or soaps

or soaps

Journal of Ethnopharmacology 40 (1993) l-19 Angolan medicinal plants used also as piscicides and/or soaps Eric Bossard (Received 22 May 1992: revis...

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Journal of Ethnopharmacology

40 (1993) l-19

Angolan medicinal plants used also as piscicides and/or soaps Eric Bossard

(Received 22 May 1992: revision received 5

October

1992:

accepted

6 June

1993)

Abstract A short description of some medicinal plants found during a IO-year ethnological study of traditional medicine in Angola. The point of interest is the double use of these plants: they are employed as drugs and as ichthyotoxics or soaps.

Key words: Angola;

Ethnology;

Phytotherapy;

Piscicide;

1. Introduction During an ethnological study on traditional medicine in Angola, we noticed that some plants were used as drugs and as ichthyotoxics or soaps by the Ovimbundu (the Umbundu ethnic group, the largest in Angola). Interested by this double use of some plants, we expanded our investigation to include the Nyaneka-Humbe and Kimbundu ethnic groups. The first part of this paper includes a description of the plants used as drugs and as ichthyotoxics. An additional paragraph presents two plants employed in Angola only as piscicides. The second part of this paper presents some plants used as drugs and as soap by the Ovimbundu, living on the Central Highland of Angola (altitude = 1600 m). Before the introduction of commercial soap, the Autochthons used plants to wash themselves and their clothes, etc. Even during the last 18 years, when they lacked commercial soap 037%8741/931$06.00 0 SSDI 0378-8741(93)01040-S

Soap

because of the war situation, they had recourse to plants. The preparation and the posology of the medicinal plants are out of place in such a short study and are therefore not included. 2. Plants used only as piscicides F.G. Machado (1971) has published a list of plants used as piscicides. They are given in Table 1. According to our field experience, it is possible to include two more plants used only as piscicides. The two plants we found are described below. 2.1. Nkhongo Nyaneka name: (o)Nkhongo. Latin name: Mundulea sericea (Willd.) A. Chev. (Mundulea suberosa

Benth.). Family: Leguminosae-Papilionoideae. Huila, Serra da Chela.

Area:

1993 Elsevier Scientitic Publishers Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

E. Bossard /J. Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993)

2 Table 1 Plants employed

I-19

References only as piscicides

(Machado,

1971)

Gossweiler (1953) p. 352; Watt Brandwijk (1962) p. 728 (Strychnos).

Acacia albida Del. Haemanthus multiflows Martyn. Indigofera hirsuta L. Lagenaria breviflora (Benth.) G. Roberty Parkia filicoidea Welw. ex Oliv. Picralima nitida Th. & Hkl. Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum.

& Thonn.)

and

Beyer-

3. Plants employed as drugs and as piscicides Plants used as drugs and as piscicides are listed by Latin name in Table 2 and by vernacular name in Table 3.

Taub.

3. I. Balsamina longa Kimbundu

Indications

name:

-.

Protuguese

name.

Balsamina longa. Latin name: Momordica charantia L. Fami1.v: Cucurbitaceae. Area: Luanda.

Piscicide. Observations

Watt ‘Worsley

and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) write (. . .) has isolated roterone, deguelin, tephrosin and some glucosides and alkaloides from the bark’. Preparation l The piscicide effect is obtained pods in a river or a pond.

throwing

some

Medical

indications

Helminthiasis. Observations l The Autochthons use the dry leaves and fruits for fishing. Watt writes that, according to G. Rivera, ‘the plant contains a highly aromatic volatile oil, a fixed oil, carotene, a resin, two alkaloids one of which is mormoridicine and a saponin’.

References

Gossweiler (1953) p. 200; Watt and Brandwijk (1962) pp. 634, 635, 1144.

Beyer-

References

Gossweiler (1953) p. 275; Watt Brandwijk (1962) pp. 344, 363, 862.

and

Beyer-

2.2. Nzembe 3.2. Helekete

name: Nzembe. Latin name: Strlqchnos aculeata Solered. Family: Loganiaceae. Area: Huila, Tchivinguiro. Nyaneka

Indications

Umbundu name: u; ovi, i Helekete. (Other spellings: (u)Heleketwa, Hekete). Latin name: Zi-_iphus mucronata Willd. Family: Rhamnaceae. Area: Kwanza-Sul. Seles.

Piscicide. Medical Preparation l The fruit and the seeds are gathered by the natives (Nyaneka-Humbe); the seeds are employed for fishing in a river and as a drug (Gossweiler, 1953). l When we asked the Nyaneka-Humbe for which medical indications they use this plant, they were not able to give us a satisfactory answer. They did confirm its ichthyotoxic use.

indications

Diarrhoea (with blood) (confirmed by Ovihemba), uro-genital system, dysmenorrhoea. Observations l u(ovi,i)Helekete or u(ovi,i)Heleketwa = ‘thornbush with consumable fruits’, etymology: uikeleketwa (Alves, 1951). l Gossweiler (1953) writes for Hekete: ZCiphus mucronata Willd. which is ‘a thornbush giving a

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3

Table 2 Plants used as drugs and as piscicides listed alphabetically by Latin name Latin name

Ethnic group

Vernacular name (prefix) Radical

Adenia lobata (Jacq.) Engl. Aeschynomene @tans Peter (Aeschinomene crassicaulis

Kimbundu Umbundu

(mu)Vilu (oka)Hendje

Albizia coriaria Weiw. ex O&v. Burkea africana Hook.

Kimbundu Umbundu~yaneka-Hums

Celtis mildbraedii Engl. (Celtis soyauxii Engl.) Celtis philippensis Blanc0 (Celtis prantlii Priemer ex Engl., Celtis brownii Rendle) Croton mubangu Muell. Arg. Erythrophfe~ africanum (Welw. ex Benth.) Harms ~ibis~ cannabinus L. ? Lonchocarpus nicou (Aubl.) DC. Lonchocarpus sericeus (Poir.) Kunth

Umbundu Umbundu

(mu)Paiangonga (oka)Pilang~(omu)Kaiati (otyi)Kalatyipembe (o)Hongolo (o)Hongolo

Momordica charantia L. Phytolacca dodecandra L’HOrit.

Kimbundu Kimbundu/Umbundu

Harms)

Synadenium angolense (Taub.) Desv.

Umbundu Umbundu

Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. Syzygium huilie~e (Hiern) Engl. ~ephrosia vogelii Hook. f. Vernonia gerberiformis Oliv. & Hiern subsp.

Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu/Nyaneka-Humbe

(u)Mbango (o)Mako/{omu)Nga~ (u)Lu (otchi)Pupu (mu)Tala Menha/ (otchi)Pupu Balsamina longaa Tonga-Tongal (mu)Tonga-Tonga (u)Tola, (u)Mbang~ (omu)Tola (o)Ngandja (ka)Tula/(e)Tuvu-Tuvu or (e)Tutulu (u)Sombo (u)Sombo foka)Lembe (e)Kova/(e)Kakaholua

macrocyanus (0. Hoffm.) C. Jeffrey (Vernonia macrocyanus (Welw.) 0. Hoffm.) Ziziphus mucronata Willd.

Umbundu

(u)Helekete

Umbundu Umbund~yaneka-Hums Umbundu Umbundu Kimbundu/Umbundu

Pjfiostigma thonningij (~humach.) Milne-Redh. (Bauhinia thonningii Schumach.) Swartzia madagascariensis (Taub.) Desv.

or

“Portuguese name.

fruit - with a bitter-sickly taste and in the shape of a cherry - which is praised by the natives.’ l The flower of this plant is used in the Huila region as an ichthyotoxic.

Okahenje,

References Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 884; Gossweiler ( 1953) pp. 20, 185- 186, photo. no. 56; Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda Missao Catolica da’) p. 3; Alves (1951) p. 147.

Medical indicarions

3.3. Hendje Umbundu name: (oka)Hendje.

(Other spellings:

Okahenge,

Cahenge).

Aeschynomene jluitans Peter c~Q.~~~caufi~Harms.). Famiiy: Papilionoideae. Area: Caconda.

Lufin nume. (Aeschinomene

Leguminosae-

Abortion (induced).

l A small tree, cultivated by the Autochthons. it is employed as a drastic abortive, as well as for fishing. In the second case, the flowers and the leaves are crushed and are thrown together into the river waters (Anchieta).

