an investigation into the antibacterial activities of medicinal plants ...

2.2.3.4 Zantedeschia aethiopica
This evergreen plant with its large fleshy leaves forms part of the family, Araceae.
Zantedeschia aethiopica has characteristic large, glossy, dark green leaves and
white lily-like ‘flowers’ during the flowering season (Figure 1). The genus
Zantedeschia mainly found in South Africa is restricted to the African continent.
Zantedeschia aethiopica is distributed over a large part of South Africa and its
coastal regions.
Traditionally Zantedeschia aethiopica are also known as the ‘varklelie’ (Afrikaans)
and ‘arum lily’ (English). Although Z. aethiopica are not truly toxic, the needle
shaped calcium oxalate crystals may cause mechanical irritation, if taken internally
(Van Wyk et al., 2002). Traditionally the fresh leaves are warmed and used as
plasters for treating skin conditions (Table 1) (Grierson & Afolayan, 1999b).
No pharmacologically interesting compounds are known from Zantedeschia species.
The wound healing effect of Z. eathiopica may be due to the protective and
moisturising effect of the naturally glossy leaves (Van Wyk & Gericke, 2000).
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