Journal of Ethnopharmacology 40 (1993) l-19 Angolan medicinal plants used also as piscicides and/or soaps Eric Bossard 6 June 1993) zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZ October 1992: accepted (Received 22 May 1992: revision received 5 zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA Abstract A short description of some medicinal plants found during a IO-year ethnological study of traditional medicine in Angola. The point of interest is the double use of these plants: they are employed as drugs and as ichthyotoxics or soaps. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA Key words: Angola; Ethnology; Phytotherapy; Piscicide; 1. Introduction During an ethnological study on traditional medicine in Angola, we noticed that some plants were used as drugs and as ichthyotoxics or soaps by the Ovimbundu (the Umbundu ethnic group, the largest in Angola). Interested by this double use of some plants, we expanded our investigation to include the Nyaneka-Humbe and Kimbundu ethnic groups. The first part of this paper includes a description of the plants used as drugs and as ichthyotoxics. An additional paragraph presents two plants employed in Angola only as piscicides. The second part of this paper presents some plants used as drugs and as soap by the Ovimbundu, living on the Central Highland of Angola (altitude = 1600 m). Before the introduction of commercial soap, the Autochthons used plants to wash themselves and their clothes, etc. Even during the last 18 years, when they lacked commercial soap 037%8741/931$06.00 0 SSDI 0378-8741(93)01040-S Soap because of the war situation, they had recourse to plants. The preparation and the posology of the medicinal plants are out of place in such a short study and are therefore not included. 2. Plants used only as piscicides F.G. Machado (1971) has published a list of plants used as piscicides. They are given in Table 1. According to our field experience, it is possible to include two more plants used only as piscicides. The two plants we found are described below. 2.1. Nkhongo (o)Nkhongo. Latin name: M un(Willd.) A. Chev. (M undulea suberosa Benth.). Family: Leguminosae-Papilionoideae. Area: Huila, Serra da Chela. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXW Nyaneka name: dulea sericea 1993 Elsevier Scientitic Publishers Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved E. Bossard /J. Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993) I- 19 2 zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA Table 1 Plants employed References only as piscicides (Machado, 1971) Gossweiler (1953) p. 352; Watt Brandwijk (1962) p. 728 (Strychnos). Acacia albida Del. and Beyer- Haemanthus multiflows Martyn. 3. Plants employed as drugs and as piscicides Indigofera hirsuta L. Lagenaria breviflora (Benth.) G. Roberty Parkia filicoidea Welw. ex Oliv. Picralima nitida Th. & Hkl. Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum. & Thonn.) Plants used as drugs and as piscicides are listed by Latin name in Table 2 and by vernacular name in Table 3. Taub. 3. I. Balsamina longa Kimbundu Indications name: -. Protuguese name. Balsamina longa. Latin name: M omordica charantia L. Fami1.v: Cucurbitaceae. Area: Luanda. Piscicide. Observations Watt ‘Worsley and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) write (. . .) has isolated roterone, deguelin, tephrosin and some glucosides and alkaloides from the bark’. Preparation l The piscicide effect is obtained pods in a river or a pond. throwing some M edical indications Helminthiasis. Observations l The Autochthons use the dry leaves and fruits for fishing. Watt writes that, according to G. Rivera, ‘the plant contains a highly aromatic volatile oil, a fixed zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQ oil, carotene, a resin, two alkaloids one of which is mormoridicine and a