E. Bossard / J. Erhnopharmacol. 40 (1993)

4 Table 3 Alphabetical

list of plants

Vernacular name (Prefix) Radical Balsamina Helekete Hendje Hongolo Hongolo

03

longa”

Kakaholua

(emu) Kalati (otyi) Kalatyipembe Kova (e) Lembe Lu Mako Mbanga Mbango Ngai Ngandja Palangonga Pilangu

glu) KU) (oka) (otchi) (otchi) (u) (mu)

PuPu Pupu Sombo Tala Menha

(omu)

Tola

(4

Tola

(mu) (ka) (e)

Tonga-Tonga Tonga-Tonga Tula Tutulu

$U)

Tuvu-Tuvu Vilu

“Portuguese

used as drugs

l-19

and as piscicides

Latin name

Ethnic group

Momordica charantia L. Ziziphus mucronata Willd. Aeschynomene fluitans Peter (Aeschinomene crassicaulis Harms) Celtis mildbraedii Engl. (Celtis souyauxii Eng.) Celiis philippensis Blanc0 (Cehis prantlii Priemer ex Engl., Celtis brownii Rendle)

Kimbundu Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu

Vernonia gerberiformis Oliv. & Hiern subsp. macrocyanus (C. Jeffrey (Vernonia macrocyanus (Welw.) 0. Hoffm.) Burkea africana Hook. Burkea africana Hook. Vernonia gerberiformis Oliv. & Hiern subsp. macrocyanus C. Jeffrey (Vernonia macrocyanus (Welw.) 0. Hoffm.) Tephrosia vogelii Hook. f. Hibiscus cannabinus L.? Erythrophleum africanurn (Welw. ex Benth.) Harms Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (Bauhinia Schum.) Croton mubango Muell. Arg. Erythrophleum africanum (Welw. ex Benth.) Harms Swartzia madagascariensis (Taub.) Desv. Albizia coriaria Welw. ex Oliv. Burkea africana Hook. Lonchocarpus nicou (Aubl.) DC. Lonchocarpus sericeus (Poir.) Kunth Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. Lonchocarpus sericeus (Poir.) Kunth Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (Bauhinia Schum.) Piliosfigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (Bauhinia Schumach.) Phytolacca dodecandra L’Herit. Phytolacca dodecandra L’Herit. Synadenium angolense N. E. Br. Synadenium angolense N. E. Br. Synadenium angolense N. E. Br. Adenia lobara (Jacq.) Engl.

(0. Hoffm.)

Nyaneka-Humbe

(0. Hoffm.)

Nyaneka-Humbe Nyaneka-Humbe Umbundu

thonningii

Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu

fhonningii

Umbundu Nyaneka-Humbe Umbundu Kimbundu Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu Kimbundu Nyaneka-Humbe

fhonningii

Umbundu Kimbundu Umbundu Kimbundu Umbundu Umbundu Kimbundu

name.

References Anchieta 201, 202.

(1985)

p. 140; Gossweiler

(1953)

p.

3.4. Hongolo

Umbundu name: o; 010 (oka)Hongola. (Other Nongolo Hongolo, Okahongolo, spellings: (around Seles). Latin name: Celtis mildbraedii

Engl. (Celtis soyauxii Engl.). Celtis philippensis Blanc0 (Celtis prantlii Priemer ex Engl. (Celtis brownii Rendle). Family: Ulmaceae. Area: Kwanza-Sul, Seles. Medical indications l Heart (cardiac pain) (confirmed by Alves. 1951) cardiopathy, chest pain, stitch (in the side). l Tuberculosis, cough (confirmed by Ovihemba). cough (with haemoptysis).

E. Bos.sard/ J. Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993)

i-19

5

l Diarrhoea (constipating treatment) (confirmed by Ovihemba), constipation (children), digestive system, incontinence ~urinary), cystalgia. l Madness (confirmed by Marcos, 1989), cephalalgia, hallucination, l Paludism, fever (children) (confirmed by Ovihemba). 0 haemorrhage (childbirth), Procreation, childbirth (diffl~ult). l Marcos (1959): spleen(spleenalgia?), appendix (appendicitis?); gonorrhoea, albumin (albuminuria?), purpura.

Observations

‘A shrub with reddish fruits, the crushed leaves of which inebriate fish. The infusion of the roots is used as drug against tuberculosis and cardiac pains, dose of half a tea-spoon every day during 3 days’ (Alves, 1951). l ‘Plant used, once reduced in charcoal (ashes), at the time of the cutting of the umbilical cord of a newborn’ (Guennec and Valente, 1972). l

References

Watt

and

Beyer-Brandwijk

(1962) p.

1032 58.5; Alves (1951) p. 170; Ovihemba pp. 4, 6, 9, 14, 18; Guennec and Valente (1972) p. 491; Marcos (1989) no. 7, 23, 347. (Ceitis), Gossweiler (1953) pp. 20,82,446,447

3.5. ~aka~o~ua Nyaneka name: (e)Kakaholua. Umbundu name: (e; ova, a)/(otchi; ovi,i)Kova. Latin name: Vernonia ger~er~formis Oliv. & Hiern subsp. macrocyanus (0. Hoffm.) C. Jeffrey (Vernonia macrocyanus (Welw.) 0. Hoffm.). Family: Com-

positae (confirmed by Antunes 1900). Area: Huila, Bela Vista.

and Dekindt,

medical indications

Diarrhoea (with blood), tispasmodic, colic, piscicide.

antisporic,

an-

tisporic: it puts its quarry to sleep. Piscicide, its root inebriates and kills fish when thrown into the water (Antunes and Dekindt, 1900). l ‘According to the notes of Father Antunes (1898), . . . that plant contains a powerful bitter (‘amargo’) which is used as an antispasmodic. . . . The root is also employed, according to the same author, in fishing: it is thrown into the water of rivers or ponds in order to inebriate and kill the fish’ (Gossweiler, 1953). l (e)Kova (umbundu name) = ‘skin (man)’ and (otchi)Kova ‘pilose leather, pig leather’ (Alves, 1951). References

Antunes and Dekindt (1900); Gossweiler (1953) pp. 82, 299; Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 297; Alves (1951) p. 371. 3.6. Kdati Nyaneka name: (omu)Kalati or (omu)Kalatyipembe. (Other names and spellings: Omukarati, Okapilangu (in Humpata), Omukulati (South of Huila; Bonnefo~), Omupolalu (in Huila; P. Dekindt, 1900); Omukalati (Gossweiler, 1953). Umbundu name: (oka)Pilangu. (Other names and spellings: Okapilango, Okapilangolo, Okapyangu; Capilangolo (Marcos); Okapelangalo (Hambly)). Latin name: Burkea ufr~cana Hook. Family: Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae. Area: South of Huila. Nyaneka medical indications

Indigestion, perfume. Umbundu medical indications: l Coryza, cough, oto-rhino-laryngologics (affections), tuberculosis, cold (the efficacy of this plant for broncho-pulmonary affections is also contirmed by Ovihemba (cold) and Marco (bronchitis, pneumonia). o Digestive system, cystalgia, caries, scabies. Hambly: (u)twe unene*.

Observations l

This plant has a reputation

for being an an-

*Umbundu

pathological

concept.

E. Bossard / J. Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993)

6

Observations

(omu)Kalati = ‘charcoal tree, Burkea africana’ and (otyi/olu)Pembe = ‘uncovered field, cultivated earlier’ (Bonnefoux, 1885-1937). l The Bushman Vasekele prepare an infusion of the leaves of the Burkea africana to cure ophthalmological infections (Guerreiro, 1968). l The bark of this tree is used as a piscicide in the Huila Province. l ‘The tree trunks are used to build the native’s houses because its wood resists insects and mushroom attacks. It also has the special capacity of being able to waste away without flames (Gossweiler, 1953). l

I- I9

mous), insecticide. Marcos (1989): tuberculosis; (heart). Observations l (oka; otu)Lembe represents, according to Alves (1951) p. 492), an Arum ~macu~atum L.?), usually called ‘jarro’ in Portuguese; arum, gouet or piedde-veau in French and arum in English. l The Tephrosia vogelii Hook f. is used as a piscicide in Angola and in a large part of southern Africa where it is the ichthyotoxic par excellence and as an insecticide and a repellent. ‘The toxic effect of the plant on fish is due to tephrosin, 0.15% in the leaf and 0.3 in the seed’ (Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk, 1962).

References

Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 562 and 1113, Gossweiler (1953) pp. 26, 86, 94, 243; Ovihemba p. 19; Exe11pp. 250,252; Marcos (1989) no. 46; Hambly (1934)~. 280; Guerreiro (1968) p. 312;Bonnefoux(1885-1937)no. 13,110. 146(144); pp. 4, 43, 103.

