Acanthus montanus

Source:Wikimedia

Source:Wikimedia

NAME:  Acanthus montanus

FAMILY: Acanthacease

COMMON NAMES: Bear's breech, white's ginger, leopard's tongue

LOCAL NAMES: Ahon-ekun, irunmu-arugbo, inyinyiogwu, ogwudurunwashihshi

USEFUL PART(s):  Stem-twig, leaves, roots

 GENERAL USE(s):  

  • Ornamental purpose

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

  • Benin

  • Ghana

  • Nigeria

  • Togo

  • Central African Republic

  • Cameroon

  • Equatorial Guinea

  • Gabon

WHY IS IT GREEN? 

Acanthus montanus medicinal uses include:

  • Syphilis

  • Cough

  • Emetic

  • Urethral discharge

  • Purgative

  • Boils

  • Aneamia

  • Anthelmintics

Source: Wikimedia.org

Source: Wikimedia.org

FURTHER READINGS

Adamu, M., Oshadu, O. D., & Ogbaje, C. I. (2010). Anthelminthic efficacy of aqueous extract of Acanthus montanus leaf against strongylid nematodes of small ruminants. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 7(4), 279–285. https://doi.org/10.4314/ajtcam.v7i4.56143

Adeyemi, O. O., Okpo, S. O., & Okpaka, O. (2004). The analgesic effect of the methanolic extract of Acanthus montanus. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 90(1), 45–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2003.09.021

Adeyemi, O. O., Okpo, S. O., & Young-Nwafor, C. C. (1999). The relaxant activity of the methanolic extract of Acanthus montanus on intestinal smooth muscles. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 68(1–3), 169–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(99)00084-7

Amin, E., Radwan, M. M., El-Hawary, S. S., Fathy, M. M., Mohammed, R., Becnel, J. J., & Khan, I. (2012). Potent insecticidal secondary metabolites from the medicinal plant Acanthus montanus. Records of Natural Products, 6(3), 301–305. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0031-1273570

Anam, E. (1997). Pentacyclic triterpenoids from Acanthus montanus (Acanthaceae). INDIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY SECTION B-ORGANIC CHEMISTRY INCLUDING MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY, 36(1), 110–113.

Asongalem, E. A., Foyet, H. S., Ekobo, S., Dimo, T., & Kamtchouing, P. (2004). Antiinflammatory, lack of central analgesia and antipyretic properties of Acanthus montanus (Ness) T. Anderson. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 95(1), 63–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.06.014

Igwe, O. U., & Nnaji, J. C. (2014). Chemical Characterization and Investigation of the Bio-effects of the Leaves of Acanthus montanus (Acanthaceae ) on Some Selected Microorganisms. International Journal of ChemTech Research, 6(14), 5554–5561.

Nana, P., Asongalem, E. A., Foyet, H. S., Folefoc, G. N., Dimo, T., & Kamtchouing, P. (2008). Maternal and developmental toxicity evaluation of Acanthus montanus leaves extract administered orally to Wistar pregnant rats during organogenesis. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 116(2), 228–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2007.11.021

Noiarsa, P., Ruchirawat, S., & Kanchanapoom, T. (2010). Acanmontanoside, a new phenylethanoid diglycoside from Acanthus montanus. Molecules, 15(12), 8967–8972. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules15128967

Ukwe, C. V., & Ubaka, C. M. (2011). Hypoglycemic activity of leaves of Acanthus montanus T.Anderson (Acanthaceae) in rats. International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries, 31(1), 32–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13410-010-0011-1