saponin’. References Gossweiler (1953) p. 200; Watt and Brandwijk (1962) pp. 634, 635, 1144. Beyer- References Gossweiler (1953) p. 275; Watt Brandwijk (1962) pp. 344, 363, 862. and Beyer- 2.2. Nzembe 3.2. Helekete Nyaneka name: Nzembe. Latin name: Strlqchnos aculeata Solered. Family: Loganiaceae. Area: Huila, Tchivinguiro. Indications Umbundu name: u; ovi, i Helekete. (Other spellings: (u)Heleketwa, Hekete). Latin name: Zi- _iphus mucronata Willd. Family: Rhamnaceae. Area: Kwanza-Sul. Seles. Piscicide. M edical Preparation l The fruit and the seeds are gathered by the natives (Nyaneka-Humbe); the seeds are employed for fishing in a river and as a drug (Gossweiler, 1953). l When we asked the Nyaneka-Humbe for which medical indications they use this plant, they were not able to give us a satisfactory answer. They did confirm its ichthyotoxic use. indications Diarrhoea (with blood) (confirmed by Ovihemba), uro-genital system, dysmenorrhoea. Observations l u(ovi,i)Helekete or u(ovi,i)Heleketwa = ‘thornbush with consumable fruits’, etymology: uikeleketwa (Alves, 1951). l Gossweiler (1953) writes for Hekete: ZCiphus mucronata Willd. which is ‘a thornbush giving a E. Bossard/J. Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993) 3 i- 19 Table 2 Plants used as drugs and as piscicides listed alphabetically by Latin name Latin name Adenia lobata (Jacq.) Aeschy nomene @ tans Engl. Peter (Aeschinomene crassicaulis Ethnic group Vernacular name (prefix) Radical Kimbundu Umbundu (mu)Vilu (oka)Hendje Kimbundu Umbundu~yaneka-Hums (mu)Paiangonga (oka)Pilang~(omu)Kaiati (otyi)Kalatyipembe (o)Hongolo (o)Hongolo Harms) Albizia coriaria Burkea africana Weiw. ex O&v. Hook. Engl. (Celtis soy auxii Engl.) Blanc0 (Celtis prantlii Priemer ex Engl., Celtis brownii Rendle) Croton mubangu Muell. Arg. Ery throphfe~ africanum (Welw. ex Benth.) Harms ~ibis~ cannabinus L. ? Lonchocarpus nicou (Aubl.) DC. Lonchocarpus sericeus (Poir.) Kunth Celtis mildbraedii Celtis philippensis Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu/Nyaneka-Humbe (u)Mbango (o)Mako/{omu)Nga~ (u)Lu (otchi)Pupu (mu)Tala Menha/ (otchi)Pupu Balsamina longaa Tonga-Tongal (mu)Tonga-Tonga (u)Tola, (u)Mbang~ (omu)Tola (o)Ngandja (ka)Tula/(e)Tuvu-Tuvu or (e)Tutulu (u)Sombo (u)Sombo foka)Lembe (e)Kova/(e)Kakaholua Umbundu (u)Helekete Umbundu Umbund~yaneka-Hums Umbundu Umbundu Kimbundu/Umbundu L. L’HOrit. Phytolacca dodecandra Kimbundu Kimbundu/Umbundu (~humach.) Milne-Redh. Schumach.) Swartzia madagascariensis (Taub.) Desv. Synadenium angolense (Taub.) Desv. Umbundu Umbundu M omordica charantia Pjfiostigma thonningij (Bauhinia thonningii (Willd.) DC. (Hiern) Engl. ~ephrosia vogelii Hook. f. Vernonia gerberiformis Oliv. & Hiern subsp. macrocyanus (0. Hoffm.) C. Jeffrey (Vernonia macrocyanus (Welw.) 0. Hoffm.) Ziziphus mucronata Willd. Sy zy gium guineense Sy zy gium huilie~e or “Portuguese name. fruit - with a bitter-sickly taste and in the shape of a cherry - which is praised by the natives.’ l The flower of this plant is used in the Huila region as an ichthyotoxic. Okahenje, References Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 884; Gossweiler ( 1953) pp. 20, 185- 186, photo. no. 56; Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda Missao Catolica da’) p. 3; Alves (1951) p. 147. M edical indicarions 3.3. Hendje Umbundu name: (oka)Hendje. (Other spellings: Okahenge, Cahenge). Lufin nume. Peter (Aeschinomene c~Q.~~~caufi~Harms.). Famiiy : LeguminosaePapilionoideae. Area: Caconda. Aeschy nomene jluitans Abortion (induced). l A small tree, cultivated by the Autochthons. it is employed as a drastic abortive, as well as for fishing. In the second case, the flowers and the leaves are crushed and are thrown together into the river waters (Anchieta). E. Bossard / J. Erhnopharmacol. 