When you go to the tropics in your temperate winter climate, it's like going to your backyard in
summer; many of the same cultivated annual food, herbal, medicinal and ornamental plants you
know back home are also cultivated here. And if you've been to the tropics elsewhere, you'll see
many of the same tropical perennial food, medicinal and ornamental species in Africa you saw
in Latin America, or Hawaii, e.g. papaya, angel's trumpet, and African tulip tree (Spathodea)
respectively. Here then, is just a partial listing of some of the medicinal plants of Kenya, East
Africa, Africa, and the world, that you are liable to see on a Pharmacy from the Rainforest
ecotour to Kenya, Tanzania and/or Uganda.
A. African Medicinal Plants in World Trade
Aloe "Aloe" (LILY FAMILY) Aloe among the top selling medicinal herbs in the US
Aspalathus spp. "Bush Tea" (LEGUME FAMILY)
Cassia acutifolia "Senna" (LEGUME FAMILY) Senna the laxative synergic SENNOSIDES
Catharanthus roseus "Madagascar Periwinkle" (DOGBANE FAMILY)
Centella asiatica "Gotu Kola" (CARROT FAMILY)
Dioscorea spp. "African Yams" (YAM FAMILY) Steroids, DIOSGENIN; SITOSTEROL
Harpagophytum "Devil's Claw" (SESAME FAMILY) GI and rheumatic ailments
Pausinystahlia yohimbe "Yohimbe" ( FAMILY) Aphrodisiac alkaloid YOHIMBINE
Phystostigma venenosum "Ordeal Bean" (LEGUME FAMILY) Antiglaucomic PHYSOSTIGMINE
Pygeum africanum "Pygeum" (ROSE FAMILY) OTC prostate remedy (ENDANGERED)
Rauvolfia vomitoria "African snakeroot" (DOGBANE FAMILY) RESERPINE, YOHIMBINE
Strophanthus spp. "Kombe" (DOGBANE FAMILY) STROPHANTIDIN (cardiac glycosides)
Strychnos icaja "Strychnine (STRYCHNINE FAMILY) GI problems, hernia, malaria
Tabernanthe iboga "Iboga" (DOGBANE FAMILY) Hallucinogen IBOGAINE
Tamarindus indica "Tamarind" (LEGUME FAMILY) HYDROXYCITRIC ACID
Trigonella foenum-graecum "Fenugreek" (LEGUME FAMILY) DIOSGENIN
Warburgia ugandensis "Pepper-Bark" (CANELLA FAMILY) POLYGODIAL antifeedant, antiyeast
Withania somnifera "Ashwagandha (POTATO FAMILY) WITHAFERIN; WITHANOLIDES
B. Pan African Medicinal Plants and Some Uses
Alchornea cordifolia "Christmas Bush" (SPURGE FAMILY) GI, respiratory and urinary ailments
Alstonia boonei "Emien" (DOGBANE FAMILY): Bark antimalarial ECHITAMINE; VOACANGINE
Anthocleista nobilis "Cabbage Tree"(STRYCHNINE FAMILY): Bk. anti-diabetic, - fertility,-venereal
Bersama abyssinica (MELIANTHACEAE): Bark anthelminthic, aphrodisiac
Bridelia feruginea (SPURGE FAMILY) Leaves eaten
Butyrospermum paradoxum (CHICLE FAMILY): Shea butter (seed fat) used for boils and rheumatism; bark for labor and parturition; leaves for collyrium and
Carapa procera (MAHOGANY FAMILY): Seed fat for burns, fungi, lice
Catha edulis "Khat" (BITTERSWEET FAMILY): Anorectic CNS stimulant
Chasmantyhera dependens (MOONSEED FAMILY) Toot antivenereal; leaves for bruise, fractures
Chlorophora excelsa "African Oak (MULBERRY FAMILY) Latex for tooth extraction
Chrysophyllum albidum "White Star Apple (CHICLE FAM.) Bark for malaria, yellow fever
Cocculus pendulus (MOONSEED FAMILY) Hypertension
Combretum micranthum (COMBRETACEAE) For guinea worms
Costus afer (GINGER FAMILY) Cough; hypertension
Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (PERIPLOCACEAE): Fever; inflammation, yeast
Dichrostachys cinerea (LEGUME FAMILY): Bark for leprosy, venereal disease
Elaeis guineensis "Oil Palm (PALM FAMILY) Roots for bronchitis, gonorrhea, metrorrhagia
