Description

A tree reaching 25 m, usually less (Ghana, 10 m by 60 cm girth, 15; Ivory Coast, 20 m by 1.25 m girth, 2), in understorey of the high deciduous forest from Ivory Coast to W Cameroons, and extending across central Africa to the Congo basin and Uganda.The wood is pale yellow, hard, elastic, fine-grained and taking a high polish. It is used in Ivory Coast to make incense holders, combs and small objects (2); in Ghana for walking-sticks, weaver’s shuttles (19), dolls, plane-blocks and handles for carpenter’s tools (9, 15); in S Nigeria for spade-handles (16, 17); W Cameroons for arrows and spoons; in Gabon for carvings, paddles, incense holders, etc. (21) and bows, arrows and so on elsewhere.All parts of the plant are bitter. The bark is widely used as a febrifuge (2, 5). It is used in Gabon against venereal disease (20, 21), and in Uganda the Banyoro chew it as a vermifuge (6, 7). A bark-decoction is taken in Congo as an anthelmintic and purgative, and also to treat hernia, and with other drug-plants to relieve blennorrhoea (3). The root in Gabon is held to be vermifugal (20, 21). A bark-decoction is taken in draught in Ivory Coast for jaundice and ‘yellow fever’ (10), and also in Nigeria (1). The roots in various parts are used for fevers, pneumonia (1, 2). In Gabon the Pahoin chew a little of the fruit and bark to allay hunger while on long marches in the bush (14).The leaves are commonly used as a vermifuge in Dahomey (11). Leaf-sap is dripped into the ears for otitis in Congo (3).The fruits while still green are used by Wasa in Ghana as a fish-poison (9). The fruit shell after removing the flesh and seeds is filled with palm-wine which is drunk after it has had time to absorb the bitter principle present as a fever treatment (5). The Asante and Twi names meaning ‘to taste bitter’ arise from this. Small dippers and spoons are made from the shell.The seeds are extensively used in place of quinine for treatment of fevers in Ghana (13), and in the neighbouring territories of Ivory Coast (2) and Nigeria (1). The powdered seeds are also given in Nigeria for pneumonia and other chest-conditions (1). In Gabon the seeds are recognized as toxic and use appears to be restricted to external treatment for abscesses (2). The Bete of Ivory Coast use the seeds in treatment (method not disclosed) of hernia: two seeds are said to be enough (4). A seed-decoction is given as an enema in Ghana, but crushed seed taken by mouth for chest-complaints, pneumonia, etc. and acute stomach-troubles is not considered purgative (9).The seeds have entered literature under the name akuamma, said to be the name given to them by the Ghanaian woman who first brought them to Accra. This name properly refers to Pentaclethra, and the name has doubtless been misapplied (9). Nevertheless, a series of crystalline alkaloids have been identified in the seeds, and have acquired names based on it: akuammine, akuammidine, akuammiline, akuammigine, etc. Akuammine is the principle one present. It is a powerful sympathicostenic and has a local anaesthetic action almost equal to that of cocaine. Akuammidine is hypotensive, and weaker but longer lasting in effect than yohimbine. It has strong local anaesthetic action. Akuammigine is identical with yohimbine (8, 10, 12, 14, 22). Only amorphous alkaloids have been detected in the bark and leaves (5). Experimental work has not found extracts of Picralima to be active on avian malaria (5, 8, 12).The plant features in an Yoruba Odu incantation to attract a woman (18).

Description

A tree reaching 25 m, usually less (Ghana, 10 m by 60 cm girth, 15; Ivory Coast, 20 m by 1.25 m girth, 2), in understorey of the high deciduous forest from Ivory Coast to W Cameroons, and extending across central Africa to the Congo basin and Uganda.The wood is pale yellow, hard, elastic, fine-grained and taking a high polish. It is used in Ivory Coast to make incense holders, combs and small objects (2); in Ghana for walking-sticks, weaver’s shuttles (19), dolls, plane-blocks and handles for carpenter’s tools (9, 15); in S Nigeria for spade-handles (16, 17); W Cameroons for arrows and spoons; in Gabon for carvings, paddles, incense holders, etc. (21) and bows, arrows and so on elsewhere.All parts of the plant are bitter. The bark is widely used as a febrifuge (2, 5). It is used in Gabon against venereal disease (20, 21), and in Uganda the Banyoro chew it as a vermifuge (6, 7). A bark-decoction is taken in Congo as an anthelmintic and purgative, and also to treat hernia, and with other drug-plants to relieve blennorrhoea (3). The root in Gabon is held to be vermifugal (20, 21). A bark-decoction is taken in draught in Ivory Coast for jaundice and ‘yellow fever’ (10), and also in Nigeria (1). The roots in various parts are used for fevers, pneumonia (1, 2). In Gabon the Pahoin chew a little of the fruit and bark to allay hunger while on long marches in the bush (14).The leaves are commonly used as a vermifuge in Dahomey (11). Leaf-sap is dripped into the ears for otitis in Congo (3).The fruits while still green are used by Wasa in Ghana as a fish-poison (9). The fruit shell after removing the flesh and seeds is filled with palm-wine which is drunk after it has had time to absorb the bitter principle present as a fever treatment (5). The Asante and Twi names meaning ‘to taste bitter’ arise from this. Small dippers and spoons are made from the shell.The seeds are extensively used in place of quinine for treatment of fevers in Ghana (13), and in the neighbouring territories of Ivory Coast (2) and Nigeria (1). The powdered seeds are also given in Nigeria for pneumonia and other chest-conditions (1). In Gabon the seeds are recognized as toxic and use appears to be restricted to external treatment for abscesses (2). The Bete of Ivory Coast use the seeds in treatment (method not disclosed) of hernia: two seeds are said to be enough (4). A seed-decoction is given as an enema in Ghana, but crushed seed taken by mouth for chest-complaints, pneumonia, etc. and acute stomach-troubles is not considered purgative (9).The seeds have entered literature under the name akuamma, said to be the name given to them by the Ghanaian woman who first brought them to Accra. This name properly refers to Pentaclethra, and the name has doubtless been misapplied (9). Nevertheless, a series of crystalline alkaloids have been identified in the seeds, and have acquired names based on it: akuammine, akuammidine, akuammiline, akuammigine, etc. Akuammine is the principle one present. It is a powerful sympathicostenic and has a local anaesthetic action almost equal to that of cocaine. Akuammidine is hypotensive, and weaker but longer lasting in effect than yohimbine. It has strong local anaesthetic action. Akuammigine is identical with yohimbine (8, 10, 12, 14, 22). Only amorphous alkaloids have been detected in the bark and leaves (5). Experimental work has not found extracts of Picralima to be active on avian malaria (5, 8, 12).The plant features in an Yoruba Odu incantation to attract a woman (18).