Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
the sympathetic nerves in a dose-dependent manner. The enhanced nerve discharges were sustained
for as long as 3 h. The rats did not become desensitized to the stimulatory effects of these com-
pounds on sympathetic nerve activity. The temperature of brown adipose tissue showed a significant
increase in rats injected with 6-paradol. These results demonstrated that
Aframomum
may be useful
for the regulation of weight loss and weight maintenance.
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Toxicity —
Aframomum
is considered a safe herbal supplement, and no human toxicity or aller-
gic reaction has been reported. A 28-day subchronic toxicity study in male and female Sprague-
Dawley (SD) rats to evaluate the safety of a grains-of-paradise extract showed a dose-related increase
in absolute and relative liver weights in males and females dosed with 450 and 1500 mg/kg, respec-
tively. There was a corresponding increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) with no signs of steatosis
or cirrhosis. At the same doses, there was a significant decrease in blood glucose in male rats.
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AGATHOSMA BETULINA
Botanical Name —
Agathosma betulina
(P.J. Bergius) Pillans
Synonyms —
Barosma betulina
(P.J. Bergius) Bartl. & H.L. Wendl.;
Barosma orbicularis
Sweet;
Bucco betulina
Schult;
Hartogia betulina
P.J.Bergius
Related Species —
Agathosma crenulata
( L.) P il la ns
Family —
Rutaceae
Common Names —
Buchu, diosma
African Names —
Khoi: buchu; Afrikans: boegoe, rondeblaarboegoe; South Africa: Bucco,
Bookoo; Xhosa: ibuchu
Description —
Agathosma betulina
is a resprouting, broad-leaved aromatic shrub with erect
woody stems reaching 2 m tall, but low-growing and prostrate varieties also occur. The leaves are of
pale green color, leathery and glossy, with a blunt, strongly curved tip and a fine-tooth margin; round
pellucid oil glands are conspicuously scattered throughout the leaf, along the margins and lower
surfaces. They are strongly aromatic, usually opposite, ericoid, often crowded, simple, entire, from
0.5 to 3.5 cm long. The star-shaped flowers are produced in terminal clusters, 0.7-2 cm diameter,
with five white, pink, red, or purple petals. The brownish fruits are five chambered. The two related
buchu plants can be differentiated by the shape of the leaves:
A. betulina
is described as “round-leaf
buchu,” whereas
A. crenulata
is known as “oval-leaf buchu.” The latter species has been described as
a pungently aromatic, woody, single-stem shrub that reaches a height of 2.5 m. The glossy, dark green
leaves are more than twice as long as they are broad, with many oil glands throughout. The delicate
stems bear one to three, relatively large, white or mauve flowers in the leaf axils.
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Habitat and Distribution —
Buchu is a southern African plant that appears to be natu-
rally restricted to the Cederberg Mountain range of the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Agathosma betulina
is particularly adapted to dry conditions and can be found on sunny hillsides
where other crops will not succeed. It can be found on the rocky sandstone slopes of the northwest-
ern Cape region.
A. crenulata
grows on the damp lower and middle slopes and valleys, from Ceres
to Swellendam (South Africa).
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
Buchu is a highly valued traditional medicine for the treatment of
inflammatory conditions and kidney and urinary tract infections. It has also been used as an appe-
tite stimulant, digestive, antispasmodic, and carminative and for the treatment of coughs, cystisis,
prostatitis, influenza, colds, hangover, rheumatism, and gout. Buchu is a general restorative tonic
in African ethnomedicine. It is also an effective insect repellant. In the pharmacopoeias, buchu
is categorized as a diuretic and urinary tract antiseptic. Herbal medicine shops include the plant
in formulations to treat arthritis, cellulite, cystitis, diarrhea, flatulence, kidney infections, nausea,
rheumatism, and wounds.