Garcinia kola "Bitter Kola" (ST. JOHN'S-WORT FAMILY)
Khaya senegalensis "African mahogany" (MAHOGANY FAM): Ameba; malaria
Lonchocarpus sericeus "Senegal Lilac" (LEGUME FAMILY): ROTENONE (2-6%)
Moringa oleifera "Horseradish Tree" (HORSERADISH TREE FAMILY) Water purification
Nauclea latifolia "African Peach" (COFFEE FAMILY): Leishmanniasis
Sclerocarya birrea "African Hog Plum" (CASHEW FAMILY) Diabetes; dysentery; malaria
Trema guineensis "African Elm" (ELM FAMILY); Bark for asthma, bronchitis, cough
Uvaria sp. "Finger Root" (PAWPAW FAMILY) Jaundice; malaria
Vernonia amygdalina "Bitter leaf" (ASTER FAMILY) VERNON cardiotonic, hypotensive
Voacanga africana (DOGBANE FAMILY): For mental disorders VOACANGINE analgesic
C. Major Local Kenyan and Tanzanian Medicinal Plants
Acokanthera schimperi "Arrow poison" Contains ouabain
Clutia abyssinica (SPURGE FAMILY) Convulsions, flu, hepatitis, malaria
Commiphora molmol (INCENSE FAMILY) Cult. In Kenya for the resin, an oral antiseptic
Embelia schimperi (MYRSINACEAE) Fruit for worms; stem bark for cramps
Entada abyssinica (LEGUME FAM.) Root for arthritis; roasted seed for conjunctivitis
Erythrina senegalensis "Coral Flower" (LEGUME FAMILY) Root for toothache, venereal diseases
Holarrhena floribunda (DOGBANE FAMILY) Bark for dysentery; fever; snakebite
Kigelia africana "Sausage Tree" (BIGNONIACEAE) Parturition; splenitis
Jateorrhiza palmata "Calumba" (MOONSEED FAMILY) Bronchitis, hypertension, impotence
Mallotus oppositifolius "Kamala" (SPURGE FAMILY) Dysentery, worms
Manniophytum flavum (SPURGE FAMILY) Dermatitis, yaws
Maytenus buchananii (BITTERSWEET FAMILY) Bark for boils, mouth sores, etc. MAYTINSINE
Mitragyna ciliata "Liberian Poplar" (COFFEE FAMILY) MITRAGYNINE as analgesic as codeine
Morinda citrifolia "Brimstone Tree" (COFFEE FAMILY) Dysentery; hypertension
Picralima nitida "Akuamma Seed" (DOGBANE FAMILY) Fever, hypertension,jaundice, malaria
Quassia africana (SIMAROUBACEAE) Bronchitis; dysmenorrhea; fever; pneumonia
Rauwolfia caffra "Quinine Tree" (DOGBANE FAMILY) AJMALINE; RESERPINE; YOHIMBINE
Salvadora persica "Toothbrush Tree" (TOOTHBRUSH TREE FAM.) Ancylostomiasis
Sansevieria liberica "Bowstring Hemp" (AGAVE FAMILY) Conjunctivitis, convlusions; hemorrhoids
Stephania dinklagei (MOONSEED FAMILY) CORYDINE (sedative) STEPHANINE
Tinospora caffra (MOONSEED FAMILY): Fever; tonic
Trichilia emetica "Barf Bark" (MAHOGANY FAMILY) Bark antidermatitis, antiinflammatory, emetic
Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides "Toothache Bark" (CITRUS FAMILY); BERBERINE CHELERYTHRINE antisickle cell
D. Cosmopolitan Weedy Medicinal Species Expected in Kenya/Tanzania
Abrus precatorius "Crab-s Eye" Colic, constipation, cough POISONOUS
Achyranthes aspera (PIGWEED FAMILY): Hemostatic; BETAINE; ECDYSTERONE; SAPONINS
Ageratum conyzoides (ASTER FAMILY)
Artemisia afra (ASTER FAMILY) Leaves for cold, constipation, cough, gout THUJONE
Borreria verticillata (COFFEE FAMILY) Stem juice antidermatitic; ess. oil inhibit E. coli and staph
Boscia senegalensis (CAPER FAMILY) for fungus, jaundice, malaria, venereal disease
Calotropis procera "Giant Milkweed" (MILKWEED FAMILY) CARDIAC GLYCOSIDES
Datura metel (SOLANACEAE; POTATO FAMILY) atropine; scopolamine
Datura stramonium "Jimsonweed" (SOLANACEAE; POTATO FAMILY) atropine; scopolamine
Emilia sonchifolia (ASTER FAMILY) Leaves febrifuge; juice for conjunctivitis
