Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Description —
Uncaria gambier
is a climbing plant with strong curved thorns (sterile pedun-
cles). The leaves are opposite, briefly petiolated, onate or ovate lanceolate, contracted at the tip into
a short tail or acuminate of 10-12 cm, and coriaceous and smooth.
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Yellowish flowers are in axil-
lary bunches, with pedunculate flowers on a tomentose calyx with a corolla of about 12 mm. Fruit
are a septicidal capsule of two lobules containing numerous seeds. The processed dried extract is
odorless with a bitter astringent taste at first but afterward is sweetish.
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Habitat and Distribution —
This species is native to India but is naturalized in Mediterranean
Africa. It occurs in Morocco, Egypt, Libya, and northern Sudan.
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
The extract of the leaves and twigs is used as an antiseptic in wound
dressing. In North Africa, a popular mouthwash is prepared with the dried extract. It is employed to
treat diarrhea and for healing of mouth sores. It has also been used for the treatment of convulsion,
hypertension, epilepsy, eclampsia, and cerebral diseases.
Constituents —
It is a known source of the drug catechu, which consists of catechin (7-33%),
catechu-tonic acid (22-50%), quercetin, wax, and oil in small quantities. Members of the genus
Uncaria
yield indole alkaloids and sesquiterpenes.
U. gambir
contains the alkaloids rhynchophyl-
line, gambirdine, isogambirdine, and related indoles.
Pharmacological Studies —
The extracts have astringent properties and have been employed
for the treatment of diarrhea and sore throat and as an ingredient in various cosmetic preparations.
Uncaria
alkaloids possess a mild central depressive effect; a weak noncompetitive, antispasmodic
action in mice intestine; and a hypotensive effect in rats.
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UVARIA CHAMAE
Botanical Name —
Uvaria chamae
P. B e a u v.
Synonyms —
U. cylindrica
Schum & Thonn.,
U. crista
R. Br. ex Oliv.,
U. nigrescens
Engl.
Diels.,
U. echinata
Chev.,
Xylopiastrum macrocarpum
(Dunal) Roberty.
Family —
Annonaceae
Common Names —
Finger-root, bush banana (fruits)
African Names —
Ewe: gbanagbana; Fanti: akotomposten; Fulani: boile; Hausa: atore; Igbo:
afuru-agu; Mende: ndogho-njele; Swahili: ngandasimba
(U. leptocladon)
; Twi: anweda; Yoruba: eru
Description —
Uvaria chamae
is a climbing shrub or small bushy tree that grows up to 5 m
high. The leaves (15 × 5 cm) are aromatic, alternate, elliptic or oblong-elliptic, shortly acuminate,
entire, glabrous, and glossy. They display 10-12 pairs of lateral nerves and are rounded at the