References

Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 634. 657, 1146; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 27, 39, 85, 200; Alves (1951) p. 492; Marcos (1989) no. 122, 340 (?) (luembe: heart); Anonymous (1979) p. 12. 3.9. Lu

3.7. Kova Umbundu name: (e, ova, a)/(otchi; ovi, i)Kova. Latin name: Vernonia gerberifirmis Oliv. & Hiern subsp. macrocyunus (0. Hoffm.) C. Jeffrey (Vernonia macrocyan~~ 0. Hoffm).

Umbundu name: u Lu (tuber) (Other spellings: Ulo Branco, Ulo Amarelo (Marcos, 1989). Kimbundu name: Ulo, Use. Portuguese name: Linho de gombo. Latin name: hibiscus cannabinas L.? Family: Malvaceae. Area: Malange.

Observations See Kakaholua.

Medical indications

Spleenalgia (confirmed by Marcos, epilepsy (adult), haematuria (idiopathic), ism, insomnia.

3.8. Lembe Umbundu name: oka; otu Lembe (Other spelling and names: Kalembe (in Kimbundu near Malange); Kafoto (in Kimbundu near Dembos, Father Spoerndli and in umbundu near Caconda, J. Anchieta ex Ficalho); Okaheleje (near Benguela and Caconda, J. Anchieta); Kingandu? (around Bie according to the explorers, Capelo and Ivens). Latin name: Tephrosia vogelii Hoof. f. Family: Leguminosae-Papilionoideae. Area: Huambo. medical indications

Helminthiasis

(adult)

(confirmed

by Anony-

1989) palud-

Observations l The Latin name of this plant was identified thanks to a Kimbundu vernacular term! l According to Alves (1951), it should be a ‘hemlock’. This seems to be confirmed by an informant who affirms that the (u)Lu is used as an ichthyotoxic by the Ovimbundu. l In Mungo (Province of Huambo), the big root of the plant (u)Lu is used as a soap and a pisicide. l The root of the Hibiscus ~annab~nus L. - (u)Lu or (u)Lo in Umbundu - ‘is used as a soap to wash

E. Eossard/J.

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1-19

clothes and is served for fishing, with big portions of the bulb (?) thrown into weirs’. (Anchieta). a As the hibiscus cunnab~nus .L. has no ‘big root’ or ‘bulb’, (u)Lu must probably correspond to another plant. l For that Hibiscus, Vernon writes that the ‘leaves, pods and flowers are cooked for food’. references

Watt and Beyer-Bra~dwijk (1962) pp. 736, 739; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 124, 157, pictures no. 38,39; Gossweiler (1950) p. 117; Alves (1951) p. 566; Marcos (1989) no. 265, 266; Vernon ( 1983) p. 52; Anchieta (1985) pp. 142, 144. 3.10. Make Umbundu name: 6; 616 Mako. (Other spelling and name: Omaku; (o)Ngaye). Nyaneku name: (omu)N~i. Lar in Rae: ~~y~~~o~~~e~ afr~ca~unl fweiw. ex Ben&.) Harms. &z&y: Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae. Area: Benguela. Umbundu medical indications & Epilepsy (adult} (confirmed

by Ovihemba)~ cephalalgia, heart (cardiac pains}, moribund, leprosy, (o)ndendo*, (u)twe unene*, (j)mbalan~a~. Hauenstein: odontalgia. Alves (195 1): rheumatism. Marcos (1989): otalgia.

even the ‘salale’ (white ant, termites) doesn’t affect it’ (Gossweiler, 1950). e Beehives are often built with this wood, according to Hauenstein (1967). l In the Malange province, the Autochthons use the root of the (o)Mako to kill fish. Githens (1949) and Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) write that the root contains poisonous alkaloides one of which is erythrophleine. The root is also used in trial by ordeal. (b) (o)Ngayo and (o)Ngai: o I’(o)Ngaye is also called ‘Pau-ferro’R according to tin informant, Mr. Chipa. It seems that the name ‘Pau-ferro’ is used for woods of the same quality. It is not certain that they come from the same tree. The (o)Mako and the (o)Ngaye could actually be two different trees. e The (o)Ngaye is a ‘tree with hard wood. It is quite poisonous. One dies if he chews a certain quantity. In return, the smoke of the burning root alleviates rheumatic pains and headaches. ‘E&S farinam adhibent muiieres ad contrahendam vaginam nimis di~fftatarn necnon ad infectiones debellandas’ (Alves, 1951). * An infusion of the leaves of the Erythro~h~eum a~ican~ (Welw. ex Benth.) Harms is used (with or instead of the Combreturn co&turn Fresen. (Combretum mechowianum 0. Hoffm.) and the Burkea africana Hook.) by the Bushmen Vassekele

to cure ophthalmological 1968). Fever (con~rmed by Correspondence (1958-62) letter dated 8.2.60: febrifuge, anti-malaria), vomitive, ordeal, laxative: emeto-cathartic, cough, chest pains.

(a) (o)Mako: Hauenstein (1967) confirms that the (d)Mako is an ‘Erythrophleum africanam’, Alves (1951) writes that it is called ‘Pau-ferro’ (ironwood) in Portuguese and Gossweiler (1950) adds that it is a ‘very highly estimated wood as a construction material because its resistance to the elements is unrivalled: neither the sun nor the rain can spoil it; l

*Umbundu

pathological

concept.

infections (Guerreiro,

References

Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 602, Gossweiler (1953) pp. 88, 243, picture no. 37; Alves (195 I) pp. 627,933 (ongaye); Ovihemba p. 9; Hauenstein (1967) pp, 119, 160: Guerreiro ( 1968) p. 312; Marcos no. 105; Bonnefoux no. 2; p. I?; Antunes and Dekindt (1900); Correspondence (1958-1964X letter dated 8.2.60. 3. f 1. ~banga ~~~~~ name: U; 014, i Mb~~~a and u; ovi, i Tola. (Other names: Umbanga = Umbangalala =: Umba~galunda according to Alves (195 1). MbanGaluada, Ebanga, Umbunga (Marcos); Utola

E. Bossard/J.

8

Utito; Mu1010 according to Pereira and Santos (1964) for the Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (Buuhiniu thonningii Schumach.). Nyaneka name: (omu) Tola. (Other names: (omu)Ngola, (omu)Tuionfolo). Latin name: l Piliostigmu thonningii Redh. (Buuhiniu thonningii

(Schumach.) MilneSchumach.). (Called Umbanga near Caconda and Benguela according to J. Anchieta and near Ganda according to 0. Hundt.) Family: Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae. l (Cordiu ufricunu Lam. (Cordiu ubyssinicu R. Br.)) (called Umbanga near Babaera, Benguela and Ganda according to Gossweiler (1950). Fumily: Boraginaceae. l [Erythrinu ubyssinicu Lam. ex DC (Erythrinu huillensis Welw. ex Bak.)]. (Called Umbanga around BiCand Chinguar according to M. Childs.) Fum ily : Leguminosae-Papilionoideae. Area. Benguela, Ganda, Babaera.

Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993)

1-19

l (u)Mbanga: “Leafy tree from the ‘lundas”’ (abandoned villages): ‘Buuhiniu’ (Alves, 1989). l Piliostigmu thonningii: ‘The bark of the trunk and the branches of the shrub are astringent. The bark is employed (cooked), for internal use, to combat paludal fevers and, for external use, in the treatment of wounds and ulcers’ (Gossweiler, 1953). l The macerated bark of this species is used currently as a piscicide.

References

Gossweiler (1953) pp. 105, 125, 227, 359; Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 640 (Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redhead), 148 (Cordia); Ovihemba pp. 6, 12, 13, 14, 20; Exe11p. 199; Marcos (1989) no. 28,44,67, 304, 3 11; Pereira and Santos (1964) (under Bauhinia); Alves (195 1) pp. 664, 665; Exe11 (1956) p. 199. 3.12. Mbango

Umbundu medical indications 0 Caries.

Fatigue, weakness, impotence. l Cough (with haemoptysis), tuberculosis, lungs, bronchitis, pneumonia; asthma, cough (confirmed by Ovihemba and Marcos, 1989). l Vomiting (children), diarrhoea (children), constipation (children) (confirmed by Alves, 1951)). 0 uro-genital system, colic (male uro-genital system), (o)ngandu*, child birth (difticult). l paludism (confirmed by Gossweiler, 1950) spleenalgia, hypertension (arterial), moribund, caries, madness, (o)fela*, (otchi)saluke*. l wound (Marcos, confirmed by Alves (195 1) and Gossweiler (1953): wound, ulcer). l haemorrhoids, epistaxis, haematuria, haemoptysis. Marcos (1989): rachitis; liver. l

Nyuneka

medical indications

Paludism, wound, ulcer. Observations l This plant was identified thanks to a Nyaneka vernacular term! According to different informants, it seems that Umbanga is a Piliostigma.

