A Review of Medicinal Values of Sphenocentrum Jollyanum (akerejupon) In African Alternative Medicine
Posted: Friday, August 20, 2010
by Rahaman Onike
The plant Sphenocentrum Jollyanum belongs to menispermaceae family. In indigenous Yoruba language, it is called Akerejupon. The roots and fruits are commonly used for healing purposes. Dalziel J.M. (1985) in the book entitled The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa reports that the plant is effective in treating chronic wounds, cough, tumours and other inflammatory conditions. Iwu M.M. (1993) in the book entitled Handbook of African Medicinal Plants affirms that sphenocetrum jollyanum has antioxidant and anti-angiogenic property. Sphenocentrum jollyanum contains flavanoids, isoquinoline alkaloids such as palmatine, columbamine, deterpenes and some other alkaloids. According to Nia R. et al (2005) in African Journal of Biomedical Research Vol. 8, No 1, pp 47-50 sphenocentrum jollyanum has anti-oxidant and anti-angiogenic effects thereby justifying its uses for treating inflammations and tumour related ailments.
Raji Y. et al (2006) in the Reproductive Medicine and Biology, Vol. 5 no 4 pp 283-292 report that the plant (Akerejupon) has steroidogenic potential and this explains its use as an aphrodisiac agent but the intake needs to be regulated because the sphenocentrum jollyanum could produce harmful effects on male reproductive functions.
Godwin M. et al (2009) in the Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 3 (ii) pp 870 874 report that the aqeous root extract of sphenocentrum jollyanum exerts significant anti-hyperglycemic activity. The anti-diabetic activity of the extract could be due to the presence of saponins, which is an strong bioactive agent against diabetes. Furthermore, flavanoids, terpenoid compound, tannins, anthraquinones, glycosides and alkaloids frequently implicated as components of the plant extract reduce plasma glucose level of diabetics.
Muko K.N. et al (1998) in the Niger . J. Nat. Prod. Med. 2 pp 52 53 report that the leaves possess significant antipyretic and analgesic property. The roots and leaves have been reported to be active against Polio Type 2 virus (Moody et al (2002) in J. Ethnopharmacol 104: 87 91).
According to protabase record accessed online at database. Prota.org, the plant sphenocentrum jollyanum mainly the bark is used as an emetic and purgative when poisoning is suspected. The root is used as an aphrodisiac tonic for men. The root is used as an aphrodisiac tonic for men. The sap from chewing sticks made from the root is believed to relieve stomach ache, constipation and can boost appetite and sexual drive. The roots are used as a sweetener; they taste sour but make food eaten thereafter taste sweet.
In Cote d' Ivoire the root is pulped into a paste with salt, fruit of aframomum melegueta (atare in Yoruba language), palm oil, the mixture is taken to treat abdominal disorders. Pounded roots are taken in Cote d' Ivoire to treat high blood pressure. The boiled or pulped roots are given in drought or enema against epileptic fits.
In Ghana , the pulped roots are applied to treat breast tumours. In Nigeria , a decoction of the root is applied to dress tropical ulcers. The plant is traditionally used as remedy for feverish conditions, cough, wound dressing and as an aphrodisiac.
A decoction of the leafy twigs is used as a wash to stop bleeding of wounds, sores and cuts; the wounds can also be covered with the powdered bark. Ingestion of crushed leaves curbs spitting of blood. The fruit is edible and is taken against fatigue. Sphenocentrum jollyanum is sometimes taken with lemon or the fruits of piper guineese (Iyere in Yoruba language) to cure cough.
Sphenocentrum jollyanum according to protabase data report has shown anti-oxidant, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-nociceptive, anti-tumour, antiviral, laxative, stomachic, tonic and aphrodisiac properties. The other compounds found to be present in sphenocentrum jollyanum (akerejupon) are furanoditerpenes columbin, isocolumbin and fibleucin which give the plant analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Prof. Moody J.O. of Department of Pharmacognosy in his inaugural lecture delivered at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, on the 1st July, 2010, reports that the yellow roots of sphenocentrum jollyanum are used as chewing sticks as well as for the relief of constipation, body pains and rheumatism in southwestern Nigeria . The roots according to him in the inaugural lecture are also mixed with black pepper for treatment of cough while the fruit of the plant with orange characteristics is a powerful aphrodisiac to improve sexual performance especially among elderly who are retired but obviously not tired. He confirms that examination of all the morphological parts of sphenocentrum jollyanum led to isolation of very potent anti-inflammatory furanoditerpenes identified as columbin, isocolumbin and fibleucin.
Columbin according to Moody (2010) gives a sustained and dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity with highest percentage inhibition dose level which was found to be in comparable range with acetylsalicylic acid.
Prof. Tolu Odugbemi of Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Lagos, Nigeria, in a book entitled A Textbook of Medicinal Plants from Nigeria (2008) also reports that sphenocentrum jollyanum (Akerejupon) is a good remedy for cough, wounds, aphrodisiac, fever, jaundice, breast swelling related to mestrual cycle and malaria treatment.
By
Onike Rahaman
(Freelance writer, Researcher and Administrator)
Phone No: 07033902827 or 07055083727.
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