Utazi, called Gongronema latifolium botanically, is a climbing shrub with edible heart-shaped leaves that have a sharp, bitter and sweet taste. The plant is native to Africa and is called utazi in Igbo, arokeke in Yoruba, utasi in Ibibio and bush buck in English. Although the leaves are used in Nigeria mostly for culinary purposes all the parts of the plant have medicinal properties.
The leaves of utazi have high nutritional values and have nutrients
like sodium, potassium, calcium, copper, manganese, chromium, selenium,
proteins, fatty acids and fiber.
The fruits, seeds, leaves and stem bark are used medicinally
because of the following properties
- Antioxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antitumor
- Antibacterial
- Antifungal
- Antiviral
- Analgesic
- Antiparasitic
- Antipyretic
- Anti-sickling
- Hypoglycemic
- Hypotensive
- Hepatoprotective
- Hypo-lipidemic
- Antiulcer
- Anti-asthmatic
- Expectorant
- Tonic
- Laxative
Due to the properties listed above, this plant has been
widely used in traditional medicine to resolve the following issues:
- Respiratory issues like asthma, wheezing, cough, chest congestion, etc.
- Viral hepatitis
- Diabetes
- Reduce high blood pressure levels
- Lower blood sugar levels
- Stimulate appetite
- Eradicate intestinal worms and parasites
- Treat malaria
- Treat infections
- For body pains and aches
- Used as part of herbal concoctions for sickle cell anemia
- To treat inflammatory issues
- To stimulate appetite
- To treat dysentery and diarrhea
- As a purgative
- For weight loss
- For healing ulcer sores
- For treating Bilharzia
- The stem is used as a chewing stick for oral hygiene and dental caries
- To cleanse the body
Utazi leaves are also used to replace hops in beers, to spice foods and local delicacies like abacha, nwobi, ugba, isiewu,plantain porridge and soups. This gives you an opportunity to use food as medicine.
If you know more about this plant or have a comment or question, please share below. Follow on Twitter @heal2bwell.
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