*Umbundu

pathological

concept.

Umbundu name: u; ovo, ovi, i Mbango. Other names: Omuhintala (in Huila Province, Antunes and Dekindt, 1900) Muango (in Kwanza-Sul and Amboim, Gossweiler, 1950) Manga-Kanga (in Seles and Kwanza-Sul, Gomes and Sousa). Latin name: Croton mubungo Muell. Arg. Family. Euphorbiaceae. Area: Kwanza-Sul, Huila. Medical indications

Hallucinations ’ (o)ndambwa* (;athological group cir$r:ed by Marcos: madness, ‘spiritual’). l Asthma, tuberculosis. l Hepatalgia, uro-genital system, constipation (purgative), (i)ndembwe*. Marcos (1989): paralysis, sleeping sickness. Observations

Alves confirms that it is a ‘Croton’. The roots are generally used for medical purposes. l Welwitsch (in Mendonca, 1945) writes that the cooked bark of that Croton is a drastic (purgative). It can be used alone or with the plant named (omu)Ndondo. l

l

*Umbundu

pathological

concept.

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I-19

l The macerated bark of this species is used by the Autochthons for fishing. Githens (1949) and Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) write it contains the toxalbumine cretin.

References

Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 400; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 52 (manga-kanga), 56 (muangu), 93 (omuhi-ntala), 429,430; Alves (1951) p. 666; Marcos (1989) no. 190, 325; Morais (1974) p. 163; Mendonca (1945) pp. 303, 304, Githens (1949). 3.13. Ngai Nyaneka name: (omu)Ngai. Latin name: Erythrophleum africanum (Welw. ex Benth.)

Harms. Observations See Mako 3.14. Ngandja Umbundu name: 6; 616 Ngandja. (Other spelling and name: Onganja, Ombenje or (o)Mbendje (near Ganda and Benguela. 0. Hundt)). English name: snake bean. Latin name: Swartzia madagascariensis (Taub.) Desv. Family: LeguminosaeCaesalpinioideae. Area: BiC, Katchiungo, Caconda, Benguela. Medical indications l Parasitism (confirmed by Alves: intestinal worms), helminthiasis (children), constipation, dropsy. l Epilepsy (adult), epilepsy (children), dizziness. l Cough, tuberculosis. l Tumour-phlyctenae (confirmed by Ovihemba: (olw)anga*). l Lepra, nightmare, moribund, (i)mbalangwa*. Alves (1951): ophthalmic affections. Redinha (1975): otalgia.

after by gazelles and which looks like a pea pod, though rounder. The Autochthons use its root, pulverised and boiled (about two soup-spoons), with the aid of a clyster, to fight against intestinal worms. The leaves, in infusions, have the same use. The vapour of the infusion is used to cure eye affections’ (Alves, 1951). l ‘An infusion of the pound root of Swartzia madagascariensis (Taub.) Desv. is used to combat earaches’ (Redinha, 1975). l The fruits of the S. madagascariensis are used as piscicides, mainly in the Huambo Province. ‘The pericarp contains no rotenone, no alkaloid, no hetero-side hydrolyzable by emulsin and no anthraquinone derivative. It contains a small amount of catechu tannin, sucrose, a yellow flavone pigment C33H40019and a haemolytic saponoside and yields 1.4% of greenish-blue ash rich in manganese’ (Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk, 1962). References

Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 649, 650; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 89, 107,221; Ovihemba p. 8; Alves (1951) p. 925; Redinha (1975) p. 348; Exe11 et al. (1956) pp. 167, 168; Morais (1974) pp. 162, 163. 3. IS. Palangonga Kimbundu name: (mu)Palangonga. (Other names: (di)Anza, (mu)Zende (around Malange); (mu)Zuembe, (mu)Zuemba (in Kwanza-Norte). Latin name: Albizia coriaria Welw. ex Oliv. Family: Leguminosae-Mimosoideae. Area: KwanzaNorte, Malange, Quela. Medical indications

Astringent. Observations l The bark is an ichthyotoxic used for fishing. It is also used for tanning leather. The bark is said to contain tannin and the saponin musennin (Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk, 1962).

Observations l

‘A plant, the fruit of which is extremely sought

‘Umbundu pathological concept.

References

Gossweiler (1953) p. 254; Watt and BeyerBrandwijk (1962) p. 555.

10

E. Bossard/ J. Elhnopharmacol. 40 (1993) 1-19

3.16. Pilangu Umbundu name: oka; otu Pilangu. Other spellings: Okapilango, Okapilangolo, Okapyangu; Capilangolo (Marcos); Okapelangalo (Hambly). (Other name: (otchi)Eko). Latin name: Rurkea africana Hook. Observations: See Kalati.

3.17, Pupu Umbundu name: otchi; ovi, i Pupu. Other spelling: Kipupu. Kimbundu name: (Mu)Tala Menha. Other names: Seka-Seka (in Kwanza-Norte), (mu)K~m~ (around Benguela). Latin name: Lon~hoearpus sericeus (Poir.) Kunth. Family: Leguminosae-Papilionoideae. Area: Kwanza-Sul, Kwanza-Norte, Vale do Bengo, Malange.

respondence (1958~64), letter 8.260; Anon~ous (1978) p. 12. 3.18. Sombo Wmb~du name: u; ovi, i Sombo (tree). olu; ovalu, alu, 010 Sombo (fruit). (Other spelling and name: Usombo do Mato (Marcos); Okumakuma (in Huambo and Quipeio)). Latin name: Syzygium huiliense (Hiem) Engl., Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. Family: Myrtaceae. Area: Bit!, Katchiungo. Medical indications

Abortion (spontaneous), childbirth (difficult), tuberculosis. Ovihemba: cough (with haemoptysis). Alves (1951) (for the Cassia, see ‘Observations’); syphilis (syphilitic ulcers). Marcos (1989): scurvy, gingivitis; paralysis. Observations

Umbundu medical indications

Wound, infected wound, scurvy. Kimbundu medical indications

Constipation (newborn), helminthiasis (adult). Observations l ‘For the treatment of wounds, the fresh or dry bark is used, but in powder form . . . and the sap is used as a disinfectant’ (Redinha, 1975) l It could also be a Lonchocarpus nelsii (Schinz) Heering & Grimme which cures, for example, the ‘doenCa de pele e feridas cancerosas’ (skin disease and cancerous wounds) (Correspondence (1958-64)). l According to Ficalho, this plant cures scurvy. l This plant should have an ichthyotoxic effect and seems to be used as a piscicide in both the Kimbundu and the Umbundu areas. Farnsworth et al. (1986) noticed that the ~onchoearpus nicou (Aubl.) DC. contains rotenone and is used as a piscicide.

l For (u)Sombo, Alves (1951) cites a ‘tree whose roots seem to attract water because there is always moisture, a spring or a river under it: ‘Cassia psilocarpa’ (Cassia psilocarpa Welw.). Baths prepared with its crushed root serve to cure the syphilitic wounds (ulcers)’ (Alves, 195 1). l (u)Sombo (u$ombo) = ‘consumable fruit, healthy, pleasant and tasty’, according to J. Anchieta. o The macerated bark is used in Malange province as an ichthyotoxic for fishing.

References

Watt and dyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 800, Gossweiler (1953) pp. 126, 270; Alves (1951) pp. 1329, 1330; Exe11 and Mendonca (1956) pp. 176, 177 - (Cassia psilocarpa Welw.); Ovihemba p. 15; Marcos (1989) no. 174,212; J. Anchieta (1985) pp. 145, 148. 3.19. Tala Menha

References

Kimbundu name: (mu)Tala Menha. Latin name: Lonchocarpus sericeus (Poir.) Kunth.

Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 624; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 40, 218; Redinha (1975) p. 348; Farnsworth et al. (1986) pp. 170, 174; Cor-

Observations See Pupu.

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3.22. Tub

3.20. To/a Umbundu

name: (u)Tola. Nyaneka name: (omu)Tola. L&n name: Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (Bauhinia thonningii

Kimbundu name: (ka)Tula. (Other name: (ka)Tutulu). Latin name: Synadenium angolense N. E. Br.

~huma~h.). Observations See Tuvu-Tuvu.

Observations See Mbanga.

3.23. Tutulu Umbundu name: e; (oka) Tutulu. Synadenium angoiense N. E. Br.

3.21. Tonga- Tongu Umbundu name: (omu)Tonga-Tonga. Kimbundu name: (mu)Tonga-Tonga. Latin name: Phytolacca dodecandra L’Herit. Family: Phytolaccaceae. Area: Benguela, Caconda, Golungo Alto, Dem-

bos, Cazengo, Sakaala).

