plants

Capsicum annuum

Wikipedia

Wikipedia

NAME: Capsicum annuum

FAMILY: Solanaceae

COMMON NAMES: Bell pepper, red pepper, sweet pepper, Cayenne Pepper.

LOCAL NAMES: Ata rodo, sombo, Ose oyinbo, ngayok, piment

MORPHORLOGICAL DESCRIPTION:

A subshrub perennial plant that is usually grown as an annual. The height depend on the variety but is about 0.5-1.5m tall.

USEFUL PART(s): seed, fruit, flower, leaves

GENERAL USES:

  • Fruits are used in salad, soup, stew

  • Young leaves are said to be edible

  • Seed is dried, ground into a powder and used as a pepper

  • Food preservative

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION:

China, Mexico, Thailand, Nigeria, Egypt

WHY IS IT GREEN?

  • antiseptic

  • diaphoretic

  • rubefacient,

  • Stimulant

  • Carminative

  • Vitamin C

  • sialagogue

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Capsicum annuum is an invasive weed as list by The Global Compendium of Weeds.

FUN FACT

 Bird pepper is the most widely used condiment all over the Universe.

FURTHER READINGS

Capsaicin Content and Pungency of Different Capsicum spp. Cultivars. (2008). Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha362345

Cichewicz, R. H., & Thorpe, P. A. (1996). The antimicrobial properties of chile peppers (Capsicum species) and their uses in Mayan medicine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(96)01384-0

Lim, T. K., & Lim, T. K. (2013). Capsicum annuum. In Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5628-1_28

Zhigila, D. A., Abdulrahaman, A. A., Kolawole, O. S., & Oladele, F. A. (2014). Fruit morphology as taxonomic features in five varieties of capsicum annuum L. solanaceae. Journal of Botany. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/540868

Cannabis sativa

Cannabis sativa.jpg

NAME: Cannabis sativa

FAMILY: Cannabinaceae

COMMON NAMES:  marijuana, cannabis, ganja, hemp, hashish

LOCAL NAMES: Injaga, Bhaṅgā, Spak brus, Taima

MORPHORLOGICAL DESCRIPTION:

Cannabis sativa is an annual herbaceous flowering plant. The flowers are unisexual

USEFUL PART(s): seeds, leave, stem-twigs, female inflorescence

GENERAL USES:

hempseed oil for cooking, lamps, lacquers, or paints

The flowers and fruits  are consumed for recreational, medicinal, and spiritual purposes

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION:

Colombia, Mexico, Thailand, and Southeast Asia.

WHY IS IT GREEN?

  • Diarrhoea

  • Sores

  • Migraine

  • Whooping

  • Cough

  • Sedative

  • Dandruff

  • Lice

  • Gonorrhea,

  • Dyspepsia

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

FUN FACT

 It is by far one of the most widely used drugs.

FURTHER READINGS

Andre, C. M., Hausman, J. F., & Guerriero, G. (2016). Cannabis sativa: The plant of the thousand and one molecules. Frontiers in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.00019

Chandra, S., Lata, H., & ElSohly, M. A. (2017). Cannabis sativa L. - botany and biotechnology. In Cannabis sativa L. - Botany and Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54564-6

Flores-Sanchez, I. J., & Verpoorte, R. (2008). Secondary metabolism in cannabis. Phytochemistry Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-008-9094-4

Johnson, R. (2011). Hemp as an agricultural commodity. In Cannabis Sativa for Health and Hemp.

Machado Bergamaschi, M., Helena Costa Queiroz, R., Waldo Zuardi, A., & Alexandre S. Crippa, J. (2011). Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa Constituent. Current Drug Safety. https://doi.org/10.2174/157488611798280924

Pereira, J., & Wiegand, T. (2014). Marijuana. In Encyclopedia of Toxicology: Third Edition. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-386454-3.00745-4

Canna indica

Wikipedia

Wikipedia

NAME: Canna indica

FAMILY: Cannaceae

COMMON NAMES: Indian shot, African arrowroot, edible canna, canna

LOCAL NAMES: Idodo, ido, Gwangwama, Aberekanw

MORPHORLOGICAL DESCRIPTION: Canna indica is a long- lived herbaceous plant with large leaves up to 50cm long and 25cm wide.

