Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Morinda lucida is one of the most important antimalarial plants of West and Central African traditional medicine: decoctions and infusions of the bitter leaves, bark and roots are taken for malaria and fevers, and also for jaundice, diabetes, hypertension and gastrointestinal complaints, and applied for skin conditions (Burkill, Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa; Adjanohoun et al.). The bitterness reflects documented anthraquinone constituents. No North American indigenous use is documented.
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Botanical Description
Morinda lucida, the brimstone tree (oruwo in Yoruba), is an evergreen shrub or medium-sized tree in the family Rubiaceae, widespread across tropical West and Central Africa, where it grows in savanna woodland, forest margins, secondary forest and on cultivated land. It typically reaches 6 to 18 metres, with a dense, often crooked crown, rough greyish-brown to blackish bark and a hard, yellowish wood. The opposite, shortly stalked leaves are elliptic to ovate, glossy dark green, 8 to 15 centimetres long, with prominent veins and interpetiolar stipules. The fragrant white, tubular, five-lobed flowers are gathered into small, dense, rounded heads, and the flowers of several heads fuse with their fleshy receptacles to form a black, knobbly, multiple syncarpous fruit much like that of the related Indian mulberry. Most parts of the plant, particularly the bark and roots, are intensely bitter and yield yellow pigments, reflecting their content of anthraquinones and related compounds.
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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