon tereticaulis (Poir.) M Ashby (W)

Englerastrum schweinfurthii Briq. (W)

Fuerstia africana Th. CE Fries. (E)

Haumaniastrum buettneri (Gürke) Mort. (W)

Haumaniastrum caeruleum (Oliv.) JK Morton (W)

Haumaniastrum lilacinum (Oliv.) JK Morton (W)

Hemizygia bracteosa (Benth.) Briq. (W)

Hemizygia welwitschii (Rolfe) M Ashby (W)

Holostylon baumii G Tayl. (E)

Hoslundia opposita Vahl. (E,W)

Hoslundia opposita Vahl. var. verticillata Bak. (E)

Hyptis atrorubens Poit. (W)

Hyptis lanceolata Poir. (W)

Hyptis pectinata (Linn.) Poit. (E,W)

Hyptis spicigera Lam. (W)

Hyptis suaveolens Poit. (W)

Iboza riparia NE Br. (E)

Isodictyophorus reticulatus (A Chev.) JK Morton (W)

Lasiocorys capensis Benth. (E)

Lavandula coronipifolia Poir. (W)

Lavendula officinalis Chaix (E)

Leocus africanus (Bak.) JK Morton (W)

Leocus lyratus A Chev. (W)

Leonotis africana Briq. (E)

Leonotis dysophylla Benth. (E)

Leonotis leonotis R Br. (E)

Leonotis leonurus Ait. f. (E)

Leonotis microphylla Skan. (E)

Leonotis mollis Benth. (E)

Leonotis mollissima Guerke (E)

Leonotis nepetaefolia R Br. (E)

Leonotis nepetifolia (Linn.) Ait. f. (W)

Leucas decurvata Bak. (E)

Leucas deflexa Hook. f. (W)

Leucas martinicensis R Br. (E)

Leucas martinicensis (Jacq.) Ait. f. (W)

Leucas oligocephala Hook. f. (W)

Marrubium vulgare L. (E)

Mentha aquatica Linn. (E,W)

Mentha aquatica L. var. crispa Benth. (E)

Mentha longifolia Linn. (W)

Mentha longifolia Huds. ssp. capensis Briq. (E)

Mentha longifolia Huds. ssp. polyadena Briq. (E)

Mentha piperita Linn. (W)

Mentha pulegium L. (E)

Mentha spicata L. (E)

Micromeria abyssinica Benth. (E)

Micromeria biflora Benth. (E)

Micromeria microphylla Benth. (E)

Micromeria purtschelleri Gürke (W)

Moschosma multiflorum Benth. (E)

Ocimum americanum L. (E)

Ocimum basilicum Linn. (E,W)

Ocimum canum Sims (W)

Ocimum filamentosum Forsk.

Ocimum nakurense Guerke

Ocimum sp. (E)

Ocimum suave Willd. (E,W)

Ocimum viride Willd. (E)

Orthosiphon pallidus Royle (W)

Orthosiphon rubicundus (D Don) Benth. (W)

Orthosiphon suffrutenscens (Thonning) JK Morton (W)

Orthosiphon welwitschi Rolfe (E)

Platosoma africanum P Beauv. (W)

Plectranthus assurgens (Bak.) JK Morton (W)

Plectranthus cyaneus Grike (W)

Plectranthus elegans Britten

Plectranthus esculentus NE Br. (W)

Plectranthus floribundus NE Br. (E)

Plectranthus glandulosus Hook. f. (W)

Plectanthrus gracillimus (TCE Fr.) Hubb. & Dandy (W)

Plectranthus hirtus Benth. (E)

Plectranthus laxiflorus Benth. (E)

Plectranthus natalensis Guerke (E)

Plectranthus peulhorum (A Chev.) JK Morton (W)

Plectranthus urticoides Bak. (E)

Pycnostachys eminii Gürke (W)

Pycnostachys reticulata (E Mey.) Benth. (W)

Rosmarinus officinalis L. (E)

Salvia aegyptiaca Linn. (W)

Salvia africana-coerulea L. (E)

Salvia africana-lutea L. (E)

Salvia chamdaeagnea Berg. (E)

Salvia chudaei Batt. & Trab. (W)

Salvia coccinea Buch. (W)

Salvia coccinea Juss. (E)

Salvia farinacea Benth. (W)

Salvia repens Burch. (E)

Salvia rugosa Dryand ex Ait. (E)

Salvia runcinata L. f. (E)

Salvia scabra L. f. (E)

Salvia sisymbrifolia Skan. (E)

Salvia sp. (E)

Salvia splendens Ker-Gawl. (W)

Salvia stenophylla Burch. (E)

Salvia triangularis Thunb. (E)

Satureja pseudosimensis Brenan (W)

Satureja robusta (Hook. f.) Brenan (W)

Solenostemon latifolius (Hochst.) JK Morton (W)

Solenostemon monostachyus (P Beauv.) Briq. (W)

Solenostemon rotundifolius (Poir.) JK Morton (W)

Stachys aethiopica L. (E)

Stachys aethiopica L. var. glandulifera Skan. (E)

Stachys rugosa Ait. (E)

Stachys rugosa Ait. var. linearis Skan. (E)

Stachys thunbergii Benth.

Syncolostemon parviflorus E Mey. ex Benth. (E)

Teucrium africanum Thunb. (E)

Teucrium capense Thunb. (E)

Teucrium incanum Aitch & Hemsl. (E)

Teucrium politum Linn. (W)

Teucrium riparium Hochst. (E)

Teucrium sp. (E)

Thymus serpyllum L. (E)

Thymus vulgaris Linn. (E,W)

Tinnea aethiopica Kotschy (W)

Tinnea antiscorbutica Welw. (E)

Tinnea barteri Gürke (W)

Burkill, HM. 1995. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Vol. 3, Families J-L. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 857 pp. (W)

Watt, JM, Breyer-Brandwijk, MG. 1962. The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa. E.&S. Livingstone Ltd., Edinburgh and London. 1457 pp. (E)

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Boulos, L. 1983. Medicinal Plants of North Africa. Reference Publications, Algonac, MI. 286 pp.

Burkill, H.M. 1985. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Ed. 2. Vol. 1. Families A-D. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. 960 pp.

Burkill, H.M. 1994. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Ed. 2. Vol. 2. Families E-I. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. 636 pp.

Duke, J.A. 1983. Medicinal Plants of the Bible. (Illustrated by Peggy K. Duke) Out of print Trado-Medic Books, Buffalo, NY. 233 pp.

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Irvine, F.R. 1961. Woody Plants of Ghana. Oxford University Press, London. 878 pp.

Iwu, M. 1993. Handbook of African Medicinal Plants. CRC Press. Boca Raton, FL. 435 pp.

Kokwaro, . Medicinal Plants of East Africa.

Sofowora, A. 1996. Research on medicinal plants and traditional medicine in Africa. J Alt. & Compl. Med 2(3): 365-372.

Tumwesigye, O. 1996. Bumetha Rukarare: integrating modern and traditional health care in southwest Uganda. J. Alt. & Compl. Med. 2(3):373-376.

Watt, J.M. and Breyer-Brandwijk, M.G. 1962. The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern Africa. E. & S. Livingstone, Ltd., Edinburg & London. 1457 pp.