Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Description —
The species is an herbaceous subshrub, usually smaller in height than
Alexandrian senna
,
about 0.75 m tall. It has compound leaves that are 15 cm long with 4 to 8
pairs of elongated and lanceolate, almost sessile, leaflets. The leaflets (5-6 cm long, 5-12.5 mm
wide) are smooth on the upper surface and slightly downy beneath, bluish green. The flowers are
bright yellow, borne in erect axillary and terminal racemes. The pods are dark brown, oblong,
thin, and flat, 4-7 cm long and 2 cm wide. Each pod contains 5 to 7 obovate, dark brown, smooth
seeds.
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Habitat and Distribution —
Tinnevelly senna is native to Somali and Djibouti. It has also
been located in Kenya, Ethiopia, and southern Sudan.
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
Infusion of the leaves and pods is administered as a laxative. The
powdered leaf is made into a paste with vinegar for the treatment of skin diseases. As a postpartum
medication, a weak infusion of the leaves is taken daily (from the fourth day) after childbirth for a
few days to regularize bowel movement.
Constituents —
The plant contains anthraquinone glycosides and the other compounds listed
under
Cola
acuminata.
Pharmacological Studies —
These are the same as for
Senna alexandrina.
SESAMUM INDICUM
Botanical Name —
Sesamum indicum
L.
Synonyms —
Sesamum alatum
Thoninig,
Sesamum capense
Burm.,
Sesamum sabulosum
A.
Chev.,
Sesamum indicum
L.,
Sesamum orientale
l.
Family —
Pedaliaceae
Common Names —
Benniseed (West Africa), sesame, benue oil seed, sim-sim (East Africa),
sesamier (F)
African Names —
Arabic: simsim; Bambara: benefin, bene; Hausa: ridi; Peuhl: beme, poeu-
loel; Sotho: molekelele; Swahili: ufuta; Yoruba: yanmoti
Description —
Sesamum indicum
is an annual herb attaining up to 2 m in height, with divided
or palmilobate stem. The leaves are hairy and opposite. The tubular flowers are white or pink with
purplish-red spots. It produces erect capsules 5 cm long and awl shaped. The seeds are nonwinged,
reticulate or smooth, and asymmetrical; they are flattened, ovoid, pointed at one end, about 3 to 4
mm long, 2 mm broad, and 1 mm thick, buff colored or whitish, finely punctate, with 4 delicate
longitudinal ridges at the hedges of the flat faces.
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Habitat and Distribution —
Sesame is native to Africa and is grown as a cash crop in sub-
desert savanna. It is drought resistant and is cultivated in Chad, Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Upper
Volta, Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, and Ghana.
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
The oil is used mainly for cooking and as an emollient. A decoction
of the leaves is used as an aphrodisiac. The Sortho drink a decoction of the plant for malaria and
are reported to chew the leaf instead of tobacco.
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The powdered leaf is applied to snakebite by the
Swahili and as a remedy for cough and bronchitis. Decoction of the seeds is administered in severe
cases of hemorrhoids and for the regulation of the menstrual cycle. Benniseed is used as a nutritive
diet during convalescence.
Constituents —
The seed contains up to 60% fixed oil, 20% proteins, 4% mucilage, and about
1% sesamin, a lignan. The oil consists of glyceryl esters of palmitic, stearic, myristic, oleic, and
linoleic acids.
Pharmacological Studies —
Sesamin has been shown to have insecticidal activity and is syn-
ergistic to pyrethrum.
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The oil has a demulcent, emollient, diuretic, emmenagogue, lactagogue,
and laxative effect.
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