USEFUL PART(s): Leaves, root, shoot, seed

GENERAL USES:

  • Roots are edible

  • young shoots are cooked and eaten as a green vegetable

  • A fibre obtained from the leaves is used for making paper

  • Smoke from the burning leaves is said to be insecticidal

  • seeds are widely used for jewelry

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

 Eastern and south-eastern Australia. New Zealand, southern USA, southern and eastern Africa, Hawaii

WHY IS IT GREEN?

  • Asthma

  • Malaria

  • Diaphoretic and diuretic

  • Fevers

  • Dermatoses

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

  • It can restrict water movement, cause flooding, and limit access to waterways

  • C. indica is regarded as an invasive species and noxious weed in other parts of the world

FUN FACT

 Canna indica reproduces vegetatively from rhizomes

FURTHER READINGS

Bachheti, R. K., Rawat, G. S., Joshi, A., & Pandey, D. P. (2013). Phytochemical investigation of aerial parts of Canna indica collected from Uttarakhand India. International Journal of PharmTech Research.

Lim, T. K., & Lim, T. K. (2016). Canna indica. In Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7276-1_3

Srivastava, J., & Vankar, P. S. (2010). Canna indica flower: New source of anthocyanins. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2010.08.011

Srivastava, J., & Vankar, P. S. (2015). Carotenoids: As natural food colorant from Canna flowers. Pigment and Resin Technology. https://doi.org/10.1108/PRT-12-2013-0112

Canavalia ensiformis   

Canavalia ensiformis   .jpg

NAME: Canavalia ensiformis   

FAMILY: Leguminosae

COMMON NAMES: Wonder bean, Sword bean, horse bean

LOCAL NAMES: Ponpondo, sese-nla

MORPHORLOGICAL DESCRIPTION: This is an annual to short-lived perennial plant that can be bushy or twining plant up to about 2m in height. It is resistant to drought because of it deep roots

USEFUL PART(s): seed, pod

GENERAL USES:

  • The roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute

  • Young foliage is edible

  • Unripe seeds are cooked and eaten like broad beans

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

  • Central America, Caribbean.

WHY IS IT GREEN?

  • Antibiotic

  • antiseptic

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

  • It is cultivated as a cover crop to conserve and fertilize the soil for other crops

  • The beans are mildly toxic, and copious consumption should be avoided

FUN FACT

FURTHER READINGS

Mubiru, D. N., & Coyne, M. S. (2009). Legume cover crops are more benefi cial than natural fallows in minimally tilled ugandan soils. Agronomy Journal. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2007.0391

Postal, M., Martinelli, A. H. S., Becker-Ritt, A. B., Ligabue-Braun, R., Demartini, D. R., Ribeiro, S. F. F., Pasquali, G., Gomes, V. M., & Carlini, C. R. (2012). Antifungal properties of Canavalia ensiformis urease and derived peptides. Peptides. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2012.08.010

Sridhar, K. R., & Seena, S. (2006). Nutritional and antinutritional significance of four unconventional legumes of the genus Canavalia - A comparative study.Food Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2005.07.049

 

 

Canarium schweinfurthii

NAME:    Canarium schweinfurthii

FAMILY: Burseraceae

COMMON NAMES: African Elemi, aiele,bush candle tree

LOCAL NAMES: Origbo, Paapo, agbabubu, atile, Mbiji

MORPHORLOGICAL DESCRIPTION:  is a large, evergreen fruit producing forest tree. Height exceeding 50 m.                                      

USEFUL PART(s): Bark, seed, fruit

GENERAL USES:

  • The seeds are edible

  • The resin is used as a fumigant against mosquitoes

  • The bark of young trees is split off in Gabon to make boxes

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

  • Senegal, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Nigeria and Angola.

WHY IS IT GREEN?

  • Black tongue

  • round worm

  • gonorrhea

  • stomach disorders

  • leprosy

  • ulcers

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

  • Unknown

FUN FACT

  • Because of similarities in their fruit and leaves, African elemi may be confused with Dacryodes edulis.