Vale do Bengo (Kabiri,

Foto-

Umbundu medical indications

constipation

(drastic, strong purgative!).

Kimbundu medical indications

Latin name:

Observations See Tuvu-Tuvu. 3.24. Tuvu-Tuvu Umbundu name: e; ova, a Tuvu-Tuvu = e, (oka)Tutulu. (Other names: Etutulu Linene or Etulu-Tulu Linene, Atutulu Atito or Atulu-Tulu Atito, Etutulu (Lyov’olwi); Katutulu = Kimbundu name!). Latin name: Synadenium angolense N.E. Br. Family: Euphorbiaceae. Area: Malange (cultivations).

Helminthiasis (children), scabies. Medical indications Observations l The leaves of this plant are used as soap. Githens (1949) and Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) add that it contains saponins. m The Phytoiacca dodecandra has a molluscicidal effect on the vehicle of the bilharziosis, an effect which has been verified in the field and by laboratory experimentations (Anonymous, 1979, pp. 12, 13). The ichthyotoxic effect is ‘ascribed to a toxic saponin’ (Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk, 1962) l According to Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962), this plant has numerous other indications, including some which cause us to think it is best to use this plant carefully: strong abortive, poison, etc.

references

Gossweiler (1953) pp. 394, 395; Anonymous pp. 3, 12, 13; Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 833, 837; Githens (1949) p. 52.

l Stomach ache, dropsy, stitch, uro-genital system, (o)ngandu*, metralgia, menstruations (abundant), childbirth (confirmed by Passos), rachialgia, tuberculosis, haemoptysis, nightmare, (o)ndambwa*, (otchy)ongwa*. Passos: heart (cardiac palpitations).

Observations l ‘A plant with large leaves used to cover cooking pots and so on. The one which grows alongside rivers has medicinal applications: an infusion of the roots is used to cure madness and hipaches’ (Alves, 1951). * Etutulu and Etuvu-Tuvu are the same plant, whose roots are used to cure madness’ (Guennec et al., 1972) l The latex of the majority of the Synadenium is highly irritant, indeed poisonous. It is employed as a poison and as a piscicide.

*Umbundu pathological concept.

12

E. Bossard/ J. Erhnopharmacol.

References

Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 238, 296, 437; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 17, 34, 87, 407; Alves (1951) pp. 1580, 1586; Guennec et al. (1972) p, 491, Passos and Wilford (1986) p. 33. 3.25. Viiu Kimbundu name: (mu)Vilu. (Other names: Kunungandu (in Kwanza-Norte), (mu)Bilu (in Cazengo); (ku)Mungandu (sap of this plant). Latin name: Adenia fobata (Jacq.) Engl. Family: Passifloraceae. Area: Kwanza-Norte, Cazengo, Golungo Alto. Medical indications

Helmin~iasis. Observations l An infusion of this plant seems to be a strong anthelminthic (Gossweiler, 1953). Welwitsch (in Mendonqa) confirms this indication for the Adenia lobata (Jacq.) Welw. var. eZegans Mast. He adds that it is possible to mix the leaves and buds of that plant with the bark of the root of the Mubango. [probably the Croton mubango Muell. Arg.]. l The sap of this plant is called (ku)Mungandu and is drunk as a cold drink by the inhabitants of the Kwanza-Norte Province (Gossweiler, 1953). Paradoxically, the same sap is known as being an ichthyotoxic. It seems it contains hydrocyanic acid.

40 (1993)

l-19

Rich.) Harms. Family: LeguminosaePapilionoideae. Area: Benguela, Ganda. Indications

Miscarriage, scabies, sterility, (o)ndendo*. Ovihemba: lactation (def~tive), Marcos (1989): paralysis, menstruations. Observations l When the tubers are numerous, the plant is called (0; olo)Hamba-Hamba. l Gossweiler notes that in certain regions of tropical Africa, the S. stenocarpa is cultivated for its consumable tubers. l Alves speaks about a ‘shrub whose succulent tuber, when well-crushed, is applied as a pitch to seal beehives, to fill up holes in wood, to ‘weld’ pans with holes, to oil and reinforce new pans and to cover wounds, etc.’ l According to Le Guennec, this plant was also used as soap by the Ovimbundu before the introduction of commercial soap.

References

Watt

and

Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 649 (1953) pp. 84, 211; Alves (1951) pp. 123,124; Ovihemba p. 18; Marcos (1951) no. 188; Le Guennec and Valente (1972) p. 576. (Spherzostylis); Gossweiler

4.2. Lu

Gossweiler (1953) p, 274; Santos (1967) p. 47; MendonCa (1945) p. 332; Watt and BeyerBrandwijk (1962) p. 828 (Adenia).

Umbundu name: u Lu (tuber). (Other spellings: ulo Branco, ulo Amarelo (Marcos, 1989). Kimbundu name: ulo, use. Portuguese name: Linho de gombo. Latin name: Ziibiscus cannabinus L.? Family: Malvaceae. Area: Malange.

4. Plants used as drugs and as soap

Indications

Plants used as soap are listed by Latin name in Table 4 and vernacular name in Table 5.

Spleen pain (confirmed by Marcos), epilepsy (adult), haematuria (idiopathic), paludism, insomnia.

4.1. Hamba

Observations

References

Umb~du name: o; 010 Hamba. Other spelling: Hamba-Hamba (Marcos, 1989), See ‘Observations’. Latin name: Sphenostyiis stenocarpa (A.

l The Latin name of this plant was identified thanks to a Kimbundu vernacular name!

Wmbundu pathological concept.

E. Bossard/J.

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13

Table 4 Plants used as soap and as drugs listed alphabetically by Latin name Latin name

Vernacular name (Prefix) Radical

Adenodolichos anchietae (Hiem) Harms (Adenodolichos europhyllus Harms)” Adenodolichos rhomboideus (0. Hoffm.) Harms8 Carica papaya L. Cassia kirkii Oliv. b Dolichos splendens Welw. ex Bak. b Hibiscus rannabinus L. ? Phytolacca dodecandra L’HI6it. Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn Sesbania bispinosa Fawc. & Rendle (Sesbania aculeata Pers. Solanum aculeastrum Dunal var. al~ifolium (C.H. Wright) Bitter (Solanum albifolium

(otchi)Pumbulu (otchi)Pumbulu (otchi)Mama (e)Yendje (otchi)Pumbulu (u)Lu (omu)Tonga-Tonga (otchi)ficni (e)Yendje (e)Sosa

C.H. Wright) Sphenostyl~s stenocarpa (A. Rich.) Harms Ximenia americana L.

(o)Hamba (ufolulo)Meke

aThree Latin names for one vernacular name. bTw0 Latin names for one vernacular name. l According to Alves, it seems to be a “hemlock’. This is confirmed by a source which affirms that this plant is employed as an ichthyocide by the Ovimbundu. l In Mungo (Huambo Province), the big root of the (u)Lu plant is used as a soap and as a piscicide. l The root of the Hibi~c~ cann~~n~s L. - (u)Lu or (u)Lo in Umbundu - ‘is used as a soap to wash clothes and is served for fishing, with big portions of the bulb [?] thrown into weirs’ (Anchieta).

Table 5 Ptants used as soap and as drugs listed alpha~tically Vernacular name (Pretix) Radical

1:; (otchi) (u/otu/o) (otchi) (otchi) (otchi) (otchi) (e)

Hamba Lu Mama Meke Neni Pumbulu Pumbulu Pumbulu Sosa

(emu) (e) (e)

Tonga-Tonga Yendje Yendje

“Three Latin names for one vernacular name. bTw0 Latin names for one vernacular name.

by vernacular

l As the ~~~~~c~ cu~abin~~ L. has no ‘big root’ or ‘bulb’, (u)Lu must probably correspond to another plant. l Of this Hibiscus, Vernon writes that the ‘leaves, pods and flowers are cooked for food’.

Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 736, 739; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 124, 157, photos no. 38, 39; Gossweiler (1950) p. 117; Alves (1951) p. 566;

name

Latin name Sphenostylis sterocarpa (A. Rich.) Harms Hibiscus can&binus L.? Carica papaya L. Ximenia americana L. Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn Adenodolichos anchietae (Hiern) Harms (Adenodolichos europhyllus Harms)” Adenodoliehos rhomboideus (0. Hoffm.) Harms” Dolichos splendens Welw. ex Bak.” Solanum aeule~zrum Dunai var. alb~~ljurn (C.H. Wright) Bitter (Solanwn albl~li~ C.H. Wright) Phytolacca dodeeandra L’Htrit. Sebasnia bispinosa Fawc. & Rendle (Sesbania aculeara Pers.)b Cassia kirkii Oliv. b

E. Bossard / J, Erhnopharmacol. 40 (1993)

14

Marcos (1989) no. 265, 266; Vernon p. 52; Anchieta (1985) pp. 142, 144. 4.3. Mama W~~~n~~ name: otchi; ovi, i Mama (Ui). Portuguese name: mamoeiro or papaia. French name: papayer. Latin name: Carica papaya L. Family: Caricaceae. Area: Planalto.

