Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
BOSCIA SENEGALENSIS
Botanical Name —
Boscia senegalensis
Lam.-Holl.
Synonyms —
Boscia firma
Radlk.,
Boscia hypoglauca
Gilg.,
Boschia octandra
Hoscst. ex Radlk.
Family —
Capparaceae
African Names —
Bambara: bere; Bargami: kungassa; Fulani: anzagi; Hausa: anza, hanza,
dilo; Songhai: horregna; Temajegh (Tuareg): tandeni, tandomei; Wolof: diendoun, ndiandam
Description —
It occurs as a stout shrub or short tree, with a black stem, up to 5 m high. The
leaves are broad, elliptical to ovate, with 5-6 pairs of prominently looped lateral nerves. The flow-
ers are greenish and sweet scented and are borne in short, dense racemes. The fruits are spherical,
sometimes warted, up to 2 cm in diameter.
Habitat and Distribution —
The plants occur in the drier parts of the continent. Dalziel
6
listed
it as being present “in barren and fire-scorched soil.” It is distributed from Mauritania to northern
Nigeria.
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
The leaves and berries are commercially available in many parts of
northern Nigeria and Sudan as food condiments for soups in times of scarcity. The leaves are used
in the preparation of a malaria remedy and for the treatment of jaundice, fungal infections, and
venereal diseases. It is applied externally for a wound dressing. The fruits and roots are used as an
aphrodisiac, and the root decoction is used for stomachache and to facilitate labor.
Constituents —
The plant contains alkyl glucosinolates
291
and the alkaloids stachydrine and
hydroxystachydrine.
292
The genus has been shown to elaborate several flavonoids,293
293
sesquiterpenes
and their glycosides,
294
sulfur compounds,
295
and lipids.
296
Pharmacological Studies —
The plant possesses antimicrobial and antifungal activities.
297-299
It has also been shown to be an effective uterine stimulant.
300
A related species,
B. salicifolia,
has
been evaluated for its sweetening properties.
BOSWELLIA SACRA
Botanical Names —
Boswellia sacra Flueck.
