Ghana is endowed with a wide range of herbal and medicinal plant resources and some of the commonly exported products are:
Griffornia simplicifolia ( Caesalpiniaceae)
Griffornia simplicifolia is a plant found in a wide range of agro-climate conditions in Ghana. It is commonly found in the coastal plains as well as the secondary forest and thickets. It thrives well on termites hills and mountain tops and slopes. On the coastal plains, it behaves as a shrub growing to a height of about 2 metres whilst in the forest it climbs tall trees behaving a climber. There is no commercial cultivation of the plant in Ghana but may be found covering several hectares of arable land in some locations. It normally flowers between July and August and matures in December for seed collections.
Uses of Griffornia simplicifolia
Griffornia is a source of Lectin used for blood group testing (diagnostic tests)
- The main active constituents is 5-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP) used in medical fields to treat several ailments.
- An enzyme system capable of hydrozylating L-tryptophan has been indentified in the various tissue of the plant.
- 5 -Hydroxy tryptamie (5 - HT or serotonin) has been in concentrations of up to 0.2% (dry wt) in the pods which is used to cure fungal infection diseases.
- Indole-3-acetyl-aspartic acid (IAAA) and 5-hydrozyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) are among other indoles being extracted from the seed for therapeutical purposes and stimulate reproduction in both man and animal.
- A second haemoggiutimin has been separated from the seeds.
- The Lectin has affinity for type III polyaggiutinablered cells and is useful in blood grouping tests
- Relieve's anxiety (anti-depressant)
- Enhances sleep
- Suppresses appetite
VOACANGA AFRICANA ( Apocynaceae)
Voacanga is a well known plant widely distributed over the secondary forest and the traditional savanna Zones in Ghana. It's mostly found in the wild and in a shade plant around communities but occasionally cultivated on commercial basis in certain parts of the central region. Voacanga is a medical tree - shrub which contains 10 alkaloids as well as an edible oil.
Some of the important alkaloids fall into three categories as follows :
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Vincamine and vinburmine
These alkaloids are used in the cerebrovascular and geriatric markets (mainly in Japan), in the USA, they are known as " memory enhancers " and considerable research is being done with these alkaloids in the treatment of Alzheimers disease and Parkinson's disease.
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Voacamine, Voacangine, Voacangarine and vobtusine
They are hypotensive, have ventricular cardio-simulant action and a slight action on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.
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Ibrogramine Ibogaine, Iboluteine and Iboxygaine
These alkaloids are directed for use in compounds which are used to treat drug addicts to bring about a remission of drug addiction.
Other Uses Include
A root-decoction is used for painful hernia, dysmenorrhoeae, heart-trouble (spasm,angina) and blennorrhoea.The bark-sap is used for treating sores, furuncles, abscesses, fungal infections, filarial and eczema. A decoction of the leaves are taken by enema for diarrhoea, in baths for general oedema by frictions and draught for leprosy, and in a lotion for convulsions in infants, sap of the leaves is given as nose-drops against insanity. Other uses is for the treatment of fatigue due to shortness of breath.
Market Trend and Prices
The world's demand for alkaloids for the treatment of cerebrovascular and geriatric treatments have influenced continuous growth for Voacanga seed in the Japanese and American markets. Other important markets are Spain Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands, where seeds from Ghana are exported to processing companies and brokers. Also below is a map of Ghana showing where Voacanga Africana can be found in commercial quantities
