Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Synonyms —
Clerodendrum micranthum
Gilli.,
Micranthes menthoides
Bertol.,
Orthosiphon
physocalycinus
A.Rich.
Family —
Lamiaceae
African Names —
Igbo: oke-ota; Yoruba: anikan-gbiju
Description —
This is a medium-size, tender shrub, up to 5 m high. The leaves are oval in shape,
about 10 cm long and 4 cm broad. They are broadly lanceolate, pointed at the apex, wedge shaped at
the base. They are usually oppositely arranged at the nodes, but some nodes carry 3 leaves, with saw-
edged margins. It bears tiny white flowers, usually many on multibranched terminal stalks. The calyx
tube is cylindrical, about 3 mm long, with 5 equal pointed tips, and hairy. The corolla is tubular, about 5
mm long, 2 lipped (lips equal in length); one of the lips is hooded, and the other is 3 lobed. There are 2
stamens and 1 style, all projecting from the corolla tube. It produces round, yellowish or orange berries.
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Habitat and Distribution —
It inhabits open forest areas and is distributed throughout the for-
est regions of the continent.
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
The boiled leaves are used for the treatment of constipation. The infu-
sion of the whole herb is used to treat convulsions in children. The crushed flowers and leaves are used
as lotion for skin diseases, and the juice of the fresh leaves is applied topically to wounds. The leaves
together with those of
Ocimum
are applied topically as an antidote for snakebite. The plant materi-
als are also mixed and burned with the head of a freshly killed snake, and the ash is used for snake
bite.
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The twigs and leafy stem tips are used in the preparation of a remedy for epilepsy, vertigo, and
conjunctivitis. The powdered roots are ingredients of a popular sore lotion in Ivory Coast and Burkina
Faso. Decoction of the root is administered in Tanzania for colds, sore throats, and oral wounds and
in Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Burkina Faso for the treatment of abdominal pains. The Shambala use the
plant for the treatment of liver diseases, for cough and pains in the chest, fever, hookworm, stomach
disorders, and wound healing and for the treatment of mental disturbance.
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The volatile oil is known
in Uganda as
Kamyuyu oil
and is used extensively in traditional medicine as an anti-infective agent.
Constituents —
The plant yields sweet-smelling volatile oil,
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which consists mainly of diter-
penes, sesquiterpenes, and sesquiterpene alcohols.
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Pharmacological Studies —
The root bark extract has been shown to possess moderate activ-
ity against the multidrug-resistant KI strain of the malaria parasite,
Plasmodium falciparum
.
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The
petroleum showed the greatest activity with IC
50
in the 5- to 9-µg/ml range. The methanol extract
possesses antibacterial
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and anticoagulant activities.
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The plant has been shown to be effective
as an external application for the treatment of herpes zoster.
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Toxicity —
There is one report on possible toxicity of the plant.
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HYBANTHUS ENNEASPERMUS
Botanical Name —
Hybanthus enneaspermus
F. von Muell.