FURTHER READING

Aji, M. M., Gutti, B., Highina, B. K., & Kyari, S. A. (2015). Soxhlet Extraction and Characterization of Oil From Schweinfurthii ( Black Date ) Fruits for Domestic Purpose. Applied Research Journal.

Jazet Dongmo, P. M., Tchoumbougnang, F., Ndongson, B., Agwanande, W., Sandjon, B., Amvam Zollo, P. H., & Menut, C. (2010). Chemical characterization, antiradical, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of the essential oils of Canarium schweinfurthii and Aucoumea klaineana (Burseraceae) growing in Cameron. Agric.Biol.J.North America.

Koudou, J., Abena, A. A., Ngaissona, P., & Bessière, J. M. (2005). Chemical composition and pharmacological activity of essential oil of Canarium schweinfurthii. Fitoterapia. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2005.06.004

Calotropis procera

NAME:    Calotropis procera

FAMILY: Apocynaceae

COMMON NAMES: Giant milk weed, sodom apple, king's crown

LOCAL NAMES: Bomubomu, Tumfatiya, Faftan

MORPHORLOGICAL DESCRIPTION: This is a flowering plant growing up to 4m or more tall. It is a shrub a deep taproot, 3-4 m deep, and a secondary root system with woody lateral roots that may rapidly regenerate adventitious shoots when the plant is injured

USEFUL PART(s): Leaves, root, bark, latex

GENERAL USES:

  • The leaves have been used as a soup ingredient in sauces

  • The stems yield a fibre useful for making ropes, bags, nets and paper

  • Medicinal purpose

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

  • North Africa, tropical Africa, Western Asia, South Asia.

WHY IS IT GREEN?

  • Diarrhoea,

  • Dysentery

  • Elephantiasis

  • Leprosy

  • Chronic eczema

  • Ringworm

  • Cough

  • Diaphoretic

  • Emetic

  • Asthma

  • Abortifacient

  • Convulsion

  • Antipyretic.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

  • Calotropis extracts, chopped leaves, and latex have shown in vitro and in vivo nematicidal properties.

  • The milky sap of the plant is poisonous some of which are steroidal heart poisons known as "cardiac aglycones”

FUN FACT

  • Calotropis extracts, chopped leaves, and latex have shown in vitro and in vivo nematicidal properties

FURTHER READINGS

Chundattu, S. J., Agrawal, V. K., & Ganesh, N. (2016). Phytochemical investigation of Calotropis procera. Arabian Journal of Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2011.03.011

Hassan, L. M., Galal, T. M., Farahat, E. A., & El-Midany, M. M. (2015). The biology of Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. In Trees - Structure and Function. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-015-1158-7

Rayanatou, I. A., Mahamadou, E. H. G., Garric, G., Harel-Oger, M., Leduc, A., Jardin, J., Briard-Bion, V., Cauty, C., Adakal, H., Grongnet, J. F., & Gaucheron, F. (2017). Physico-chemical characterization of dairy gel obtained by a proteolytic extract from Calotropis procera – A comparison with chymosin. Food Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.04.039

Calophyllum inophyllum

Calophyllum inophyllum.jpg

NAME:    Calophyllum inophyllum

FAMILY: Guttiferae or Calophyllaceae

COMMON NAMES:  Alexandrian laurel, Dillo oil tree,red poon

LOCAL NAMES:  bintangur, Nambagura, tamanu, or kamani.

MORPHORLOGICAL DESCRIPTION Calophyllum inophyllum is an ornamental plant. It is a medium-sized and slow-growing evergreen tree with a spreading and irregular crown. It usually grows up to 8 to 20 m (26 to 66 ft) in height. All parts of the plant contain a sticky yellowish latex.

GENERAL USES:

  • Shipbuilding

  • An oil obtained from the seed is edible after being refined

  • The mature fruit is burned as a mosquito repellent

  • The stones of the fruit are used as marbles

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

  • Calophyllum inophyllum is native to Africa, South, Southeast and East Asia, Australia

WHY IS IT GREEN?