40 (1993) l- 19 4 zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA Table 3 Alphabetical list of plants Vernacular name (Prefix) Radical Balsamina Helekete Hendje Hongolo Hongolo longa” used as drugs and as piscicides Latin name Ethnic group M omordica charantia L. Kimbundu Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu Ziziphus mucronata Willd. Aeschy nomene fluitans Peter (Aeschinomene crassicaulis Harms) Celtis mildbraedii Engl. (Celtis souy auxii Eng.) Celiis philippensis Blanc0 (Cehis prantlii Priemer ex Engl., Celtis brownii Rendle) 03 Kakaholua Vernonia gerberiformis Oliv. & Hiern (C. Jeffrey (emu) Kalati (otyi) Kalatyipembe Kova (e) (Vernonia Burkea africana Hook. Burkea africana Hook. Vernonia gerberiformis Oliv. & Hiern C. Jeffrey Lembe Lu Mako Mbanga macrocyanus subsp. macrocyanus (0. Hoffm.) (Welw.) 0. Hoffm.) subsp. macrocyanus (0. Hoffm.) 0. Hoffm.) Nyaneka-Humbe Nyaneka-Humbe Nyaneka-Humbe Umbundu (Vernonia macrocyanus (Welw.) Tephrosia vogelii Hook. f. Hibiscus cannabinus L.? Erythrophleum africanurn (Welw. ex Benth.) Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Harms Milne-Redh. (Bauhinia thonningii Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu Schum.) Mbango Ngai Ngandja Palangonga Pilangu glu) KU) (oka) (otchi) (otchi) (u) (mu) PuPu Pupu Sombo Tala Menha (omu) Tola (4 Tola (mu) (ka) (e) Tonga-Tonga Tonga-Tonga Tula Tutulu $U) Tuvu-Tuvu Vilu “Portuguese Croton mubango Muell. (Bauhinia fhonningii Umbundu Nyaneka-Humbe Umbundu Kimbundu Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu Umbundu Kimbundu Nyaneka-Humbe (Bauhinia fhonningii Umbundu Arg. Erythrophleum africanum (Welw. ex Benth.) Swartzia madagascariensis (Taub.) Harms Desv. Albizia coriaria Welw. ex Oliv. Burkea africana Hook. Lonchocarpus nicou (Aubl.) DC. Kunth Sy zy gium guineense (Willd.) DC. Lonchocarpus sericeus (Poir.) Kunth Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. Schum.) Piliosfigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. Schumach.) Phytolacca dodecandra L’Herit. Phytolacca dodecandra L’Herit. Synadenium angolense N. E. Br. Synadenium angolense N. E. Br. Synadenium angolense N. E. Br. Adenia lobara (Jacq.) Engl. Lonchocarpus sericeus (Poir.) Kimbundu Umbundu Kimbundu Umbundu Umbundu Kimbundu name. References Anchieta 201, 202. (1985) p. 140; Gossweiler (1953) p. 3.4. Hongolo Umbundu name: o; 010 (oka)Hongola. (Other Nongolo Hongolo, Okahongolo, spellings: (around Seles). Latin name: Celtis mildbraedii Engl. (Celtis soyauxii Engl.). Celtis philippensis Blanc0 (Celtis prantlii Priemer ex Engl. (Celtis brownii Rendle). Family: Ulmaceae. Area: Kwanza-Sul, Seles. Medical indications l Heart (cardiac pain) (confirmed by Alves. 1951) cardiopathy, chest pain, stitch (in the side). l Tuberculosis, cough (confirmed by Ovihemba). cough (with haemoptysis). E. Bos.sard/ J. Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993) 5 i- 19 l Diarrhoea (constipating treatment) (confirmed by Ovihemba), constipation (children), digestive system, incontinence ~urinary), cystalgia. l Madness (confirmed by Marcos, 1989), cephalalgia, hallucination, l Paludism, fever (children) (confirmed by Ovihemba). 0 haemorrhage (childbirth), Procreation, childbirth (diffl~ult). l Marcos (1959): spleen(spleenalgia?), appendix (appendicitis?); gonorrhoea, albumin (albuminuria?), purpura. tisporic: it puts its quarry to sleep. Piscicide, its root inebriates and kills fish when thrown into the water (Antunes and Dekindt, 1900). l ‘According to the notes of Father Antunes (1898), . . . that plant contains a powerful bitter (‘amargo’) which is used as an antispasmodic. . . . The root is also employed, according to the same author, in fishing: it is thrown into the water of rivers or ponds in order to inebriate and kill the fish’ (Gossweiler, 1953). l (e)Kova (umbundu name) = ‘skin (man)’ and (otchi)Kova ‘pilose leather, pig leather’ (Alves, 1951). Observations ‘A shrub with