Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
for the treatment of syphilitic sores. A decoction of stems and leaves is taken as a purgative to treat
constipation and is used externally as an antiseptic wash to treat suppurating wounds. Stems and
stem bark are made into a paste that is applied to decaying teeth, and a paste made from the leaves
is applied to burns. In Nigeria, an extract from the powdered roots has been used to treat sickle-cell
anemia. The leaves are used in the production of palm wine and give the wine a bitter taste. Sap that
exudes from cut stems can be drunk to quench thirst. In Ghana, the roots are chewed and dried to
produce a white powder that is used by women to powder their faces. The leaves are highly valued
as animal feed and are said to stimulate reproduction.
Constituents —
The leaves of
Griffonia simplicifolia
contain volatile oil, 5-hydroxy-L-trypto-
phan (5-HTP), indole-3-acetyl-aspartic acid, 5-hydroxy idole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), 5-hydroxy-
tryptamine (5-HT; = serotonin, 0.1-0.2%), and coumarone. The seeds contain very high levels of
5-HTP, up to 18%. The cyanoglucoside lithospermoside (= griffonin) has been isolated from the
roots, and it is believed to be the active ingredient against sickle-cell anemia.
Pharmacology —
Griffonia
is valued for the high content of 5-HTP in the leaves and seeds. In
humans, 5-HTP increases the synthesis of serotonin in the CNS and has been shown to be effec-
tive in treating a wide variety of conditions, including depression, fibromyalgia, obesity, chronic
headaches, and insomnia. 5-HTP is poisonous to insects, for instance, bruchids (
Callosobruchus
maculatus
).
1140
The potential of
Griffonia
in the treatment of anxiety states has been evaluated in
laboratory animals.
Griffonia simplicifolia
seed extract was shown to exert an anxiolytic-like effect
in rats.
Griffonia simplicifolia
seed extract, dosed at 1, 5, 10, and 25 mg/kg, was orally administered
in rats, which were submitted to the dark-light test and open-field test 60 min after the treatment.
In the dark-light test, the administration of the extract at the doses of 10 and 25 mg/kg was able to
significantly increase the time spent in the light compartment (
p
< 0.05). In the open-field test, the
extract dosed at 5, 10, and 25 mg/kg induced an antitigmotactic effect, as indicated by a significant
increase of time spent in the central area of the open field (
p
< 0.01).
629
In the sexual behavior of SD male rats, acute treatment significantly increased mount latency
(at any dosage), intromission and ejaculation latencies (at 100 mg/kg), and postejaculatory interval
(at 50 and 100 mg/kg). It was also found that subchronic treatment failed to exert a significant
influence on copulatory behavior. The daily administration of the extract dosed at 50 and 100 mg/
kg for 9 days significantly reduced food intake and body weight.
629
However, a single administra-
tion of
G. simplicifolia
significantly reduced lordosis response and increased rejection behavior
in female rats treated with the highest dose, while it did not influence proceptive behaviors. On
the other hand, the subchronic administration of the extract significantly reduced proceptivity but
not receptivity and increased rejection behavior. It was found that all tested dosages were able to
markedly decrease food intake and body weight after a 9-day treatment. Taken together, the pres-
ent results, possibly ascribed to increased levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine x(5-HT) in the brain,
suggest a cautious administration of the plant extract owing to its negative influence on female
sexual behavior.
629
Several clinical studies have established the value of
Griffonia
and 5-HTP in the management
of depression.
1141
It has been observed that
G. simplicifolia
extracts direct modulation of the seroto-
nergic system and have a clinically demonstrable value for the treatment of psychological suffering
associated with unreciprocated romantic love.
630
Commerce —
The seed of
Griffonia simplicifolia
is exported to Europe from Ghana, Côte
d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Exports from Ghana account for more than 60% of the global
market for the unprocessed seeds as an industrial source of 5-HTP. The annual export to Western
Europe was about 120 tonnes in 2010 at a wholesale price of US$15 per kg.
Agriculture —
Griffonia
is still collected mostly from the wild. Domestication efforts have met
limited success. In productivity trials, wildlings were successfully used as planting material; this is
impractical at a larger scale. Use of stem cuttings has not been successful. Seed propagation gave
poor results, and different seed treatments did not improve germination.
