Microdesmis keayana and Microdesmis puberula are morphologically nearly similar, their medicinal uses are largely overlapping and they might well belong to the same species. The distribution area of Microdesmis puberula links up with that of Microdesmis keayana, from Nigeria east to Central Africa and Uganda[].

Common Name:

General Information

Microdesmis puberula is usually a shrub growing up to 6 metres tall, though it sometimes becomes a small tree up to 15 metres tall[]. The stem is up to 8cm in diameter[].
The plant is a widely used traditional medicine, it is also used locally for food and as a source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Nigeria to Central African Republic and Uganda, south to D.R. Congo.

Habitat

Primary and secondary forest and at forest edges, also in fallow land, at elevations from sea-level up to 1,100 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	6.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant responds well to coppicing, resprouting profusely from the base[].
The plant can germinate massively in fallow land[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

The seeds are eaten to provide strength[].

Leaves - cooked as a vegetable[].

Fruits[]. Sometimes eaten, although they are laxative[]. The fruit is an ovoid drupe 10 - 12mm × 9 - 11mm[].

Medicinal

A widely used traditional medicine, the stem bark, leaves and roots have numerous medicinal uses throughout the plant's distribution area[]. Very little research has been carried out into the plant although traces of alkaloids have been detected in the stems and roots[].

The leaf sap, or crushed and burnt twigs and roots, are applied to snakebites or to scarifications[]. The sap, sometimes together with twig sap, is commonly taken orally or applied as an enema to treat diarrhoea[]. It has a rather mild action and is thus prescribed for pregnant women and young children[].
The leaf and stem sap, or an infusion of them, sometimes combined with other plants, is commonly taken to treat stomach-ache, intestinal worms and genital problems such as menstrual complaints, sterility, miscarriage, loss of virility and venereal diseases[].
Applied externally, the sap is used to treat skin problems such as eczema, scabies, burns, circumcision wounds, abscesses and sores from gonorrhoea[]. It is used as nose drops to treat malaria and cough, as eye drops to treat blurred vision and as ear drops to treat ear infections[].

A beverage made of macerated leaves, sometimes mixed with salt and onions, is used as a parturient to ease delivery[]. A leaf decoction is taken to treat acute spleen pain and relieve mastitis[]. Chopped up young leaves are eaten to treat a sore throat and colds[].
The breasts are rubbed with crushed leaves to calm mastitis[]. The head is massaged with the leaves, combined with leaves of several other plants, to treat fever[]. Heated leaves are used in massage to relieve backache[]. Crushed leaves and twigs are applied on glandular swellings[].

The roots, or pounded young leaves, mixed with the juice of sugar cane are considered to be aphrodisiac[]. The grated roots are mixed with cornflour and eaten to cure gonorrhoea[].
Ash of burnt roots, mixed with palm oil, is rubbed into scarifications to treat renal pain and severe headache[]. The grated root is also applied on wounds and hernia[].

The pounded fruits, mixed with Capsicum fruits, are eaten to calm cough[].
The boiled fruits are applied to tumours[].

Other Uses

The twigs serve as chew sticks for cleaning the teeth and strengthening the gums[].

The wood is brown, hard and flexible; it works easily and takes a lustrous polish[].
Young shoots are used in the construction of huts, and also to make snare hooks and harps[].
Older stems provide hard wooden stakes for yam support, digging sticks and hooks to attach hunting nets in the undergrowth[].
The wood is widely used to make chairs, spring traps, handles and implements[]. It is made into a type of guitar[].

Propagation

Seed -

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