Eupatorium odoratum (ASTER FAMILY) Cough, malaria
Euphorbia hirta (SPURGE FAMILY) Dysentery, enteritis;
Heliotropium indicum (BORAGE FAMILY) Pyrollidzidine alkaloids
Hilleria latifolia (POKEWEED FAMILY) Jaundice; guinea worms; urethritis
Hoslundia opposita (MINT FAMILY) Antimalarial
Jatropa curcas "Physic nut" (SPURGE FAMILY) POISONOUS purgative
Ocimum gratissimum "Fever Plant" (MINT FAMILY) EUGENOL,THYMOL
Portulaca oleracea "Purslane" (PURSLANE FAMILY): Extracts antidiabetic, myorelaxant
Solanum incanum "Bitter Apple" (POTATO FAMILY) SOLANINE
Solanum nigrum "Black nightshade" (POTATO FAMILY) SOLANINE, SOLASODINE
Spigelia anthelmia "Wormseed" (STRYCHNINE FAMILY) DANGEROUS Anthelminthic
E. Local Food Farmacy
1. Afromamomum melegueta (GINGER FAMILY): Fruit considered aphrodisiac. Seeds contain gingerol and shogaol, the same acrive ingredients in ginger (MMI)
2. Piper guineense Ashanti Pepper (PEPPER FAMILY) Leaves for dysmenorrhea, infertility
3. Pycanthus kombo "African Nutmeg" (NUTMEG FAMILY) Edible seeds for dermatitis, thrush
4. Sesamum indicum "Sesame Seed" (SESAME FAMILY); Sesamim synergic with pyrethrum
5. Xylopia aethiopica "Ethiopian Pepper" (PAWPAW FAMILY): Promote fertility, lactation; CARENE; CINEOLE; LIMONENE
F. Pantropical Food "Farmacy" Species: Following are a list of some pantropical food species
with parenthetic inclusion of some of the nutraceuticals found in significant quantities in the
plant); Avocado (MUFAs); balsam pear (compound Q, momocharin), beans and other legumes
(biochanin, daidzein, formononetin, genistein, or estrogenic isoflavones); cassava (HCN);
chocolate (theobromine, theophylline),citrus (limonene, limonoids); coconut (aluric acid) coffee
(caffeine, chlorogenic acid, theobromine, theophylline);, cola (caffeine, theobromine,
theophylline); cowpea (folic acid); fenugreek (diosgenin); garlic (allicin),grape (pycnogenol,
resveratrol); jujube (betulinic acid);oilpalm (tocotrienol); okra (gossypol); onion (ajoene,allicin,
quercetin), papaya (chymopapain,papain), peanut (isoflavones, pycnogenol) pineapple
(bromelain); pumpkinseed (alanine, glycine, glutamic acid, pectin, tryptophan); soybean and
other legumes (biochanin, daidzein, formononetin, genistein); sweet potato (carotenoids); tea
(caffeine, theobromine, theophylline) tomato (GABA, lycopene); velvet-bean (l-dopa); yam
(disogenin)
G. Medicinal Spice Rack: chile (capsaicin, salicylates); cloves (eugenol); ginger (gingerol,
shogaol, zingibain), lemongrass (citral, citronellal, citronellol); nutmeg (myristicin); sesame
(sesamin); turmeric (curcumin).
Food for thought: If man evolved in Africa and radiated out, only last reaching Latin America,
why are most of our modern food plants species that originated, not in Africa, but in the Middle
East and Latin America.
Coffee is native to Africa but more coffee is now produced for world market in Brazil and
Colombia today. Conversely, chocolate and vanilla, though native American, are now more
produced in Africa. Why?
What food and medicinal crops, now widely distributed in tropical Africa, would not have been
there before Columbus discovered America.
If evolutionary diet is important for health, as the Paleolithic Prescription (Boyd Eaton) argues
very effectively, and evolution proceeded from Africa to the Middle East, then the Far East and
Europe, with what foods in today's markets have our genes been longest associated?
