African Black Plum Has Many Important Uses.

African black plum, called Vitex doniana, is a tree that grows in Africa whose parts are useful for many purposes. Black plum is difficult to find in urban areas like Lagos now unlike in the seventies and I wonder why. I have not come across any for a while.

Black plum fruits are called oori nla in Yoruba, dinya in Hausa, galbihi in Fulani, ucha coro and efor in some parts of Ghana. They are black when fully ripe with a sweet, fleshy pulp surrounding a seed.The fruits are very rich in vitamins, minerals, sugars, fiber and proteins. They are rich in flavonoids and polyphenols which have antioxidant properties. They are highly nutritious and can help in maintaining good health.

Other parts of this plant like the stem, bark, leaves and roots are used for many purposes especially in

traditional medicine. Below are some of the uses of parts of black plum in traditional medicine.

The fruits are;

• ·         Consumed raw.
• ·         Used to make drinks and juices.
• ·         Used to treat constipation.
• ·         Used as energy drinks.

Tender leaves are;

• ·         Cooked as vegetables.
• ·         Mashed up to treat wounds and bruises.

Mature leaves and barks are used to treat;

• ·         Malaria
• ·         Diarrhea and dysentery.
• ·         Hemorrhoids.
• ·         Stomach ache.
• ·         Burns and some other skin issues.
• ·         Ulcers.
• ·         Dysmenorrhea.
• ·         Female fertility issues.
• ·         Cough.
• ·         Urinary tract infections.
• ·         Anaemia.
• ·         Eye issues.
• ·         Liver disease.
• ·         High blood pressure.
• ·         Jaundice.

Roots are used as medicine to treat;

• ·         Male impotence.
• ·         Gonorrhea.
• ·         Poisoning.

The ink that is obtained from squeezing mature leaves is used for arts. Other parts of this tree are

used for building, construction and as firewood. The importance of the African black plum tree has been overlooked like that of many of our fruits and plants. This is due to the fact that we lack knowledge about their importance in health promotion and healing. I know that lots of young people have neither heard of nor seen this fruit before. It is time to start to appreciate what we have.

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