Rahaman Onike

A Survey of Medicinal Values of Gongronema Latifolium (madumaro) In African Alternative Medicine



Posted: Wednesday, September 08, 2010

by Rahaman Onike

Gongronema Latifolium belongs to the family of asclepiadaceae family. The plant common name is amaranth globe. The parts commonly used are leaves, stem and root. The origin of the plant is traced to Nigeria in West Africa . Gongronema Latifolium is called madumaro by Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria . It is a rainforest plant which has been traditionally used in the South Eastern part of Nigeria over the ages for the management of diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure etc.

The result of phytochemical screening of ethanolic root extract of Gongronema Latifolium by Antai A.B. et al (2009) which was reported in Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences 24(1): 79-83 shows that the root contains polyphenols in abundance. Alkaloids, glycosides and reducing sugars were also present in moderate amounts.

Atawodi S.E. (2005) in the African Journal of Biotechnology Vol 4, No. 2 pp 128-133 reports that Gongronema Latifolium has antioxidant potential. Sonibare M.A. and Z.O Gbile (2008) in the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Vol. 5, No 4 pp 340-345 report that Gongronema Latifolium has anti-ashmatic potential.

Akuodor G.C. et al (2010) report in the Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Vol 2(3): 118-124 that Gongronema Latifolium has antiplasmodal activity, this supports the traditional use of the leaf extract of the plant for local treatment of malaria. Akuodor (2010) and his team in their review state that Gongronema Latifolium (madumaro) is used in South Eastern Nigeria to treat various ailments such as cough, loss of appetite, malaria and stomach disorders.

The liquor usually obtained after the plant is sliced and boiled with lime juice or infused with water over three days is usually taken as a purge for colic and stomach pains. Various parts of the plant, particularly the stems and leaves are used as chewing sticks or liquor in Sierra Leone . It is also used to treat symptoms related to worm infections. Gongronema Latifolium is good for maintaining healthy blood glucose level, and has antibacterial activity.

Nwinyi O.C et al (2008) in the Journal of Medicinal Plant research Vol. 2(8): 189-192 report that Gongronema Latifolium also contains flavonoids, terpenes, tannins, saponins and alkaloids. The earlier studies of the researchers have shown that ethanolic leaf extract of Gongronema Latifolium possess analgesic effects. The stem bark extract of Gongronema Latifolium has equally been reported to have anti-ulcerative property.

Akuodor G.C. et al (2010) in a collaborative study reported in African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(5) pp 2316-2321 analysed that ethanol extract of Gongronema Latifolium leaves when evaluated were found to possess anti-ulcer, analgesic and antipyretic activities. The plant enjoys reputation as a remedy for inflammation, bacteria, ulcer, malaria, diabetes and analgesic.

Osunkwo U.A. (2010) in Ibnosina Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 2 No 3 reports that Gongronema Latifolium is good for the treatment of malaria. Morebise O. et al (2002) in Phytother Res. Suppl 1:575-7 confirm the anti-inflammatory property of the leaves of Gongronema Latifolium.

Edet E.E. et al (2009) in the African Journal of Biochemistry Research Vol. 3 (11) pp 366-369 report that Gongronema Latifolium crude leaf extract have anti-inflammatory properties. The plant is used in the treatment of diabetes and hypertension. It is also efficacy in the treatment of muscular pains, arthritis and inflammation.

According to Ekundayo O. (1980) in a quarterly Journal of Crude Drug Research Vol. 3 pp 127-129, Gongronema Latifolium has other phytochemicals such as B-sistosterol, lupenyl esters, pregnane ester and essential oils. Eleyinmi A. (2007) in the Journal of Zhejiang University Science Vol. 8(5): 352-358 reports that Gongronema Latifolium consists crude protein, lipid extract, ash, crude fibre and nitrogen free extractives. The plant leaves have potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus and cobalt contents. Dominant essential amino acids are leucine, valine, phenylalanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and glycine. Palmitic acid makes up 36 per cent fatty acid in the Gongronema Latifolium.

According to Eleyinmi (2007) the methanol extracts of G. Latifolium show activity against S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, S. enteritidis, P. aeruginosa and S. Cholerasius ser typhimurium. The highest activity observed was against S. enteritidis, S. Cholerasius ser typhimurium and P. aeruginosa, but when water was used to extract the plant active components, the solution show no activity against S. aureus.

Egunyomi A. et al (2009) in the African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 8(1) pp. 020-025 reports that Gongronema Latifolium perform antisickling activities. Prof. Tolu Odugbemi (2006) of Department of Medicinal Microbiology and Parasitology in a book entitled Outlines and Pictures of Medicinal Plants from Nigeria reports that Gongronema Latifolium is good for the treatment of sore gums, colic, dyspepsia and anthelmintic.

By onike Rahaman

(Freelance Writer and Researcher)

Phone no. 07033902827
This Article has been viewed 1,778 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Cyril,ken-darlington from Unical(student) 170 days 22 hours ago.
I really commend ur work. Hweva,i hav 2 work on combined effects of this plant & some other plant on some parameters.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.