If evolutionary diet is important for health, why not evolutionary medicines. But there again,
more of our herbal medicines and phytomedicinal drugs are based on European/Near Eastern
species than on the longer-associated African/Far Eastern species.
Traditional Med Coevolution Millenia Generations
(Years)
EUROAMERICAN 500 0.5 25
AMERINDIAN ~20,000 20 1,000
AYURVEDIC ~1,000,000 1,000 50,000
CHINESE ~1,000,000 1,000 50,000
JAMU ~1,000,000 1,000 50,000
AFRICAN ~2,000,000 2,000 100,000
Coevolution of Man with Traditional Medicine Systems
AFRICAN MINTS
Achyrospermum oblongifolium Bak. (W)
Acollanthus pubescens Benth. (W)
Acrotome inflata Benth. (E)
Aeolanthus canescens Guerke (E)
Aeolanthus gamwelliae G Tayl. (E)
Aeollanthus suaveolens Mart. (W)
Ajuga ophrydis Burch. (E)
Alvesia rosmarinifolia Welw. (E)
Anisomeles indica (Linn.) O Ktze. (W)
Ballota africana Benth. (E)
Basilicum polystachyon (Linn.) Moench (W)
Becium knyanum G Tayl. (E)
Becium obovatum NE Br. (E)
Becium obovatum (E Mey.) NE Br. (W)
Becium obovatum NE Br. var. hians NE Br. (E)
Coleus barbatus Benth. (E)
Coleus esculentus G Tayl. (E)
Coleus sp. (E)
Endostemon tereticaulis (Poir.) M Ashby (W)
Englerastrum schweinfurthii Briq. (W)
Fuerstia africana Th. CE Fries. (E)
Haumaniastrum buettneri (Gürke) Mort. (W)
Haumaniastrum caeruleum (Oliv.) JK Morton (W)
Haumaniastrum lilacinum (Oliv.) JK Morton (W)
Hemizygia bracteosa (Benth.) Briq. (W)
Hemizygia welwitschii (Rolfe) M Ashby (W)
Holostylon baumii G Tayl. (E)
Hoslundia opposita Vahl. (E,W)
Hoslundia opposita Vahl. var. verticillata Bak. (E)
Hyptis atrorubens Poit. (W)
Hyptis lanceolata Poir. (W)
Hyptis pectinata (Linn.) Poit. (E,W)
Hyptis spicigera Lam. (W)
Hyptis suaveolens Poit. (W)
Iboza riparia NE Br. (E)
Isodictyophorus reticulatus (A Chev.) JK Morton (W)
Lasiocorys capensis Benth. (E)
Lavandula coronipifolia Poir. (W)
Lavendula officinalis Chaix (E)
Leocus africanus (Bak.) JK Morton (W)
Leocus lyratus A Chev. (W)
Leonotis africana Briq. (E)
Leonotis dysophylla Benth. (E)
Leonotis leonotis R Br. (E)
Leonotis leonurus Ait. f. (E)
Leonotis microphylla Skan. (E)
Leonotis mollis Benth. (E)
Leonotis mollissima Guerke (E)
Leonotis nepetaefolia R Br. (E)
Leonotis nepetifolia (Linn.) Ait. f. (W)
Leucas decurvata Bak. (E)
Leucas deflexa Hook. f. (W)
Leucas martinicensis R Br. (E)
Leucas martinicensis (Jacq.) Ait. f. (W)
Leucas oligocephala Hook. f. (W)
Marrubium vulgare L. (E)
Mentha aquatica Linn. (E,W)
Mentha aquatica L. var. crispa Benth. (E)
Mentha longifolia Linn. (W)
Mentha longifolia Huds. ssp. capensis Briq. (E)
Mentha longifolia Huds. ssp. polyadena Briq. (E)
Mentha piperita Linn. (W)
Mentha pulegium L. (E)
Mentha spicata L. (E)
Micromeria abyssinica Benth. (E)
Micromeria biflora Benth. (E)
Micromeria microphylla Benth. (E)
Micromeria purtschelleri Gürke (W)
Moschosma multiflorum Benth. (E)
Ocimum americanum L. (E)
Ocimum basilicum Linn. (E,W)
Ocimum canum Sims (W)
Ocimum filamentosum Forsk.