Anal helminthiasis (child) (confirmed by Alves (1951), Janeiro and Charvalho (1970) and Chuyen (1987): anthelmintic), dyspepsia. 0 Verruca, eczema, psoriasis, ulcer. o Abortion (procured) (confirmed by Janeiro), gonorrhoea, bilharziosis, (o~ngandu*. l Ovihemba: haematuria. l Chuyen (1987): haemorrhage (uterine). l

4.4. Meke Umbundu name: u; ovi, ilolu; 010, alu, ovaluto; 010 Meke. (Other names: Olosambiambia (in Chinguar, M. Childs; confirmed by Morais), Inge (in Quissama), Onambeke (in Camu~uio), (olo)Menga-Menga). Nyaneka-~umbe name: (omu)Peke. Portuguese name: Ameixieira do Brasil. Latin name: Ximenia americana L. Family: Olacaceae. Area: Benguela, Ganda. indications l Smallpox (confirmed by Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda MissIo Catolica da’) and Hauenstein, 1967). o Scabies (confirmed by numerous informants and Alves). e Scurvy, swellings (face?), mouth, dental caries, ear, nose and throat affections (confirmed by numerous informants and Marcos, 1989). l (o)ndendo*, anaemia, (otchi)sawu*.

Observations e ‘Papaya. It is used as drug against eczema,

Observations

ulcers, skin infections, intestinal parasites, etc.’ (Alves, 1951). l The Carcica papaya L. contains chymopapain and papain which are proteolytic and mucolytic agents. This plant is traditionally used as a digestive (Farnswo~h et al., 1986). As confirmed by Chuyen (1987): ‘the ripe papaya helps in the digestion of meat. The papaya softens the meat’. He also writes that, ‘recently, a strong antibiotic action was discovered to exist in the papaya seed’. l According to Passos, the papaya contains an anti-haemolytic. l Janeiro points out that the (otchi)Mama ‘is a good soap substitute and serves to eliminate spots.’ (Janeiro, 1970, 18)

{a] The plant

References

Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 167,114l; Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda Missao Catolica da’) p. 2; Alves (195 1) p. 634; Passos and Wilford (1986) p. 32; Farnsworth et al. (1986) pp. 167, 169, 173; Chuyen (1989) pp. 67-71; Janeiro (1970) pp. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18; Costa (1975) p. 184.

‘Umbpndu pathological concept.

I - I9

l The almond of the stone is used by the Autochthons and the Portugueses in the production of a non-siccative, volatile and fairly viscous oil. It is also employed as a cosmetic and it is utilized to produce soap and lubricants (Gossweiler, 1953). l ‘A plant with an oleaginous fruit (Ximenia americana). The oil of the fruit is excellent and doesn’t become rancid: it is good for machinery and leather (Aives, 1951)

(b) Other names of the plant and the fruit l The (o)Sambyambya is a big tree which yields a red fruit with a stone (Hauenstein). a (o)Menga-Menga = ‘flesh-coloured and acid fruit’, (o)Sambia or (o)Sambya Mbya = ‘red and ovoid fruit, with the size of a more~io. very acid, irritating the palate’ (Alves, 1951).

(c) The plant as a drug o The pulverized root mixed with wax, palm oil

or castor oil is good as unguent against scabies. The crushed root, after 24 h in water, is a good li*Umbundu pathological concept.

quid solution for compresses that may be applied against scabies, dog scabies, etc.’ (Alves, 1951). l Hauenstein (1967) confirms that the (o)Meke is a Ximenia americana and that is cures smallpox. l The crushed leaves of this plant - in the watering place of the hen roost - cures cystalgia, which affects hens’ (Kalundungu~. (d) Use of the plant in other ethnic groups o In the Ambos ethnic group, the cut umbilical

cord is rubbed with the roasted oleaginous fruit of the (omu)Feke ~X~rnen~~~rne~~~an~~shrub, (Estermann, 1956, pp. 71-72). NB: Ambos = ethnolinguistic group Ambo (Redinha, 1971, p. 26). l The Dimbas women maintain throughout &heperiod of mourning of a deceased husband the face covered with a layer of coal and (ono)Mpeke oil: oleaginous fruit of the (omu)Peke (Ximenia americana) (Estermann, 1961, p, 83). NB: Dimbas = Dimba tribe of the Herero group. (Redinha, 1971, p. 26). References

Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1.962) pp. 57, 803, 1146; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 22 (inge), 87, 107 (onambeke), 182; Estermana (1956) pp. 71, 72 and (1961) p. 83; Alves (1951) pp. 716, 721,722, 1209; ~ihemba (see ‘Ganda Mis&io Cat&a da’) p* 17; Gossweiler (1950) p_ 14; Marcos (1989) no. 94; Hauenstein (1967) pp. 120, 151; Redinha ( 197f ) p. 26; Kalundungu p. 13; Morais (1974) pp. 145, 146.

observations @ ‘Fem. The infusion is used to sooth toothache’

(Alves, 1951 and Le Guennec and Valente, 1972). o ‘The plant is medicinal and is also nutritious when grown in some regions’ (Gossweiler, 1953). * The ashes of the leaves and the stems of the (otchi) %eni are used to produce soap (Janeiro, 1970. p. 58). References

Watt and dyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 297, t089; Gossweiter (f953) pp. 83, 554; Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda Misdo CatCilica da’) p. 23; Alves (1989) p. 913; Marcos (1951) no. 217; Le Guennec and Valente (1972) p, 279; Hambly (1934) p. 280; Janeiro (1970) pp. 54-58. 4.6. Pumbu~u Umbundu name: o&hi; ovi, i Pumbulu, Other spellings: Otchipululu, Ocipumbulu; Otchipumbulu Tchov’usenge (Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda M&&o CatSca da’)). tadin name: (1) Adenodo~i~hos rhomboideus (0. Hoffm.) Harms (in Caconda and Benguela, according to J. Anchieta); (2) Adenodolichos anchietae (Hiern) Harms (Adenodolichos europhyllus Harms) (in Chinguar, according to M. Childs); (3) Dolichos sp~en~~ Welw. ex Bak. (in Benguela and Ganda, according to 0. Hundt). Fam ity : LenguminosaePapilionoideae. Area: Benguela, Ganda, Caconda. Indications

4.5. nieni Wmbundu name: otchi; ovi, i %ni. (Fher spellings: Ocinyeni Kovusengue (= (otchi)Neni ‘from the forest’. Big and Ghinguar. M. Childs); Otchinheni, Okatchinhenhi; Chinhenhe (Marcos, 19891, ~o~~~g~e~ename: fete ordin&rio, feto @mea das boticas. French name: foug+re commune, La& name: Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn. Firm@: Pterid.-Dennstaedtiaceae. Area Chinguar, BiC.

Madness (confirmed by Marcos, f 989). Hambly: gastralgia. Aives, Le Guennec: odontalgia. Ovihemba: conception?

Constipation (purgatives (~on~~~ Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda M&o Catdlica Hambly: wound.

by da’)).

Observations 8 According to Gossweiler, the Ade~od~l~~hos rhomboids (0. Hoffm.) Harms. is ‘used in the

fabrication of a type of maize beer’. It has a ‘tuberous rhizome’. The Dolichos splendens Welw. ex Bak. is a plant with a napiform rhizome and is known as being poisonous. l According to Afves (1951), (ot~hi)~mbulu is a ‘tuber, also called ‘Onamba’Y which grows in sheaf’ and (olu; 010, alu, ovalu)Namba is ‘a consumable tuber growing only every two years’. In

16

Gossweiler’s

E. Bossard/J.

book

(1953), the Onamba

is a

Dichptera sp. l According to Hambly, it is a creeping plant and the powder of the leaves heals severe wounds. l This plant was also used as a soap by the Ovimbundu before the introduction of commercial soap (Le Guennec and Valente, 1972).

