Baobab Monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

5.3 Medicinal uses
5.3.1 Traditional use
Baobab is used in folk medicine as an antipyretic or febrifuge to overcome
fevers. Both leaves and fruit pulp are used for this purpose. Fruit pulp and
powdered seeds are used in cases of dysentery and to promote perspiration
(i.e. a diaphoretic).
Powdered leaves can be used as an anti-asthmatic and they are known to
have antihistamine and antitension properties. They are variously used to
treat fatigue, as a tonic and for insect bites, guinea worm and internal pains,
and to treat dysentery.
Leaves are used for many other conditions: diseases of the urinary tract,
opthalmia and otitis. Seeds are also used in cases of diarrhoea, and hiccough.
Oil extracted from seeds is used for inflamed gums and to ease diseased
teeth.
Maybe the widest use in folk medicine is the use of the bark as a substitute
for quinine in cases of fever or as a prophylactic. Decoction of the bark
decomposes rapidly due to the mucilaginous substances present. This can be
prevented by adding alcohol or a small quantity of sulphuric acid (Kings,
2002). Recently a summary of the traditional medicinal uses was provided
by Dweck (1997).
5.3.2 Antidote to poison
Bark, fruit pulp and seeds appear to contain an antidote to poisoning by
Strophanthus species. The juice of these species has been used widely as an
arrow poison especially in East Africa. In Malawi, a baobab extract is
poured onto the wound of an animal killed in this way to neutralise the
poison before the meat is eaten (Wickens, 1982).
5.3.3 Use in Indian medicine
- In Indian medicine, baobab bark is used internally as a refrigerant,
antipyretic and antiperiodic. It is used as a decoction, 30g/l of water,
boiled down to two thirds. Powdered leaves are similarly used to check
excessive perspiration. Pulp is used internally with buttermilk in cases
of diarrhoea and dysentry.
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