MEDlCINAL PLANTS OF JAMAICA. PARTS 1 & 11.

SOLANUM NIGRUM L. Branched Calalu; Guma; Black Nightshade.
This plant has long been in use in Jamaica as a green vegetable and potherb. Both Browne and Lunan
mention it under the common name of branched calalu. It is said to be good for the blood and as an aperient.
Steggerda mentions its use for mouth sores. The leaves and berries, especially when unripe, contain the alkaloid
solanine and the plant, although poisonous in Europe, appears to be harmless in Jamaica and South Africa. In
Africa both this and a number of other species of Solanum are used like spinach. In addition to solanine the
plant is said to contain an unidentified alkaloid, saponin and betaine. In Africa and Jamaica the leaves have, or
have had, a reputation as a local anodyne for inflammation. The plant is also employed for treatment of fevers
of various kinds. A paste of the green berries is used by the Zulus for ringworm. (See S. aculeatissimum). (2, 5,
15, 25, 26, 27).
STERCULIACEAE
About one thousand, mainly tropical. woody and herbaceous species are contained in this family. Only
the genera Cola and Theobroma, which contain characteristic alkaloids, are chemically well known. The
principle alkaloids are caffeine (theine) and theobromine. It has also been said by some workers that glucosides
occur. Other substances which have been identified are kolatannin, tannins, asparagine, kola and cacao red,
organic acids, gums and a variety of enzymes. Fats are in some cases of commercial importance, e.g. cocoa
butter.
COLA ACUMINATA Schott and End!. Cola (Kola); Bissy (Bichy, Busy) Nut.
Cola nuts are used in Jamaica for stomach pains and as a purge when poison is suspected. The nuts are
grated and boiled like coffee or taken with strong rum. A little cola is sometimes added to country chocolate and
it is considered to allay hunger. The plant is said by Lunan to have been brought to Jamaica from the Guinea
Coast and planted out near Guanaboa by one Mr. Goffe. In Africa the nut is chewed to promote digestion, is
considered to be a tonic, stimulating and antiperiodic, and is also used in dysentery. The chemical composition
of cola nuts appears to be complex and a matter for some difference of opinion. 11 is stated that I to 2.35 per
cent of caffeine and a small amount of the bromine are present. Starch makes up about 46 per cent of the dry
nut; glucose and sucrose are present; fats (up to 3 per cent) tannin and gum are found. Early work indicated
the presence of a compound called kolatine said to be a tanno-glucoside or a catechin compound but this has not
been found by subsequent investigators. Kolanine, described in earlier work as a glucoside splitting up into
caffeine, glucose and kola red. and occurring principally in fresh nuts, was later said to be a mixture of caffeinetannate
and theobromine-tannate, the latter being a glucoside. Kola red may also be a glucoside, giving rise to
phloroglucin. In 1929, Casparis found that the drug contained kolacatechin (C 20H 20H 83H 20) and free caffeine
the kolacatechin being mainly oxidised to kola red. Kolatine was not found in the fresh nuts but caffeinekolacatechin
(C 28H 30N 4O 10) was said to be present. (2, 7, 8, 10, 15, 23, 24, 27).
HELICTERES JAMAICENSIS Jacq. Corkscrew; Screw Tree.
With the wood and leaves, which are bitter, a tea is made for biliousness. Beckwith mentions the use of
corkscrew, an unidentified plant but probably this species, as an emetic. In MacFadyen's day an infusion was
used for fever, coughs and tuberculosis. (2, 16, 8).
MELOCHIA TOMENTOSA L. Tea Bush; Raichie.
Used to make tea for colds.
WALTHERIA AMERICANA L. Raichie.
This plant provides a tea for colds. In the Grenadines it is said 'to increase the blood'. In Africa it has a
varied reputation, being used as a remedy for sterility and internal haemorrhage and by others to cause abortion.
It is a common children's remedy and is also used for coughs, as a restorative, and for the prevention of syphilis.
It is said to contain tannin, mucilage and sugar. (7, 13).