References (l), (2) Gossweiler (1953) pp. 17, 33, 83, 212,

213; Alves (1951) pp. 787, 788, 1158; Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda MissZo Catolica da’) p. 22; Hambly (1934) p. 280; Le Guennec and Valente (1972) p. 576; J. Anchieta (1985) pp. 141, 146. (3) Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 595, 1065 (Doh’chos); Gossweiler (1950) pp. 83, 212; Alves (1951) p. 1158; Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda Mis&o Catolica da’) p. 22; J. Anchieta (1985) pp. 141, 146. 4.7. Sosa

Indications

4.8. Tonga- Tonga

similar to an orange with a grey-green colour, bitter’. l (u)Sosa = ‘a kind of bramble (s&a) from which the Autochthons extract drugs used to cure deafness in goats [?] (surdez das cabras)’ (Alves, 1951). l Marcos (1989) calls also that plant a ‘silva-olho’. NB: it is the Rubusfruticosus L. = bramble; known in Europe for curing quinsy (Collectif, 1985, p. *Umbundu pathological concept.

I-19

used in Angola to cure quinsy) (Gossweiler, 1950, p. 258) l According to Le Guennec and Valente (1972), this plant was used as soap by the Ovimbundu before the introduction of commercial soap. Gossweiler (1950) adds that it is the fruit (nonconsumable) of the Solanum aculeastrum Dunal var. albz~~jurn (C.H. Wright) Bitter (So~anum albl~lium C.H. Wright) which is used as a soap substitute. l The majority of the Solanum found in Angola are used as drugs or foods (Solanum aethiopicum L. (S. monteiroi C.H. Wright); S. panduriforme E. Meyer ex Dunal; S. scabrum Mill. (S. tin~tor~ Welw.); S. aethiopi~~ L. cv. groupe gilo {S. naumannii Engl.); S. anomalum Thonn.; S. aculeastrum Dunal var. albtfilium (C.H. Wright) Bitter (S. albijXum C.H. Wright)). References

Observations 0 (e)Sosa = ‘a fruit of the shrub ‘Usosa’, shape

40 (1993)

258). According to Gossweiler (1950), the infusion of the leaves of the Rubus pinnatus Willd. subsp. afrotropicus Engl (Rubus pinnatus Willd.) is also

Umb~du name: e; ova, a Sosa (fruit). u; ovi, i Sosa (plant). (Other spelling: Asonsa (Marcos, 1989 no. 117). Latin name: Solanum aculeastrum Dunal var. ulbifolium (C.H. Wright) Bitter (Solanum albtfolium C. H. Wright) (see also, under ‘Observations’, the definition of (u)Sosa of Alves (1951) and Marcos (1951)). Family: Solanaceae. Area: BiC, Chinguar, Kwanza-Sul, Seles.

(o)mula* (confirmed by Ovihemba). Marcos (1989): rhe~atism, incontinence, syphilis.

Ethnopharmacol.

Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 989 and following (Solanum), 894 (Rubus); Gossweiler (1953) pp. 3, 119,258 (Rubus), 366; Alves (1951) p. 1343; Marcos (1989) no. 117; Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda Missao Catolica da’) p. 10; Le Guennec and Valente (1972) p. 576; Collectif (1985) p. 258.

~rnb~du name: (omu)Tonga-Tonga. Latin name: Phytolacca dodec~ra L’Hirit. Family: Phytolaccaceae. Area: Benguela, Caconda. Indications

Constipation (drastic purgative!). observations l The leaves of this plant are used as a soap. Githens (1949) and Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) write that it contains saponins. o The P. dodecandra L’HCrit. has a molluscicidal effect on the bilharziosis vehicle, an effect which has been verified in laboratory experiments (Anonymous, 1978).

Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 833, 837; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 394, 395; Anonymous (1978) pp. 3, 12; Githens (1949) p. 52.

Umbundu name: e, ova, a Yendje. (Other spellings: Kayendje, Yendje, Okaiendje Catito, Okaiengue Catito, Eyendje Lyv’olwi, Eyendje Katito). tatin mnz~~:(1) Se&&a b~sp~n~saFawc, & Rendte (~esb~~a aculeata Fers.): (Eyendje, Kayendje, Yendje); (2) Cassirxkirkii OIiv.: (Ayendje, Okaiendje Catito, Eyendje Katito, Eyendje Lyv’olwi). Family: (1) Leguminosae-Papilionoideae; (2) Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae. Area: Cabinda, Maiombe. Indications l sterility, procreation, fecundity (feminine), pregnant (to fortify). l nephralgia, gonorrhoea, dropsy, epilepsy (adult), rheumatism, cough (with haemoptysis~~ vision, madness, paludism, skin inff ammation, anaemia, massage, (o)tala*, (u)twe unene*, Ovihemba: cough. Hambly: emeto-cathartic (confirmed by Farnsworth et al., 1986), antheimintic=

Observatiuns l ‘A shrub with limbs bending under the weight of the fruits” (Alves, 1951) l Farnsworth et al. (1986) points out that the Cm&z spp. contains dantrone ~dihydroxy-1 ,8 anthraqu~~one~b and is used, traditionally as a laxative. The Cassia senna L. var. setlna (C acutifolia Delile, C. angustifolia Vahl) contains sennoside A and B. Same use (Farnsworth et al., 1986. * This plant was used as a soap by the Ovimb~ndu (see ‘Ganda MissZo Catolica da’) before the introduction of commercial soap (Le Guennec and Valente, 1972).

References

Watt

and

Beyer-Brandwijk

*Urnbunch pathological concept.

(1962) p. 646;

Gossweiler (1953) p. 27, Teix. ‘Fiora infestante das culturas de Angola’ and ‘Flora infestante do milho (Planalto central)‘, 1965, Chianga; Alves (1951) p, 1726; Ovihemba (see “Ganda Missao Catolica da’) p. 14; Farnsworth et al. (1986) pp. 168, 171, 173; Exe11 and Mendon~a (1956) p. 183 (Cassia k~rk~~ Ohv.) HambIy (1934) p. 280; Le Guennec and Valente (1972) p. 576; Lebrun and Stork (1992) p. 44 (Cassia senna L. var. senna). 5. ohservatluus

Some additional plants, not identified, are also used as a soap. l The ‘crushed (oka)Pamba is used as a soap by the natives [Ovimbundu of Caconda] to wash the clothes’, according to Jose de Anchieta (Anchieta, I985, pp. 142-144). o For another Angolan ethnic group, the Nyaneka-Humbe, at least three plants are used as soaps: - (otyi)Lembue (small creeping ~cru~~ar~a~ - Ethindi (the bulb foams with water, forming soap) -. Eviyu (‘Cajano, whose tuber, crushed, mixed with water and agitated, foams as soap and dissolves greases and resins’) Though presently the Kimbundu cannot oonfirm this, we wiit simply mention that Father Cavazzi de Monteccucolo wrote, in 1660, that they used the ashes of Mbondo (Adansonia digitata L.) and of Kapano (Datura stramonium L.) as soaps (Labat, 1732, 120-122 and 138, 139).

The richness of nature is such that the Angolan ethnic groups studied here - as well as other people - may benefit in many different ways from one unique plant. A medicinal plant may thus also serve as a piscicide, in such a case, the part of the plant used, as well as the dosage are vital considerations. The root of Erythrophleum africanum (Welw. ex Benth.) Harms treats epilepsy and heat pain but is also used as an i~hthyotoxic and above all as a poison in case of trial by ordeal! However, this traditional knowledge is secret, empiric and generally connected with power and authority. It

