Millettia griffoniana

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Millettia griffoniana

Family: Fabaceae Genus: Millettia Species: griffoniana

Synonyms: Lonchocarpus griffonianus, Derris leptorhachis, Ostryocarpus parviflorus

Western Herbalism Properties

Actions:
anti-inflammatory

Traditional Uses

In Cameroon and neighbouring Central African countries, traditional healers use the stem bark and root bark of Millettia griffoniana to treat menopausal complaints, amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, sterility, depression and dementia, and as a reputed aphrodisiac (Zingue et al.; Yankep et al.). Bark decoctions are taken for these gynaecological and nervous indications.

Botanical Description

Millettia griffoniana is a small to medium-sized tree or shrub of the Fabaceae (Faboideae), reaching roughly 4 to 12 metres in height, native to the humid lowland forests of Central Africa. The leaves are pinnately compound with several pairs of opposite, elliptic to oblong leaflets that are leathery and glossy. Showy papilionaceous flowers, ranging from pale lilac to violet-purple, are borne in dense erect or pendent racemes and often appear conspicuously on the branches. The fruit is a flattened, woody legume pod containing several seeds, splitting at maturity to release them. The species occurs in Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries, growing in lowland rainforest, secondary forest and forest margins.

Native Region: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Repu, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Zaïre

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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