Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
administered as a treatment for stomach ulcer. In Ghana, the nuts are boiled with leaves of
Morinda
lucida
and dispensed as an oral treatment for hemorrhoids. The nuts ground to a fine paste together
with the leaves of
Scoparia dulcis
are dissolved in a little water, and a few drops are administered
orally to babies for headache. The FAO monograph
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indicates that the nuts, preferably the white
variety, ground to a fine paste together with white clay, a little pepper, ginger, or
Piper guineense
fruits, are applied as an enema for the cure of diarrhea and dysentery.
Constituents —
The plant contains purines, caffeine (about 2.5%), and small quantities of
theobromine (usually about 0.025%). The plant also contains two phenolic substances, kolatin and
kolatein, as well as catechols (-)-epicatechol and kolanin. An anthocyanin pigment called kola red,
a phlobaphen, occurs as an oxidation product of the catechols.
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The plant also contains proteins
(1.5%), fat (0.5%), calcium (3.1%), iron (1.4%), vitamin A (31%), thiamin (11%), riboflavin (47%),
nicotinic acid (0.7%), and ascorbic acid (9.8%);
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the kernel contains about 1.6% tannin.
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It has
been shown that there is a significant variation in the yield of caffeine among the different varieties
and genotypes of the plant.
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Pharmacological Studies —
Kola extracts exhibit the activities observed with caffeine, but
unlike coffee, the activity is milder but persistent due to the presence of catechols and other constit-
uents. It is a smooth muscle relaxant but produces overexcitement of the CNS, followed by depres-
sion at very high doses.
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It has a tonic action on the heart by an indirect effect through the nervous
system and by direct effect on the heart muscles and the walls of the blood vessels. The sense of
fatigue is prevented, and a longer and more sustained muscular effort is encouraged. The extract is
used in the preparation of several nonalcoholic beverages and has also been incorporated into tonic
wines and health foods. Kola nuts chewed at night tend to prevent sleep.
Kola extracts and the dried whole nut are ingredients in several weight loss products and dietary
supplements used as instant energy boosts and antioxidants. The proanthocyanidin isolated from
the related
C. acuminata
showed activity against the sleeping sickness vector,
Trypanosoma brucei,
and low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells.
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COMBRETUM MICRANTHUM — KINKELIBA
Botanical Name —
Combretum micranthum
G. Don
