Bridelia micrantha

euph_bridelia_micrantha_14_guebau_238_19a603.jpg

NAME:  Bridelia micrantha

FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae

COMMON NAMES: Mitzeeri sweetberry, Yoruba ironwood, mwiza

LOCAL NAMES: Isa,asa,Oga ofia,Edede

USEFUL PART(s): Leaves, roots,bark

GENERAL USES:

  • The wood is used for furniture, poles, mortars, spoons and tool handles.

  • It also serve as fuel and for charcoal production

  • The leaves are fed to farm animals

  • The fruits are edible and sweet

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

  • Togo

  • Rwanda

  • Mali

  • Malawi

  • Kenya

  • Central Africa Republic

  • Tanzania

 

WHY IS IT GREEN?

Bridelia micrantha medicinal values include

  • Laxative

  • Headache

  • Migraine

  • Cough

  • Diarrhoea

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

FUN FACT

  • Bridelia micrantha is a medium to tall, deciduous or evergreen tree reaching 20 m high with a thick spreading canopy; leaves are simple, large and alternate.

  • They are found growing along forest margins, in coastal forests, swamp forest and woodland.

FURTHER READINGS

Adesina, J. M., Ileke, K. D., Yallappa, R., & Ofuya, T. I. (2016). Insecticidal evaluation of bridelia micrantha and dalbergia lactea aqueous extracts for the control of podagrica uniforma (Jacoby) and nisotra dilecta (Jacoby) (Coleoptera: Chysomelidae) infestation on okra. Agrivita, 38(3), 269–274. https://doi.org/10.17503/agrivita.v38i3.845

Maroyi, A. (2017). Ethnopharmacology and therapeutic value of Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill. in tropical Africa: A comprehensive review. Molecules. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22091493

Mburu, C., Kareru, P., Kipyegon, C., Madivoli, E., Maina, E., Kairigo, P., … Marikah, D. (2016). Phytochemical Screening of Crude Extracts of Bridelia micrantha. European Journal of Medicinal Plants, 16(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.9734/EJMP/2016/26649

 

Brillantaisia nitens

NAME: Brillantaisia nitens  

FAMILY: Acanthaceae

COMMON NAMES: Tropical Giant Sage

LOCAL NAMES: Ogwumadibia, pedjindo, bolobolo,

USEFUL PART(s): Leaves

GENERAL USES:

  • Extracts from the leaves can be use in making soaps

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

  • Sierra Leone

  • Ghana

  • Guinea

  • Nigeria

  • Cameroon

 

WHY IS IT GREEN?

Brillantaisia nitens  medicinal values include

  • Diarrhoea

  • pain-killers

  • ear treatments

  • antiaborifacients

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

FUN FACT

  • Brillantaisia nitens is a perennial herb about 3 m tall, of wet areas in the forest zone, and reaching mountain elevations.

FURTHER READINGS

Adams, P. R., Musk, R., & Blake, R. (2017). Establishing Eucalyptus nitens plantations using controlled-release fertilisers. Australian Forestry, 80(5), 309–316. https://doi.org/10.1080/00049158.2017.1387995

Akah, P. A., Okolo, C. E., Okoye, T. C., & Offiah, N. V. (2010). Aqueous extract and methanol fractions of the leaves of Brillantaisia nitens Lindau. reverses phenylhydrazine - Induced anaemia in rats. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 4(3), 271–277. Retrieved from https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77649088907&partnerID=40&md5=69334e1816e94e34285b14959b822c2e

Nembo, E. N., Dimo, T., Bopda, O. S. M., Hescheler, J., & Nguemo, F. (2014). The proliferative and chronotropic effects of Brillantaisia nitens Lindau (Acanthaceae) extracts on pluripotent stem cells and their cardiomyocytes derivatives. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 156, 73–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.07.046