Common Name:

General Information

Trichodesma ambacense is a perennial plant with one to several, erect, usually unbranched, annual stems growing 50 - 70cm tall from a woody rootstock[].
The plant is a popolar traditional medicine with a wide range of applications, It is often harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and as a dye.

Known Hazards

No specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, but many members of this plant family (Boraginaceae) are known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These alkaloids have a cumulative effect upon the body and, unless concentrations in a plant are high, occasional use is generally completely safe. They are derived from amino acids including ornithine. Many pyrrolizidine alkaloids have pronounced hepatic toxicity, but the lungs and other organs may be affected as well. Mutagenic and carcinogenic activities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids have also been reported[].

Botanical References

Range

Africa - Nigeria, Cameroon, southern Sudan, Ethiopia, eastern DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswan

Habitat

Grassland and woodland subject to anual burning, at elevations from 600 - 2,150 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

This species often hybridizes in the wild with Trichodesma physaloides[],

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The woody rhizome has multiple medicinal uses. For depressed fontanelle, the crushed rhizome is applied and an infusion given to drink[]. An infusion is drunk to dilate the birth canal. The powdered rhizome is taken orally to cure bilharzia[].
The rhizome is applied to incisions made in the skin to treat backache, headache, painful swellings and syphilitic swelling of glands[]. For swellings caused by oedema, a decoction is applied as a hot compress[].

The leaf ash is applied to corns[].

Other Uses

The macerated leaves are used to dye white hair black[].

Propagation

Seed -

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