‘Efor’ is West African black plum

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Tekonline.org 11 years ago

Yet another great taxonomical treat!

The Vitex doniana plant also happens to be a medicinal herbalist's dream, and I do hope students of KNUST's Herbal Medicine Center are paying attention.
All parts of the plant have be ...
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Yet another great taxonomical treat!

The Vitex doniana plant also happens to be a medicinal herbalist's dream, and I do hope students of KNUST's Herbal Medicine Center are paying attention.
All parts of the plant have been shown to have medical benefits -- from rheumatism to cancer (see last paragraph).

Scientifically, the leaves and stem bark have been well studied. The leaves are a rich source of RUTIN (www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2011/674320/), a phenolic compound known to be effectice against Deep Vein Thrombosis -- a condition that involves blood clot formation due to long periods of immobility (as in long flights) and often results in the deadly Pulmonary Embolism.

Aqueous extracts of the leaves have antidiarrheal activity and this is well known in the Fulani north of Nigeria
(ijtpr.com/PDF%20all%20edtions%20IJTPR/Vol4/Issue3/IJTPR,Vol4,Issue3,Article4.pdf).

The stem bark is loaded with antioxidants of the polyphenols, flavanoid, and anthocyanin varieties. As I have stated many times, antioxidants are our best hope for cancer prevention. In addition, they protect against strokes and heart attacks.

The fruits are loaded with macro- and micronutrients, particularly the B vitamins and potassium (essential for blood pressure control).

The plant is also capable of boosting progesterone levels in females (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17681506) and can be used as a natural contraceptive in place of the pill.

As I hinted above, the plant seems to be a goldmine for traditional therapies all over Africa including Ghana.
Below are excerpts from www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JNSR/article/download/8520/8459:

"...Vitex doniana is known by the local names: Hausa – dinyar; Fulani – galbihi; Yoruba - ori nla; Ibo – ucha koro. The fruits are
also referred to as black-plum or African olive (Glew et al., 1997). It has been reported that syrup similar to
honey was produced from the fruit and that physicochemical and sensory results showed that it can be
substituted for other syrups as a nutritive sweetener (Egbekun, et al., 1996). There are also reports of its potential
use in the production of wine and jam (Okigbo, 2001).
The stem bark extract of the tree is used for the control of hypertension and its anti – hepatotoxic effect and
treatment of stomach ache, pains, disorders and indigestion (Ladeji and Okoye, 1996). Ladeji, et al., (2005),
extracted and analyzed the bark of Vitex doniana and found to contain much more potassium and phosphate than
calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron. Therefore, it was concluded that, the use of Vitex doniana to control
postpartum bleeding after child birth may be justified. In Ghana it is used for treatment of colds and cough in
children and its bark in treatment of sterility (Abbiw, 1990).
Various parts of the plant are used by traditional medicine practitioners in Nigeria in the management and
treatment of several disorders which include rheumatism, hypertension, cancer, and inflammatory diseases
(Shofowora, 1993). Kilani, (2006) assess the antibacterial effect of whole stem bark of Vitex doniana against
some enterobactericeae, and supports the use of Vitex doniana by traditional medicine practitioners in the
treatment of dysentary and gastroenteritis. He stressed further that, antimicrobial activity of the Vitex doniana
extract could be attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds that have been liked with antimicrobial
properties.
George (2003) stated that even though the bulk of their weight is water, leafy vegetables represent a veritable
natural pharmacy of mineral, vitamins and phytochemicals. He concluded that the potassium content of leafy
vegetables is good in the control of diuretic and hypertensive complications, because its lower arterial blood
pressure. Vegetables like Vitex doniana are important sources of protective foods, which are highly beneficial for
the maintenance of good health and prevention of diseases (Sheela et al., 2004; Nnamani, et al., 2007)..."
IDRIS PACAS 11 years ago

Thank you for the contributions.

Thank you for the contributions.
IDRIS PACAS 11 years ago

Reportedly, the Asantes call this fruit 'abisan'.

Reportedly, the Asantes call this fruit 'abisan'.
francis kwarteng 11 years ago

Dear Tekonline.org,

How are you? It seems you appear only when a science piece piece shows up. How convenient!

Thanks for your contrubitions to scientitific discussions on Ghanaweb. IDDRIS PACAS has been doing a great j ...
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Dear Tekonline.org,

How are you? It seems you appear only when a science piece piece shows up. How convenient!

Thanks for your contrubitions to scientitific discussions on Ghanaweb. IDDRIS PACAS has been doing a great job educating us on several important topics I otherwise have not paid much atttention to.

Thanks to you both. Have a great weekend.
One screen at a time 11 years ago

There was a huge efor tree where we grew up, but we stayed away from it's fruit because it caused constipation. I wonder if it is any use against cholera.

There was a huge efor tree where we grew up, but we stayed away from it's fruit because it caused constipation. I wonder if it is any use against cholera.
One screen at a time 11 years ago

its fruit

its fruit
Gbornvi 11 years ago

Whilst not with the emphasis of a dispute, I think you got the Ewe name wrong. Efor is what is another plum, purple brown about the same size of the V. doniana, but its vegetation is never a tree rather a shrub or some kind o ...
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Whilst not with the emphasis of a dispute, I think you got the Ewe name wrong. Efor is what is another plum, purple brown about the same size of the V. doniana, but its vegetation is never a tree rather a shrub or some kind of, which forms a closed intertwine branches. It may go up to about 3 meters but never leaving the ground. It found very close to the beach and the shores of lagoons. It is also found in red mangrove but never survives in permanent water logs.
IDRIS PACAS 11 years ago

My Ewe friends debated on these two plants and finally told me that W/A black plum is 'efor'.(I am from the Upper West Region and do not speak that language).

Just as you never mentioned the name of the plant you described ...
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My Ewe friends debated on these two plants and finally told me that W/A black plum is 'efor'.(I am from the Upper West Region and do not speak that language).

Just as you never mentioned the name of the plant you described, so are they (they couldn't also give the name of the other plum). I'll be happy if you could look for it and tell me.

Both my phone number and email address are below the write-up.
IDRIS PACAS 11 years ago

Are you certain of the 'foryi'?

Are you certain of the 'foryi'?
KBK 11 years ago

Idris, what you describe here is what MOST Ewes call efor. The picture on spyghana also confirms it even though what is shown in the picture is not an appetizing efor that I will eat.

Perhaps some Ewes may call something ...
read full comment

Idris, what you describe here is what MOST Ewes call efor. The picture on spyghana also confirms it even though what is shown in the picture is not an appetizing efor that I will eat.

Perhaps some Ewes may call something "foryi" but what we all erroneously call black berry is what Ewes certainly call efor. You got that info right.

DD 11 years ago

What is its nutritional value?

What is its nutritional value?
IDRIS PACAS 11 years ago

Please, read the comments posted by Tekonline (the first comments here).I am a botanists.

Please, read the comments posted by Tekonline (the first comments here).I am a botanists.
GHUUD MANN 11 years ago

Very Enlightening information!....let's have some more info .

Very Enlightening information!....let's have some more info .
MOHAMMED ABDUL FATAWU 10 years ago

it is called LIGNAALI in likpakpa and Aandga in mossi

it is called LIGNAALI in likpakpa and Aandga in mossi
MOHAMMED ABDUL FATAWU 10 years ago

1

1
bawa 8 years ago

eating the fruit can cause constipation or stop diarrhea

eating the fruit can cause constipation or stop diarrhea

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‘Efor’ is West African black plum

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