Compilation
Annona arenaria

A savanna tree to 8 m high occurring from Guinea to the Ivory Coast, and in Cameroun, Zaïre and Angola. This species is confused with A. senegalensis Pers. so that vernaculars and uses overlap. In Flore du Gabon (5) it is recognized as a subspecies of A. senegalensis: ssp. oulotricha Le Thomas.The plant finds use, especially in the Ivory Coast, as an emeto-purgative and diuretic in treatment of dropsy, oedemas, stomach-aches, poisoning, female sterility and leprosy, as an anthelmintic, to treat sores, rheumatism, febrile pains and refractory headache (2). The Tagwana of the Ivory Coast consider it a sure cure for rickets in children: the Kweni use it for epilepsy and scorpion stings. The Brong consider it anti-abortive and the Gouins use it in treating leprosy and skin-affections. All parts of the plant are equally used in these treatments as also for diarrhoeas, dysenteries, cough and fever (4). In Ghana it has been used to treat epilepsy (7), a use repeated in Congo where the sap expressed from crushed young leaves is taken along with other preparations (1). In Congo it is also prescribed in cases of difficult breathing, asthma and bronchitis for its expectorant and emetic properties, and for illnesses connected with blennorrhoea (1). Here also the sap of the roots is considered haemostatic and cicitrisant on wounds, and is given in draught to women with painful and irregular menses (1).Traces of alkaloids have been detected in the plant which have been shown to be slightly toxic to lower invertebrates and by injection into a dog to cause temporary hypertension (4). The Ghanaian preparations used to treat epilepsy may yield a curare product (7).The fruit is edible. The seeds are eaten in Sierra Leone (6) and contain an edible oil (3).On the Ivory Coast the plant enters into a fetish to ensure catching plenty of game, and also to make a sort of dope to improve the hunting ability of dogs (4). In Congo it is held to have magical properties in sorcery to keep away evil spirits, to advance a case before a tribunal, and to confer success ‘with the girls’ (1).