This species is very similar to, and often confused with, the species Cissampelos pareira and Cissampelos mucronata[]. As they are also similarly used, it is often impossible to correlate uses unambiguously with a particular species[].

Common Name:

General Information

Cissampelos owariensis is a perennial climbing plant with annual stems that scramble over the ground or twine into the surrounding vegetation for support.
The plant is commonly sold in local markets[]. It is sometimes grown for its medicinal virtues, especially in coastal gardens in Africa, and is also grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

The rhizome is sometimes used in the preparation of arrow poison[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Sierra Leone to DR Congo and Tanzania, south to Angola and Zambia.

Habitat

Lowland and riverine forest, also in secondary forest; it is often also common in clearings, orchards, fields and hedges, especially on moist soils, at elevations up to 900 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	0.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An infusion of the bitter rhizome, leaves or stems is used as a remedy for gastro-intestinal complaints such as diarrhoea, dysentery, colic, intestinal worms and digestive disorders; it is also used to treat urogenital problems such as menstrual problems, venereal diseases, infertility, as an oxytocic to induce contraction of the uterus to start labour or abortion and to expel the placenta[].
A decoction of the rhizome, macerated in palm oil, is used as a treatment against piles[]. The grated rhizome is applied to snake bites[].

The aerial parts are used in preparations to treat amnesia and psychoses, and also in the preparation of health tonics[].

The leaves are used to promote foetal growth[]. The sap is used as a stomachic[].

The leaves and rhizomes, or the ash produced from them, are widely used in various forms to treat abscesses, ulcers and scabies, and also as a haemostatic[].
The leaf sap is used as nose or eye drops to cure headache, and is applied to swellings in order to reduce them[].
A decoction of the stems, combined with the leaves of other plants, is used as a wash to treat wounds[]. A maceration of the plant is applied to snakebites[].

Other Uses

The stems are used as binding material for basket-work[].

Propagation

Seed -

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