Common Name:

General Information

Alafia multiflora is a vigorous climbing shrub producing stems that can be 40 metres or more long and scramble over the ground or climb up into nearby vegetation. The stems can be up to 18 cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

The seeds are an ingredient of arrow poison in DR Congo[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Cote D'Ivoire to Central African Republic, northern DR Congo, Sudan and southern Egypt.

Habitat

Periodically inundated riverine forest, at elevations up to 750 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is widely used in its area of distribution to treat wounds[].
The stem contains a brown latex which is non-coagulating. It is applied to wounds which are not healing properly, and can also be given diluted by draught. The Twi name kumadada means ‘it kills the sores’. The latex is said to contain alkaloids[].
The fresh latex, either alone or mixed with Oncinotis glabrata, is also applied to treat yaws[].
The latex, mixed with bark scrapings, is applied to wounds and ulcers, and also to ulcers caused by syphilis[].

The stem bark, or the fruits in decoction, are taken to relieve abdominal pain[].

The pyrrolizidine alkaloid 'alafine' has been extracted from the seeds[].
Vanillic acid isolated from an ether extract of the latex was found to be responsible for the antibacterial properties[].

The plant can be harvested at any time in the year. Harvesting is done by wounding a leafy stem, collecting the latex on a leaf or in a bottle and put it directly on and around the wound or ulcers[].
Bark is harvested by scratching it as powder from the stem; it is then mixed with the sap[].

Other Uses

The stem contains a brown latex which is non-coagulating[].

Propagation

Seed -

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