Monograph of Brindelia ferruginea benth

Over the last two decades, while the health of the advanced nations has tremendously improved, many poor nations, particularly those in Africa and Asia, have experienced health decline. In addition to HIV/AIDS and the perennial problems of infectious diseases (e.g. malaria, helminthiasis and cholera), many African countries are also witnessing a huge rise in conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer. A recent report in one of the leading newspapers in Ghana highlighted the growing problem of diabetes in the country with doctors expressing grave concern about the rate of increase in diabetic cases. The report noted that apart from genetic predisposition and environmental issues, the lifestyle of Ghanaians was the major cause of the upsurge. A consultant of the hospital specifically noted the eating habits (a taste for refined sugary foods instead of fruits and vegetables), lifestyle (sedentary jobs with less exercising) and cultural practices especially where obesity was cherished and considered as a sign of affluence (www.graphicghana.info/article.asp?artid=4764) as the predisposing factors. It is clear from this report that unless research efforts are directed towards finding cost effective solutions to such debilitating disorders, there would be long term repercussions which will impact on the economies of the rich nations. Part of this solution lies in the arsenal of medicinal plants that abound on the continent. This paper therefore highlights the therapeutic potential of one such plant belonging to the genus Bridelia that can be used in the fight against diabetes in particular. The genus Bridelia consists of about 60 species including B. atroviridis, B. cathartica, B. ferruginea, B. micrantha, B. ovata, B. siamensis, B. tomentosa and B. tulasneama, all of which are native to Africa, Asia and Australia (Rashid 2000). Of these B. ferruginea and B. micrantha appear to have been the most studied. B. ferruginea Benth; syn bridelia leaf, belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. Among its many vernacular names are opam fufuo, baree (Twi); flatsho (Ga-Dangme); ekpazenra (Nzema); and kirni (Hausa). Description B. ferruginea (Euphorbiaceae) is a subtropical medicinal plant widely used in traditional African medicine for the treatment of conditions such as rheumatic pains, headaches, gastrointestinal and urogenital disorders (Ayensu 1978, Addae-Mensah 1992). Such is the esteem in which the herb is held that the Hausas of the West African subregion believe that prophylactic use of the root decoction can prevent syphilis. It has also been reported an application of the expressed bark is an effective antidote for the wound inflicted by arrow poison. Such wounds are treated by applying the chewed bark to the affected area followed by sucking (Ayensu 1978). Its diuretic action has also been found helpful in the treatment of gonorrhea (Addae-Mensah 1992). B. ferruginea is a small non laticiferous scaly tree or shrub that grows to about 4 metres high. The plant often bears spines and may be slash crimson coloured. The leaves may be small to medium sized, simple, alternate, spiral or distichous, broadly elliptic and pubescent. They are also pinnately veined with entire margin and an acuminate or acute apex (GHP 1992).

Source: UG