Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
of diosgenin.
269
The plant holds promise as a source of steroidal sapogenins for the hemisynthesis
of corticosteroids and hormones.
270
Two furanocoumarins, bergapten and (+)-marmesin, have been
isolated from
Balanites
.
271
Pharmacological Studies —
The molluscicidal activity of the plant has been investigated, and
because of its lethality to both the freshwater snails (which act as an intermediate host for bilharzia)
and the minute free stages of the schistosomes, the plant has been recommended for planting along
the banks of infested rivers.
272
Malcom and Sofowora reported on the antimicrobial properties of the
plant.
273
The anticancer principles of the plant have also been investigated.
274
BERSAMA ABYSSINICA
Botanical Name —
Bersema abyssinica
Fresen. subsp.
Paullinioides
Synonyms —
B. paullinioides
(Planch.) Bak.,
B. cloroleuca
Brehmer.,
B. coriacea
Baker f.,
B.
erythrocarpa
Brehmer.,
B. gallensis
Brehmer.,
B. giuliarellii
Chiov
., B. goetzei
Gurke
Family —
Melianthaceae
Common Names —
Bersema bark, bitter bark
African Names —
Basa: je-ra-kpar; Baule: daunt; Chagga: maranguwe, mrandangube;
Fanti: samangya; Lunda: kapachi; Mbulu: wamis; Mende: kpondeblokai; Shona: chereke, mun-
yahlawa, munyohava
Description —
At least two varieties of the subspecies are known: var.
paullinioides
and var.
engleriana
(Gurke) Verkcourt. The two varieties are similar and occur as small- or medium-size
tree 6-9 m tall, rarely exceeding 25 m in height. It branches low, with smooth gray bark and cream-
colored slash, which darkens on exposure. The leaves are imparipinnate, occurring in clusters,
rather clouded at the end of branchlets, about 35 cm long, with 5-10 pairs of leaflets, and displaying
wings between the distal pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are variable in size and shape; the middle
pairs are usually the largest, 5-15 cm long and 2-5 cm broad, lanceolate, elliptic or oblong elliptic,
gradually acuminate, or tapering to a sharp ovate and unequally rounded at the base. The margin
