Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
are pinnate, with 3-5 pairs of leaflets, opposite or almost opposite, and a terminal leaflet; distal
leaflets are larger, narrowly elliptic, or obovate to elliptic, oblong or ovate, 1.5-15 cm long, 1-6.5
cm wide, with the apex obtuse or notched; thinly pubescent, dark glossy green above, sometimes
glabrous, 9-14 pairs of lateral veins. It produces yellow flowers that are 5-merous, monoecious but
with very little external differences between sexes; they are borne in leaf axils or on older twigs.
The calyx is cup shaped, deeply lobed almost to the base, with lobes ovate, 1.5-7 mm long, 2-5 mm
wide. The fruits are characteristically fig shaped, orange or purple-red in color, glabrous, usually
opening by 4 valves, and containing seeds embedded in an orange-colored aril.
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Habitat and Distribution —
Trichilia emetica
is native to the savanna belt and open woodland
of Africa. Two subspecies are known; subspecies
emetica
occurs in the open savanna woodlands
subject to grass fires, while subspecies
suberoosa
is generally confined to the more fertile soils of
the riverbanks and seasonally flooded riverbeds. The species is distributed widely in the tropical
savannas and occurs from Liberia to Congo and in parts of southern Africa. The subspecies
emetica
is found mainly in the eastern parts of Africa and occurs in Ethiopia, Somalia, Zaire, Uganda,
Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, Angola, Namibia, and
Swaziland. The other subspecies,
suberoosa,
occurs in the western Africa region and has been
located in Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin,
Nigeria, and Cameroon.
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
In West Africa, the pounded bark is used as an external application
to treat parasitic skin infections and inflammation. The plant is purgative, and the bitter root extract
is administered as an enema for this purpose. An infusion of the stem bark is used as a purgative in
many parts of the continent. The plant is also considered emetic in high doses and has been used as
an antiseptic and general tonic and for bronchial inflammation.
Constituents —
The plant yields fats, resin, tannins, and a bitter principle that was shown to
be related to calicedrin.
1041
The bark of the related species,
T. heudelotti,
showed the presence of
pyrocathechuic acid, a bitter principle, and sterols.
1042
The seeds of
Trichilia
species contain a fat
(40-60%), which consists of oleic, palmitic, and linoleic acids.
78
A meliacine, prieurianine, has been
shown to be a constituent of the Nigerian plant
T. prieriana
.
695
Pharmacological Studies —
The seeds of
Trichilia
were found to be purgative and emetic; the
seedcake has been shown to be toxic to cattle.
78
TRIGONELLA FOENUM-GRAECUM
Botanical Name —
Trigonella foenum-graecum
L.
Synonym —
T. tibetana
(Alef.) Vassilcz.
Family —
Meliaceae