E. Bossard/J.

18

is thus not always easy to obtain complete, detailed information concerning the dosage. Certain medical plants are also used as soap; without counting the other uses indicated by the Autochthon, for some plants, which include food, drink, construction material, fiber, perfume, etc. One may conclude that the empiric knowledge that the Ovimbundu, Nyaneka-Humbe and Kimbundu have of nature is extensive and teaches us a great deal. 7. References Alves, A. (1951) Diciontirio etimoldgico bundo-portuguis. Centro de tipogralia colonial (pelos missionaries do Espirito Santo), Lisboa, Vol. I and II, 1775 pp. Anchieta de Oliveira, J.A. (1985) Relacoes de Botlnica (1877-1882). In: A.A. Andrade Banha de (Ed.), 0 naturalista Jose de Anchieta. Instituto de Investigacao Cientitica Tropical, Lisboa, pp. 140-158. [Estudos de Historia e Cartogralia Antiga, Memorias no. 24, 187 pp.]. Anonymous (1978) Resenha do estado actual da investigacao sobre medicina traditional e plantas medicinais. Boletim de Informactio. Comissariado, Provincial de Luanda 5, without pagination. Antunes, J.M. and Dekindt, E. (1900) Apontamentos Padre Antunes. Various manuscripts in file ‘BE 44’, I.I.A - Chianga - Huambo, 155 pp. (Including: Exemplares das Cole&es Antunes e Dekindt ou ‘Antunes & Dekindt’, existentes no Herbario (LUA); Collectio Dekindt et Antunes, accessit a 1900. Huila; Liste des plantes selon le nom Lunyaneka; PIantes de Huilla par ordre de families; Envois au Museum de Berlin; etc.). Bonnefoux, B.M. (1885- 1937) Plantes medicinales du Huila. Two manuscripts, Sri da Bandeira (actually Lubango) Congregacao do Espirito Santo. (Manuscript no. I, 238 plants; manuscript no. II, 240 plants. Decrypted at least twice (independently): by Brito Teixeira and Eric Bossard). Bonnefoux, B.M. (1941) Diciontirio olunyaneka-portugues. Tipogralia da Misdo, Huila, 206 pp. Chuyen, Vu Van (1987) Quelques plantes medicinales de 1’Angola. typed text, Luanda, 85 pp. [40 plants] Collectif (1985) Secrets et vertus des plantes medicinales. Selection du Reader’s Digest, Paris, 463 pp. Correspondence (1958- 1964) Escola de Farmticia (Coimbra). Letters in records file ‘BE 17 ’ LUA Herbarium, Chianga Huambo. (Various phyto-pharmacological correspondence: analysis, determinations, chemical compositions, etc.). Costa, A.F. (1975) Elementos daflora aromatica: o laboratdrio de farmacogndsia no estudo dos dleos essenciais de Portugal e Angola. Junta de Investigacoes do Ultramar, Lisboa. 295 PP. Estermann, C. (1956) Etnografia do sudoeste de Angola: OS povos m-o-bantos e o grupo Ptnico dos ambds. Junta de

Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993)

I-19

Investigacoes do Ultramar, Lisboa, Vol. I, 265 pp., 145 pictures. (Membrias - Sdrie Antropologica e Etnologica IV). Exell, A.W. and Mendonca, F. de Ascencao (1956) Conspectus Florae angolensis: (balsaminacea). leguminosae (caesapinioides mimosoideae). Min. Do Ultramar, Junta de Investigacoes do Ultramar, Lisboa, Vol. II, Fast. II, XVII-XVIII, pp. 152-320. Farnsworth, N.R., Akerele, O., Bingel, A.S. et al. (1986) Place des plantes medicinales dans la therapeutique. Bulletin de I’Organisation Mondiale de la Sante (Geneve) 64 (2) pp. 159-175. Ganda Mis&o Catolica da, Ovihemba. Missao Catolica da Ganda, Ganda, 24 pp. Githens, T.S. (1949) Drug p/ants of Africa. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, 125 pp. (African Handbooks: 8). Gossweiler,

J. (1950) Flora exotica de Angola: nomes vulgares e

origem das plantas cultivadas ou sub-espontcineas. Separata da ‘Agronomia angolana’, Luanda, 220 pp. Guennec, G. Le and Valente, J.F. (1972) Diciomirio PortugubUmbundu. Instituto de Investigacao Cienthica de Angola (I.I.C.A.), Luanda, 690 pp. Guerreiro, M.V. (1968) Bochimanes !KHU de Angola: Estudo etnografico. Instituto de investigacao Cientilica de Angola (I.I.C.A.), Ju&ta de Investigacoes do Ultramar, Luanda, 388 pp. Hambly, W.D. (1934) The Ovimbundu of Angola. Anthropological Series (Chicago) Vol. XXI, no. 2, pp. 89-362. (Publication 329, Field Museum of Natural History de Chicago, F.H. Rawson - Field Museum Ethnological Expedition to West Africa, 1929-30). Hauenstein, A. (1967) Les Hanya: description dun groupe ethnique bantou de I’Angola. Franz Steiner Verlag, Wiesbaden, XX, 362 pp. (Studien zur Kulturkunde, Band XIV). Janeiro, M.L. Carvalho da Silva Rosado (1970) Plantas medicinais e venenosas e tecnicas de herborizaqao. Relatorio final do Curso de Regente Agricola, Nova-Lisboa, 82 pp. Kalundungu, B.Z. Medicina traditional. typed text, Huambo, 60 PP. Lebrun, J.P. and Stork, A.L. (1991-1992) Enumeration des plantes a fleurs d’Afrique tropicale. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Gentve, Geneve, Vol. I, 249, Vol. 11, 257 pp. Machado, F.G. (1971) ContribuiGopara o estudo deplantas ictiotdxicas de Angola. Strie ttcnica do Instituto de Investigago Agronomica de Angola, Nova Lisboa, 20, pp. l-6. Marcos, P. (1989) Plantas medicinais de Angola. Ervanaria angolana, Huambo, 27 pp. Martins, P.J. (1972) Cabindas: histdria - cren9a - uses e costumes. Comissao de Turismo da Camara Municipal de Cabinda, Cabinda, 367 pp. (Chapter IX: Plantas medicinais e 0 seu us0 e aplicacao, pp. 137-150). Mendonca, F. de Ascensao (Ed.) (1945) Colectanea de escritos. doutrintirios, floristicos e fitogeograficos de Frederic0 Welwitsch concernentes principalmente 6 Flora de Angola. Agincia Geral das Colonias, Lisboa, p. 441. (See especially

E. Bossard/J.

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40 (1993)

i-19

pp. 269-333: ‘Synopse explicativa das amostras de madeiras e drogas medicinais e de outros objectos mormente ethnographicos collegidos na provincia de Angola’, text published by F. Welwitsch publie in Lisbon (Imprensa Nacional) in 1862). Morais, J.A.D., Gouveia, A. and Rosa, J. da (1974) Subsidio para o eonhec~ento medico e antropo~~gjco do povo Undtdu: 1 estudos clinico-nutrieial, parasitoldgico e socioepidemioldgico de ton grupo de crianc;as. Missgo de Extensao

Rural de Angola, Nova-Lisboa, 245 pp. Ovihemba, see ‘Ganda Mis&o Catolica da’. Passos, D. and Wilford, J, (1986) Medicina traditional versus medieina moderna. Typed text, Huambo, 42 pp. Pereira, J.A. and Santos, A. de Melo e (1964) A~ontumentos para um diciondrio forrageiro. Instituto de Investiga&o Veterinaria de Angola (I.I.V.A.)/ Instituto de Investiga&o Agronomica de Angola (I.I.A.A.), Huambo, 180 pp. (Typed text, ready to be published). Redinha, J. (1971) DistribuiGo Ptnicu de Angola. Centro de Informago e Turismo de Angola, Luanda, 35 pp. (7th edn.). Redinha, J. (1975) Etnias e cuituras de Angola. Instituto de InvestigaGo Cientitica de Angola (I.I.C.A.), Luanda, 448 PP. Santos, R., Mendes dos (1947) Plantas titeis de Angola: contribui&o iconogra$ca. Instituto de investigaqab Cientifica de Angola (I.I.C.A.), Luanda, 67 pp.

19

Santos, R., Mendes dos (1972) Contribui&o

para

o con-

hecimento dos nomes vernaculos das plantas do Cuando Cubango. Instituto de Investigaqao Cientifica de Angola

(I.I.C.A.), Luanda, 33 pp. Silva, A.J. da (1966) Dicionario PortuguZs-Nhaneca. Institute de Investiga&o Cientifica de Angola (I.I.C.A.), Luanda, 630 pp. Teixeira, J.M.L. de Brito (1965a) Flora infestante das eufturas de Angola: I - do milha (Planalto Central). Instituto de Investigaqao Agronomica de Angola (I.I.A.A.), ChiangaHuambo. (Comunica$o as VI Jornadas Silvo-Agronomicas, Nova Lisboa (Chianga), 6-13 Dec. 1965.) Teixeira, J.M.L. de Brito (196Sb) Flora mjestante das culturas de Angola: II - do trig0 (Planafto Centran. Instituto de Investiga&o Agronomica de Angola (I.I.A.A.), ChiangaHuambo. (Comunicaqao as VI Jornadas Silvo-Agronomicas, Nova Lisboa (Chianga), 6-13 Dec. 1965.) Vernon, R. (1983) Fieldguide to important arable weeds of Zambia. Department of Agriculture, Mount Makulu Central Research Station, Chilanga (Zambia), 151 pp. Watt, J.M. and Beyer-Bmndwijk, M.G. (1962) The medicinal andpoisonous plants of Southern and Eastern Africa: being an account of their medical composition, pharmacological effects and toxicology in man and animal (2nd edn.). E. & S. Liv-

ingstone Ltd, Edinburgh, London, 1457 pp.