A Review of Medicical Uses of Pycnanthus Angolensis (akomu) In African Traditional Medicine
Posted: Friday, August 13, 2010
by Rahaman Onike
The Plant Pycnanthus Angolensis belongs to the myristicaceae family. It is also called Pycnanthus Kombo. The plant common names include African Nutmeg and Wild Nutmeg. In Nigerian languages, it is referred to as Akomu (Yoruba), Akujaadi (Hausa) and Egwunoma (Igbo)
The Ethnopharmacological survey of the plant, pycnanthus Angolensis, according to a study by Agyare C. et al (2009) in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology Vol. 125 issued 3, pp 393-403 confirms the potency of aqeous extracts of the plant for wound healing and it establishes antioxidant activities of the ethanolic extracts of the plant. The plant was reported to be good for stomach ulcer treatment due to its antiadhesive activity against helicobacter pylori on human stomach cells.
The parts that are usually used for ethnomedical purposes are leaves, stem-bark, roots, seeds and kombo butter. According to an online publication accessed at wwww.sprearson.org, pycnanthus Angolensis relieves pain and disability of people who suffer from arthritis; functions as immune system modulator; mediates inflammatory processes and possesses significant antioxidant properties. The plant parts have potential of lowering glucose concentrations in Type 2 diabetes, possess anti – cancer properties and have cholesterol lowering effects.
The bark of pycnanthus angolensis (Epo Akomu in Nigerian Yoruba Language) is used medicinally to treat skin infections. Preparations made from the bark are used as a potent purgative and it is good for the treatment of coughs and chest complaints. In Ghana , a decoction of the bark is taken to treat anaemia. The bark is used as poison antidote in Cote d' Ivoire and it is usually applied to treat ascites and leprosy. In Congo traditional medicine, the bark is used to treat a number of gynaecological problems ranging from infertility to gonorrhoea. In Sao Tome , the bark is used to treat malaria. In Cote d' Ivoire also a root macerate mixed with parts of other plants is taken by draught to treat schistosomiasis.
The bark according to protabase record accessed online at www.database. Prota.org contains dihydroguaiaretic acid which has shown non-selective toxicity towards several human tumour cell lines. Extracts of the bark according to the same source also showed the presence of flavonoids (2 – hydroxyl – formonetin), tannins and saponin glycosides which might be responsible for its biological activities. The plant leaves contain high percentage of Terpenoid quinones which perform hypoglycaemic activities in both insulin – dependent and insulin independent diabetes.
Prof. Hollist N.O. (2008) in the book entitled A collection of traditional Yoruba oral and dental medicaments widely explores the use of pycnanthus angolensis (Epo Akomu) for the treatment of toothache, black tongue, gingivitis and acute ulcero – membranous gingivitis.
Prof. Tolu Odugbemi of Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Lagos , Nigera, in a book entiled Outlines and Pictures of Medicinal Plants from Nigeria reports that pycnanthus Angolensis (Epo Akomu) is good for the treatment of thrush, black tongue, fever, cough, bad breadth, anti-bulharzia, lumbago, toothache, rubefacient and skin infections.
Luo J. et al (1998) in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Vol. 288 no. 2 pp. 529 – 534 report that pycnanthus Angolensis (Epo Akomu) contains terpenoid quinones which have potential utility in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. The plant bark according to Luo J. et al (1998) is used as an effective anti fungal agent.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)I luv dese alot cos it serve as hep for me in my project and som gynacology aspect. Thnx
Whao, it really help me 2 knw more
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