There is some confusion over the correct name for this species. It has, at times, been included as a synonym of Adenia gummifera, but now some modern treatments, such as the Flora of Tropical Africa, accept this species as valid and include Adenia gummifera as a synonym of this species; to complicate matters further, some modern treatments, such as the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, accept both as valid species. For the time being, we are keeping distict records for each species[].

Common Name:

General Information

Adenia cissampeloides is a robust, climbing plant producing stems up to 30 metres long and 10cm in diameter at their base. The plant climbs into the surrounding vegetation, attaching itself by means of tendrils[].
A popular medicinal herb in Africa, where it is often sold in local markets, the plant also supplies food and various commodities for the local population. It is sometimes cultivated or at least retained when land is cleared, and is also worthy of being grown as an ornamental in gardens[].

Known Hazards

The crushed stems are thrown into water to act as a fish poison[].
The leaves, branches, bark, wood and roots may be used in fish or arrow poisons[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Somalia, south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and northern S. Africa.

Habitat

Primary and secondary rainforest, forest margins and in gallery, savannah and swamp forests; at elevations from sea-level to 2,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	25.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant can flower and fruit all year round[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable, either on their own or with other ingredients[, ].

Medicinal

The plant has many uses in traditional medicine throughout tropical Africa. All parts of the plant are utilized, being used especially in treating a range of gastro-intestinal complaints, various inflammatory ailments and for the relief of pain[].
Various investigations into the plant have been carried out. The stem, leaves, fruit and roots all contain the cyanogenic glycosides tetraphyllin B (barterin) and epitetraphyllin B (volkenin)[].
The leaves also contain gummiferol, a cytotoxic polyacetylenic di-epoxide, which has shown in vitro anti-cancer activity[].
A diethyl-ether extract from the bark, formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate, is an effective anaesthetic for the African honeybee (Apis mellifera adansonii)[].
Stem pulp showed a significant larvicidal effect on the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua[].
Excessive use of the plant among the Zulu people in South Africa has been associated with liver complaints, and in-vivo tests have confirmed the presence of compounds causing liver damage[].

The plant is abortifacient, anodyne, antidote, antiinflammatory, diuretic, stomachic and vulnerary[]. The various plant parts (especially roots, leaves and stems) are all used, either singly or in combination. Their most frequent application is in the treatment of gastro-intestinal complaints, such as stomach ache, constipation, diarrhoea and dysentery. They are also commonly taken to treat various inflammatory ailments, commonly oedema and rheumatism; and for pain relief, particularly against headache and back pain[]. The plant is also used to treat a range of other complaints such as fevers and malaria; liver and gall bladder complaints; lung ailments such as bronchitis; cholera, intestinal worms, venereal diseases and sterility[]. An infusion of the root and leaves is drunk, and the powdered root and leaves eaten in porridge, to prevent a threatened abortion[]. An infusion of the leaf is used as a stimulant to treat depression and insanity[]. The roots are chewed to treat snakebites and are used as antidote for Acokanthera arrow poison[].
Applied externally, the pounded roots, and sometimes other plant parts, are widely used to dress wounds, sores and skin diseases. For leprosy, a decoction of the leaves is applied to the sores, and a root decoction is taken orally together with a vapour bath prepared from the leaves. The ashes of the bark or root are mixed with castor oil to treat scabies. A paste of the leaves is applied to broken bones and fractures. Root shavings are introduced into the vagina, or the uterus is rinsed with a root decoction, as an abortifacient. The leaves are rubbed on women’s breasts to stimulate milk flow[].

Other Uses

The reddish sap is used as a facial cosmetic[].
The juice of the stems is used to give a smooth surface to mud floors[].

The stems are made into rope[].

Placing crushed twigs near the entrance of a bee hive pacifies the bees for a short time[, ]. The smoke of burning roots is also used to calm bees before harvesting the honey[, ].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings with 2 - 3 nodes[].

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