Adesanya S A, Idowu T B and Elujoba A A (1988) Antisickling activity of Adansonia digitata. Planta Medica, 54(4): 374
The drinking of an aqueous extract of the bark of A. digitata is used in Nigerian traditional medicine as a treatment for sickle cell anaemia. The aqueous and methanolic extracts of the bark, as well as their ether fractions, were incubated with 2% sodium metabisulphite sickled washed HbSS blood samples. The results showed that the extracts possess reversal antisickling properties. However, no inhibitory antisickling activity was observed for any of the extracts when they were incubated with the HbSS blood samples for 6 h prior to deoxygenation by sodium metabisulphite. It is concluded that the low level of reversal activity compared to p-hydroxybenzoic acid and the absence of inhibitory activity in vitro do not justify the use of A. digitata for the prevention of sickling crises. Plant extracts from Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides [Z. zanthoxyloides] and Cajanus cajan, which are not used by traditional medical practitioners, have been reported to possess both activities in vitro.
Andrianaivo-Rafehivola A A, Siess M H and Gaydou E M (1995) Modifications of hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme activities in rats fed baobab seed oil containing cyclopropenoid fatty acids. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 33(5): 377-382
The effects on drug metabolizing enzymes of cyclopropenoid fatty acids present in baobab seed oil were evaluated in rats fed either a diet with baobab seed oil (1.27% cyclopropenoid fatty acids in the diet) or a diet with heated baobab seed oil (0.046% cyclopropenoid fatty acids in the diet). Comparison was made with rats fed a mixture of oils that contained no cyclopropenoid fatty acid. Rats fed baobab oil showed retarded growth. In comparison with the other groups, the relative liver weights were markedly increased whereas cytochrome P-450 content and NADPH cytochrome c reductase and NADH cytochrome c reductase activities were decreased. In rats fed the heated baobab oil the relative liver weight was decreased and the cytochrome P-450 level and reductase activities were increased relative to levels in rats fed the unheated oil. Ethoxycoumarin deethylase, ethoxyresorufin deethylase and pentoxyresorufin depentylase activities, expressed on the basis of cytochrome P-450, were greater in the group fed unheated baobab seed oil. Cytosolic glutathione transferase activity was markedly decreased in rats fed fresh baobab seed oil and heating the oil, which reduced the content of cyclopropenoid fatty acids, led to a considerable increase of this activity. UDP-glucuronyl transferase activities were not modified by the type of oil included in the diet. It is possible that the mechanisms of action of cyclopropenoid fatty acids are related to alterations of membrane lipid composition or microsomal proteins.
Grand A le and Wondergem P (1985) Medicinal plants of the tree-savanna. Part 1. An inventory of phytotherapy among the Diola in southern Senegal. 50pp. Amsterdam University; Amsterdam; Netherlands
An inventory was made of 50 medicinal plants, each with a description and notes on local uses and preparation. The efficacy of about 30 species against microbial infection was confirmed in the laboratory; these species included Adansonia digitata, Ceiba pentandra, mango, oil palm, pawpaw, sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas] and guava.
Grand A le (1985) Medicinal plants of the tree-savanna. Part 3. Evaluation of the use and therapeutic value of some fifty medicinal plants. 68pp, 17 pp. Amsterdam University; Amsterdam; Netherlands
Plants which could provide substitutes for imported western drugs were sought. Information from the literature (on medical activity, chemical composition, anti-microbial properties and possible medical uses) is compared with actual use by the Diola. Plants considered include Ipomoea batatas, Erythrina senegalensis, Elaeis guineensis, Adansonia digitata, Azadirachta indica and Carica papaya. Vernacular names are given.
Locher C P, Burch M T, Mower H F, Berestecky J, Davis H, VanPoel B, Lasure A, VandenBerghe D A and Vlietinck A J (1995) Anti-microbial activity and anti-complement activity of extracts obtained from selected Hawaiian medicinal plants. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 49(1): 23-32
Selected plants having a history of use in Polynesian traditional medicine for the treatment of infectious disease were investigated for anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial activity in vitro. Extracts from Scaevola sericea, Psychatria hawaiiensis, Pipturus albidus and Eugenia malaccensis showed selective anti-viral activity against Herpes Simplex Virus-1 and 2 and Vesicular Stomatitis Virus, Aleurites moluccana extracts showed anti-bacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while Pipturus albidus and Eugenia malaccensis extracts showed growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. Psychotria hawaiiensis and Solanum niger inhibited growth of the fungi Microsporum canis, Trichophyton rubrum and Epidermophyton floccosum, while Ipomoea sp., Pipturus albidus, Scaevola sericea, Eugenia malaccensis, Piper melhysticum, Barringtonia asiatica and Adansonia digitata extracts showed anti-fungal activity to a lesser extent. Eugenia malaccensis was also found to inhibit the classical pathway of complement suggesting that an immunological basis for its in vivo activity was identified. This study has confirmed some of the ethnobotanical reports of Hawaiian medicinal plants having curative properties against infections using biological assays in vitro.
Yazzie D, Vanderjagt D J, Pastuszyn A, Okolo A and Glew R H (1994) The Amino Acid and Mineral Content of Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Leaves. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 7(3): 189-193
The leaves of the baobab tree (Adansonia digitata L.) are a staple of populations in many parts of Africa, especially the central region of the continent. Among the people who comprise the Hausa ethnic group in particular, it serves as the main ingredient of a soup called "miyar kuka." However, the literature contains few studies of the nutritional quality of baobab leaf. In the present report, we show that baobab leaf contains 10.6% (dry weight) protein and an amino acid composition which compares favorably to that of an "ideal" protein: valine (5.9%), phenylalanine + tyrosine (9.6%), isoleucine (6.3%), lysine (5.7%), arginine (8.5%), threonine (3.9%), cysteine + methionine (4.8%), tryptophan (1.5%). In terms of mineral content, baobab leaf is an excellent source of calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, and zinc. These data indicate that in terms of both quality and quantity, baobab leaf can serve as a significant protein and mineral source for those populations for whom it is a staple food.