  • Purgative

  • Eye infection

  • migraine

  • astringent

  • ulcers

  • gonorrhea

  • boils and ophthalmia

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

  • The sap of the tree is poisonous

  • The leaves contain compounds that are poisonous to fish

FUN FACT

  • In Australia a fine of £10 is inflicted on any person who cuts down Alexandrian laurel.

FURTHER READINGS

Lim, T. K., & Lim, T. K. (2012). Calophyllum inophyllum. In Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1764-0_2

Ong, H. C., Mahlia, T. M. I., Masjuki, H. H., & Norhasyima, R. S. (2011). Comparison of palm oil, Jatropha curcas and Calophyllum inophyllum for biodiesel: A review. In Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.05.005

Susanto, D. F., Aparamarta, H. W., Widjaja, A., & Gunawan, S. (2017). Identification of phytochemical compounds in Calophyllum inophyllum leaves. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2017.08.001

Caloncoba glauca

Wikipedia

Wikipedia

NAME: Caloncoba glauca

FAMILY: Flacourtiaceae

COMMON NAMES: Caloncoba

LOCAL NAMES: Kakandika, pomuseghe

MORPHOLOGY DESCRIPTION: A small tree about 15 m tall native to rainforests in western Tropical Africa with a spreading crown of simple leaves and attractive, white and orange flowers followed by edible fruits.

USEFUL PART(s): Seeds, root, bark, leaf

GENERAL USES:

  • Medicinal purpose

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

  • Cameroon, Congo, Guinea, Cote d’ivoire

WHY IS IT GREEN?

  • Leprosy

  • skin lesions

  • pustular skin eruptions

  • migraines

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

  • Though the fruit is edible the seed can be poisonous to animals

FUN FACTS

  • In Congo (Brazzaville) leaf-sap is put on the temples to relieve migraine

FURTHER READINGS

Mpetga, J. D. S., Tene, M., Wabo, H. K., Li, S. F., Kong, L. M., He, H. P., Hao, X. J., & Tane, P. (2012). Cytotoxic cycloartanes from the fruits of Caloncoba glauca. Phytochemistry Letters. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytol.2011.12.006

Simo Mpetga, J. D., He, H. P., Hao, X. J., Leng, Y., & Tane, P. (2014). Further cycloartane and friedelane triterpenoids from the leaves of Caloncoba glauca. Phytochemistry Letters. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytol.2013.09.015

 

Calliandra haematocephala

Wikipedia

Wikipedia

NAME: Calliandra haematocephala

FAMILY: Leguminosae/ Mimosaceae

COMMON NAMES:  Calliandra, Powderpuff

LOCAL NAMES: Tude, ule

MORPHOLIGICAL DESCRIPTION: Powderpuff is an ornamental shrub of 12 to 15 feet height with red or pink flower. The fruits are brown color.

USEFUL PART(s): Leaves, barks, stem, roots

GENERAL USES:

  • It is an ornamental plant

  • Powderpuff has medical benefits

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

  • Native to tropical America, Philippine

WHY IS IT GREEN?

  • Antimicrobials,

  • anti-inflammatory,

  • anticonvulsant,

  • hemorrhoids.

  • immunomodulatory

  • antiulcerogenic

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

  • Unknown

FUN FACTS

  • Decoction of the flowers used as blood purifier and tonic

FURTHER READINGS

Bahieldeen, A., Mourad, M. M., & Alsafa, H. M. (2010). Molecular Taxonomy of some Selected Taxa of Subfamily Mimosoideae. Journal of American Science.

McCoy, R. E., Basham, H. G., & Davis, R. E. (1982). Powder puff spiroplasma: A new epiphytic mycoplasma. Microbial Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02010450

Nia, R., Adesanya, S., Okeke, I., Illoh, H., & Adesina, S. (1999). ANTIBACTERIAL CONSTITUENTS OF CALLIANDRA HAEMATOCEPHALA. Nigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicine. https://doi.org/10.4314/njnpm.v3i1.11761

Zhang, W., Yin, Z., Zhang, J., Zhang, Y., & Kang, W. (2018). Volatiles in Flowers, Stems, and Leaves of Calliandra haematocephala. Chemistry of Natural Compounds. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10600-018-2336-9

Calendula officinalis

Wikipedia

Wikipedia

NAME: Calendula officinalis

FAMILY:  Asteraceae

COMMON NAMES:  Marigold, Pot Marigold, ruddles

LOCAL NAMES: Ododo-Maria

MORPHOLIGICAL DESCRIPTION: Calendula officinalis is a short-lived aromatic herbaceous perennial. The flowers maybe orange or yellow. The plant grows to about 30cm with branching stems that are slightly or moderately hairy or sticky.

