Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
to the margin, and displaying a close network of veins between. It produces white, scented flowers.
The plant bears linear cylindrical follicles hanging in pairs reaching 60 cm in length and enclosing
flattened seeds with numerous brownish silky hairs (ca. 5 cm long) in a tuft at the apex.
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Habitat and Distribution —
It is found in the drier forest regions and fringing savanna forests.
The plant is distributed from the Republic of Guinea to Angola.
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
The bark macerated in palm wine is used in the treatment of dysen-
tery and fever.
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The leaf, bark, and roots are used in many parts of the continent as a remedy for
malaria. A root decoction of the plant is used alone or in a mixture with other herbs for the treatment
of female sterility. Various parts of the plant are employed in the preparation of topical medications
for skin infections. It has also been used as an ingredient in a steam bath for malaria and fevers.
In eastern and southern Africa, the bark is dispensed as a febrifuge and as a tonic.
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The root is
boiled in milk and used to wash boys entering puberty and as a remedy for snakebite and for treat-
ment of venereal disease.
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Constituents —
Holarrhena
contains about 0.1% alkaloid of the glucosteroid type, includ-
ing conessine, durchine, holacurtenin, and holacurtin.
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The stem bark alkaloids are derived from
pregnane.
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The plant also contains nonsteroidal alkaloid, triacanthine, and phenolic acids and the
flavonoids kaempferol and quercetin.
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Pharmacological Studies —
The alkaloidal fractions of the plant reduced intestinal amebiasis in
rats and hepatic amebiasis in hamsters. Conessine and kurchamine have been shown to be the active
constituents of this species.
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A clinical trial of conessine on patients with intestinal and hepatic amebia-
sis gave results that were comparable to those of emetine.
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The steroidal alkaloids found in the
plants also possess hypotensive, local anesthetic, and spasmolytic activity. Some of them are cardiotoxic.
The nonsteroidal alkaloid triacanthine has hypotensive activity, as well as cardiotonic, vaso-
dilatory, antispasmodic, and analeptic characteristics.
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The compound has been shown to act on
experimental anemia in rats, probably due to its stimulation of erythropoiesis.
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The
Holarrhena
alkaloids also exhibit diuretic activity and cause sodium retention.
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Toxicity —
The use of connessine in the treatment of dysentery has been discontinued due to
its systemic toxicity. The compound is, however, applied externally in the treatment of
Trichomonas
vaginalis
and urethritis.
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The side effects are mainly neurological complications during therapy
and include delirium, agitation, sleeplessness, vertigo, and anxiety.
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HOSLUNDIA OPPOSITA
Botanical Name —
Hoslundia opposita
Va h l
