USA Africa Dialogue Series - African Natural Plant Products (part one)

Baobab
Adansonia digitata native to Central Africa

Fruit pulp has ten times the vitamin C content of orange;

Has ' the highest vitamin C content found in any fruit'; Calcium, Vitamin B and C;
protein; High in valine, tryptopan and tyrosine

Seeds contain high levels of lysine, thiamine, calcium and iron
Source: Emmy de Caluwe, Katerina Halamova and Patrick Van Damme ( 2009)


Aloe (Aloeaceae family native to South Africa with hundreds of species,
many of which have been used effectively by traditional healers)

Synergic action of the components of aloe to be noted;
anti- inflammatory, anti-diabetic and effective in controlling glucose; anti-cancer;
Compounds such as di have shown antileukaemic and antimutagenic effect.
Wound healing activity for treating wounds and burns.

(The component of the plant
that is responsible for wound healing is still being examined and remains a puzzle despite
extensive laboratory analysis).

Aloe exhibits antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-viral properties.

Source: Adolfina Koroch, Rodolfo Juliani and James E. Simon (2009)



Tamarind
Tamarindus indica found in Africa and Asia

Leaves are a fair source of vitamin C and beta carotene; mineral content is high in
potassium and calcium ; anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-fungal.

Seeds contain protein.

Chemical composition of the fruit: low water content, high level of carbohydrates and minerals.
The fruit pulp consists of vitamin B (thiamine, riboflavin and niacin) and small amounts
of carotene and vitamin C.
Source: Emmy De Caluwe et al.



Professor Gloria Emeagwali
africahistory.net
vimeo.com/user5946750/videos
Documentaries on Africa and the African Diaspora

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.