USEFUL PART(s): flower, leave and root

GENERAL USES

  • Pot marigold florets and leaves are edible.

  • They are often used to add color to salads and food generally

  • It also has medicinal benefits.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

  • Australia and New Zealand

WHY IS IT GREEN?

  • treating sore throat and mouth,

  • menstrual cramps,

  • cancer

  • pain and swelling (inflammation)

  • stomach and duodenal ulcers.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

  • Calendula may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family.

FUN FACTS

  • Pot marigold is one of the few plants which is considered astringent despite not being high in tannins.

  • Plant pharmacological studies have suggested that Calendula extracts may have anti-viral, anti-genotoxic and anti-inflammatory properties in vitro

FURTHER READING

Efstratiou, E., Hussain, A. I., Nigam, P. S., Moore, J. E., Ayub, M. A., & Rao, J. R. (2012). Antimicrobial activity of Calendula officinalis petal extracts against fungi, as well as Gram-negative and Gram-positive clinical pathogens. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2012.02.003

Lastra Valdés, H., & Piquet García, R. (1999). Calendula officinalis. In Revista Cubana de Farmacia. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-952092

Ong, H. C., Mahlia, T. M. I., Masjuki, H. H., & Norhasyima, R. S. (2011). Comparison of palm oil, Jatropha curcas and Calophyllum inophyllum for biodiesel: A review. In Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.05.005

Preethi, K. C., Kuttan, G., & Kuttan, R. (2006). Antioxidant potential of an extract of Calendula officinalis flowers in vitro and in vivo. Pharmaceutical Biology. https://doi.org/10.1080/13880200601009149

Roveroni-Favaretto, L. H. D., Lodi, K. B., & Almeida, J. D. (2009). Topical Calendula officinalis L. successfully treated exfoliative cheilitis: A case report. Cases Journal. https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1626-2-9077

 

Calopogonium mucunoides

NAME: Calopogonium mucunoides

FAMILY:  Fabaceae

COMMON NAMES:  calopo, wild ground nut, crab grass

LOCAL NAMES: Apalofa, Agbiri

MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION: Calopogonium mucunoides is  vigorous, hairy annual or short-lived creeping, twining or trailing, herb, up to several metres long, forming a tangled mass of foliage 30-50 cm thick, with densely pilose stems with long rust-coloured hairs.  

USEFUL PART(s): seed and leaves

GENERAL USES:

  • It is an important cover crop for plantation crops

  • Green manure to protect the soil surface

  • Weed controller

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

  • Tropical Americas and the West Indies, Indonesia and Malaysia

WHY IS IT GREEN?

  • Diarrhoea,

  • Skin infection.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

  • Does not contain toxic factors.

  • Weed potential

FURTHER READING

Dinesh, R., Suryanarayana, M. A., Ghoshal Chaudhuri, S., & Sheeja, T. E. (2004). Long-term influence of leguminous cover crops on the biochemical properties of a sandy clay loam Fluventic Sulfaquent in a humid tropical region of India. Soil and Tillage Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2003.11.001

HIDAYATI, N. (2006). Potency of Centrocema pubescence, Calopogonium mucunoides, and Micania cordata for cleaning metal contaminants of gold mines waste. Biodiversitas, Journal of Biological Diversity. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d070102

Leuner, O., Havlik, J., Hummelova, J., Prokudina, E., Novy, P., & Kokoska, L. (2013). Distribution of isoflavones and coumestrol in neglected tropical and subtropical legumes. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.5835

Ribeiro, R. C., Feitoza, R. B. B., Lima, H. R. P., & Geraldo De Carvalho, M. (2015). Phytotoxic effects of phenolic compounds on Calopogonium mucunoides (Fabaceae) roots. Australian Journal of Botany. https://doi.org/10.1071/BT15097

 

 

Cajanus cajan

51GbUWk1DnL._SX425_.jpg

NAME:   Cajanus cajan 

FAMILY: Fabaceae/ Leguminosae.

