Alchornea floribunda
Mull. Arg.
Kai, Sumara fida
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Summary
Source: WikipediaAlchornea floribunda is a plant native to tropical Africa. The plant is locally known as Niando.
Description
A leaning shrub or tree. It grows 5-10 m high. The trunk can be 5 cm across. The leaves are alternate and broadly oval. They are 30 cm long by 10 cm wide. There are a few teeth along the edge. The flowers are small and in spikes in the axils of leaves.
Edible Uses
The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
Traditional Uses
The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
The root of Alchornea floribunda has a high reputation as a stimulating intoxicant and aphrodisiac in Africa, where it is widely used medicinally. Considerable research has been carried out into the medicinal properties of the plant. The stem bark contains 0.1 mg/g crude alkaloids, the root bark 1.9 mg/g and the leaves 4.8 mg/g. The imidazopyrimidine alkaloid alchorneine is the major alkaloid present in the stem bark and root bark. The root bark and leaves contain the alkaloid isoalchorneine, and the leaves contain alchorneinone. Some reports have mentioned the presence of yohimbine, an indole alkaloid present in Tabernanthe iboga. However, more recent evaluations did not confirm the presence of this compound. The leaves and bark contain about 10% tannins. The root extract has sympatholytic action and increases significantly the sensitivity of the nervous system to adrenalin. Positive results have been reported in clinical experiments with root and leafy stem extracts in the treatment of hepatitis. The powdered dried roots or root bark scrapings are either mixed with food or macerated for several days in palm wine, banana beer or other local beers and consumed as a tonic to provide energy during festivals and, formerly, for warfare. It provides a state of intense excitement followed by a deep, sometimes fatal, depression depending on dosage, individual temperament and habit. The roots are sometimes mixed with or used as a substitute for those of Tabernanthe iboga and taken in water as an aphrodisiac and stimulant in initiation ceremonies. The leaf or root sap is rubbed over affected area to treat wounds, circumcision wounds, ringworm and eczema. The root sap is used as eye drops to treat ophthalmia and conjunctivitis. The ash of burnt roots, mixed with palm oil, is applied to scarifications to treat chest pain and headache. One teaspoon of root bark powder is eaten daily to cure impotence. The roots and fruits are taken for treating urinary, respiratory and intestinal problems. A leaf maceration is taken as a treatment against pains in the heart. A decoction of the young leaves is taken to treat diarrhoea. A leaf decoction is drunk or the leaves are eaten as a vegetable to treat ovarian problems, stomach problems and intestinal disorders. They are eaten as a vegetable with meat or fish as an antidote to poison. The leaf pulp is applied to wounds.
Known Hazards
This plant has many traditional uses. The leaves are sometimes cooked and eaten as a vegetable and may be eaten with meat or fish as an antidote to poison. They are also consumed as a remedy for ovarian problems and gastro-intestinal disorders. A decoction of the dried leaves is used to treat diarrhoea and the leaves are pulped to promote the healing of wounds. The dried leaves and fibrous root scrapings are used as a substitute for tobacco. The powdered rootbark is highly prized in traditional medicine as a stimulating intoxicant and aphrodisiac. This plant is preferentially used by chimpanzees in making tools for catching termites in the Dja Faunal Reserve in south eastern Cameroon. The animals hunt through the forest for the shrub and make short poles out of it. Thicker poles about half a metre long are used to dig into and disturb the termite mound, and thinner, flexible poles are inserted for the angry termites to climb onto. The chimpanzees then scoop the termites clinging to their fishing rods into their mouths.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows in the undergrowth of closed forest. It can be in lowland swamps.
Where It Grows
Africa, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, East Africa, Gabon, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Uganda, West Africa,
Other Uses
The root scrapings or dried leaves are smoked as a substitute of tobacco. In DR Congo the thin branches are used to make the framework of round huts.
Other Information
It has stimulant properties and is probably more as a drug than a vegetable.
Also Known As
Lushuna, Pwa yando
References (5)
- Billong Fils, P. E., et al, 2020, Ethnobotanical survey of wild edible plants used by Baka people in southeastern Cameroon. Journal or Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 16:64 p 7
- Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 2. Kew.
- Terashima, H., et al, 1992, Ethnobotany of the Lega in the Tropical Rainforest of Eastern Zaire (Congo): Part Two, Zone de Walikale, African Study Monographs, Suppl. 19:1-60
- von Katja Rembold, 2011, Conservation status of the vascular plants in East African rain forests. Dissertation Universitat Koblenz-Landau
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