Ocimum nakurense Guerke
Ocimum sp. (E)
Ocimum suave Willd. (E,W)
Ocimum viride Willd. (E)
Orthosiphon pallidus Royle (W)
Orthosiphon rubicundus (D Don) Benth. (W)
Orthosiphon suffrutenscens (Thonning) JK Morton (W)
Orthosiphon welwitschi Rolfe (E)
Platosoma africanum P Beauv. (W)
Plectranthus assurgens (Bak.) JK Morton (W)
Plectranthus cyaneus Grike (W)
Plectranthus elegans Britten
Plectranthus esculentus NE Br. (W)
Plectranthus floribundus NE Br. (E)
Plectranthus glandulosus Hook. f. (W)
Plectanthrus gracillimus (TCE Fr.) Hubb. & Dandy (W)
Plectranthus hirtus Benth. (E)
Plectranthus laxiflorus Benth. (E)
Plectranthus natalensis Guerke (E)
Plectranthus peulhorum (A Chev.) JK Morton (W)
Plectranthus urticoides Bak. (E)
Pycnostachys eminii Gürke (W)
Pycnostachys reticulata (E Mey.) Benth. (W)
Rosmarinus officinalis L. (E)
Salvia aegyptiaca Linn. (W)
Salvia africana-coerulea L. (E)
Salvia africana-lutea L. (E)
Salvia chamdaeagnea Berg. (E)
Salvia chudaei Batt. & Trab. (W)
Salvia coccinea Buch. (W)
Salvia coccinea Juss. (E)
Salvia farinacea Benth. (W)
Salvia repens Burch. (E)
Salvia rugosa Dryand ex Ait. (E)
Salvia runcinata L. f. (E)
Salvia scabra L. f. (E)
Salvia sisymbrifolia Skan. (E)
Salvia sp. (E)
Salvia splendens Ker-Gawl. (W)
Salvia stenophylla Burch. (E)
Salvia triangularis Thunb. (E)
Satureja pseudosimensis Brenan (W)
Satureja robusta (Hook. f.) Brenan (W)
Solenostemon latifolius (Hochst.) JK Morton (W)
Solenostemon monostachyus (P Beauv.) Briq. (W)
Solenostemon rotundifolius (Poir.) JK Morton (W)
Stachys aethiopica L. (E)
Stachys aethiopica L. var. glandulifera Skan. (E)
Stachys rugosa Ait. (E)
Stachys rugosa Ait. var. linearis Skan. (E)
Stachys thunbergii Benth.
Syncolostemon parviflorus E Mey. ex Benth. (E)
Teucrium africanum Thunb. (E)
Teucrium capense Thunb. (E)
Teucrium incanum Aitch & Hemsl. (E)
Teucrium politum Linn. (W)
Teucrium riparium Hochst. (E)
Teucrium sp. (E)
Thymus serpyllum L. (E)
Thymus vulgaris Linn. (E,W)
Tinnea aethiopica Kotschy (W)
Tinnea antiscorbutica Welw. (E)
Tinnea barteri Gürke (W)
Burkill, HM. 1995. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Vol. 3, Families J-L. Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew. 857 pp. (W)
Watt, JM, Breyer-Brandwijk, MG. 1962. The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and
Eastern Africa. E.&S. Livingstone Ltd., Edinburgh and London. 1457 pp. (E)
Ayensu, E.S. 1978. Medicinal Plants of West Africa. Reference Publications, Algonac, MI. 330
pp.
Boulos, L. 1983. Medicinal Plants of North Africa. Reference Publications, Algonac, MI. 286
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Burkill, H.M. 1985. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Ed. 2. Vol. 1. Families A-D.
Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. 960 pp.
Burkill, H.M. 1994. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Ed. 2. Vol. 2. Families E-I.
Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. 636 pp.
Duke, J.A. 1983. Medicinal Plants of the Bible. (Illustrated by Peggy K. Duke) Out of print
Trado-Medic Books, Buffalo, NY. 233 pp.
FAO. 1986. Some Medicinal Forest Plants of Africa and Latin America. FAO Forestry Paper 67
Rome, 252 pp. (Based on work by several consultants, incl. J. A. Duke)
Irvine, F.R. 1961. Woody Plants of Ghana. Oxford University Press, London. 878 pp.
Iwu, M. 1993. Handbook of African Medicinal Plants. CRC Press. Boca Raton, FL. 435 pp.
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Sofowora, A. 1996. Research on medicinal plants and traditional medicine in Africa. J Alt. &
Compl. Med 2(3): 365-372.
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southwest Uganda. J. Alt. & Compl. Med. 2(3):373-376.
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