COMMON NAMES:  Red gram, congo pea, gungo pea, and no-eye pe

LOCAL NAMES: Otili, Orela, Tur, Arhar, Adhaki

MORPHOLOLIGAL DESCRIPTION: Pigeon pea is a short-lived, erect, growing legume plant about 4m tall with erect ribbed, densely pubescent stems

USEFUL PART(s): Seed, leaves, shoot

GENERAL USES:

  • Pigeon peas are edible seed, the young shoots and leaves can also be cooked and eaten

  • Pigeon peas are also use for medicinal purposes

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

India, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda

WHY IS IT GREEN?

Cajanus cajan medicinal values include

  • Smallpox,

  • chickenpox,

  • diuretic,

  • laxative,

  • haemostatic,

  • astringent,

  • measles,

  • mouth wash.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

FUN FACT

  • Pigeon pea was domesticated in India 3,500 years ago.

FURTHER READINGS

Duker-Eshun, G., Jaroszewski, J. W., Asomaning, W. A., Oppong-Boachie, F., & Christensen, S. B. (2004). Antiplasmodial Constituents of Cajanus cajan. Phytotherapy Research. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1375

Oshodi, A. A., & Ekperigin, M. M. (1989). Functional properties of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) flour. Food Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/0308-8146(89)90139-8

Sharma, K. K., Sreelatha, G., & Dayal, S. (2006). Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.). In Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0433-3_5

Summerfield, R. J., & Roberts, E. H. (2018). Cajanus cajan. In Handbook of Flowering: Volume I. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781351072533

Abrus precatorius

8338146495_1e5428d9cd_b.jpg

NAME:  Abrus precatorius

FAMILY: Fabaceae

COMMON NAMES: Crab’s eye, rosary pea, love nut, jequirity, prayer bead, country licorice

LOCAL NAMES: Oju-ologbo, omisinminsin, mesenmesen, iwere-jeje, Olorun yin-ni, otoberebere, idonzakara, Umkhokha.

USEFUL PART(s): Root, leaves, seeds

GENERAL USES: The seeds of Abrus precatorius are used as:

  • Units of measurement

  • Weapons

  • Jewelry (beads)

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

  • China

  • Thailand

  • Japan

  • Seychelles

  • Nigeria

  • Brazil

WHY IS IT GREEN? 

Abrus precatorius medicinal uses include:

  • Colds and cough

  • Convulsion

  • Rheumatism

  • Conjunctivitis

  • Contraceptive

  • Antimicrobials

  • Aphrodisiac

  • Ulcer

  • Anaemia

  • Antidote poison

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

  • Environmental weeds

  • Strange/unusual scramblers and vines

OTHER IMPACT

The seeds are toxic to both humans and farm animals

 FURTHER READINGS

Bhardwaj, D. K., Bisht, M. S., & Mehta, C. K. (1980). Flavonoids from Abrus Precatorius. Phytochemistry, 19(9), 2040–2041. https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(80)83038-X

Ghosal, S., & Dutta, S. K. (1971). Alkaloids of Abrus precatorius. Phytochemistry, 10(1), 195–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)90270-X

Hata, Y., Ebrahimi, S. N., De Mieri, M., Zimmermann, S., Mokoka, T., Naidoo, D., … Hamburger, M. (2014). Antitrypanosomal isoflavan quinones from Abrus precatorius. Fitoterapia, 93, 81–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2013.12.015

Limmatvapirat, C., Sirisopanaporn, S., & Kittakoop, P. (2004). Antitubercular and antiplasmodial constituents of Abrus precatorius. Planta Medica, 70(3), 276–278. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2004-818924

Manasi, N., Pimpalgaonkar, P. B., & Laddha, K. S. (2011). Studies on sodhana prakriya of gunja (Abrus precatorius Linn.) seeds. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 10(4), 693–696.

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