Entada abyssinica
StarEntada abyssinica
Synonyms: Prosopis lanceolata, Pusaetha abyssinica, Gigalobium abyssinicum, Elephantorrhiza pubescens, Entadopsis abyssinica, Entada abyssinica var. intermedia, Entada abyssinica var. microphylla
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Across sub-Saharan Africa, Entada abyssinica is a widely used folk remedy. A decoction of the bark is taken for coughs, colds, bronchial complaints, rheumatic pains and abdominal pain, and in some communities for peptic ulcers, while an infusion of the crushed roots is used for bronchial problems and as an antidote against various toxic agents. Decoctions of the root and bark are used to wash wounds, and the leaves serve as a wound dressing said to prevent suppuration (Southworld; Useful Tropical Plants). The bark and leaves are rich in tannins, and the species has demonstrated antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory studies.
Botanical Description
Entada abyssinica is a small deciduous tree or shrub of the legume family (Fabaceae), widely distributed across tropical Africa from Sierra Leone and Ethiopia south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It usually grows 3 to 10 metres tall with a spreading, flattish crown and a short, often crooked bole bearing thick, fissured, greyish bark. The leaves are large and bipinnately compound, divided into many pairs of pinnae each carrying numerous small oblong leaflets, giving a feathery appearance. Small, fragrant, cream to pale yellow flowers are crowded into slender, elongate spike-like racemes. The fruit is a large, flat, segmented pod that breaks transversely into one-seeded units at maturity. The tree occurs in wooded grassland, savanna and forest margins, and is valued locally for shade, tannins, fibre and medicine.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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