reddish fruits, the crushed leaves of which inebriate fish. The infusion of the roots is used as drug against tuberculosis and cardiac pains, dose of half a tea-spoon every day during 3 days’ (Alves, 1951). l ‘Plant used, once reduced in charcoal (ashes), at the time of the cutting of the umbilical cord of a newborn’ (Guennec and Valente, 1972). l References Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 1032 Gossweiler (1953) pp. 20,82,446,447 58.5; Alves (1951) p. 170; Ovihemba pp. 4, 6, 9, 14, 18; Guennec and Valente (1972) p. 491; Marcos (1989) no. 7, 23, 347. (Ceitis), 3.5. ~aka~o~ua (e)Kakaholua. Umbundu name: ova, a)/(otchi; ovi,i)Kova. Latin name: Vernonia ger~er~formis Oliv. & Hiern subsp. macrocy anus (0. Hoffm.) C. Jeffrey (Vernonia macrocy anus (Welw.) 0. Hoffm.). Family : Compositae (confirmed by Antunes and Dekindt, 1900). Area: Huila, Bela Vista. Ny aneka name: (e; medical indications Diarrhoea (with blood), tispasmodic, colic, piscicide. antisporic, an- References Antunes and Dekindt (1900); Gossweiler (1953) pp. 82, 299; Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 297; Alves (1951) p. 371. 3.6. Kdati Ny aneka name: (omu)Kalati or (omu)Kalatyipembe. (Other names and spellings: Omukarati, Okapilangu (in Humpata), Omukulati (South of Huila; Bonnefo~), Omupolalu (in Huila; P. Dekindt, 1900); Omukalati (Gossweiler, 1953). Umbundu name: (oka)Pilangu. (Other names and spellings: Okapilango, Okapilangolo, Okapyangu; Capilangolo (Marcos); Okapelangalo (Hambly)). Latin name: Burkea ufr~cana Hook. Family : Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae. Area: South of Huila. Ny aneka medical indications Indigestion, perfume. Umbundu medical indications: l Coryza, cough, oto-rhino-laryngologics (affections), tuberculosis, cold (the efficacy of this plant for broncho-pulmonary affections is also contirmed by Ovihemba (cold) and Marco (bronchitis, pneumonia). o Digestive system, cystalgia, caries, scabies. Hambly: (u)twe unene*. Observations l This plant has a reputation for being an an- *Umbundu pathological concept. E. Bossard / J. Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993) 6 zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA Observations (omu)Kalati = ‘charcoal tree, Burkea africana’ and (otyi/olu)Pembe = ‘uncovered field, cultivated earlier’ (Bonnefoux, 1885-1937). l The Bushman Vasekele prepare an infusion of the leaves of the Burkea africana to cure ophthalmological infections (Guerreiro, 1968). l The bark of this tree is used as a piscicide in the Huila Province. l ‘The tree trunks are used to build the native’s houses because its wood resists insects and mushroom attacks. It also has the special capacity of being able to waste away without flames (Gossweiler, 1953). l I- I9 mous), insecticide. Marcos (1989): tuberculosis; (heart). Observations l (oka; otu)Lembe represents, according to Alves (1951) p. 492), an Arum ~macu~atum L.?), usually called ‘jarro’ in Portuguese; arum, gouet or piedde-veau in French and arum in English. l The Tephrosia vogelii Hook f. is used as a piscicide in Angola and in a large part of southern Africa where it is the ichthyotoxic par excellence and as an insecticide and a repellent. ‘The toxic effect of the plant on fish is due to tephrosin, 0.15% in the leaf and 0.3 in the seed’ (Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk, 1962). References Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 562 and 1113, Gossweiler (1953) pp. 26, 86, 94, 243; Ovihemba p. 19; Exe11pp. 250,252; Marcos (1989) no. 46; Hambly (1934)~. 280; Guerreiro (1968) p. 312;Bonnefoux(1885-1937)no. 13,110. 146(144); pp. 4, 43, 103. References Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 634. 657, 1146; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 27, 39, 85, 200; Alves (1951) p. 492; Marcos (1989) no. 122, 340 (?) (luembe: heart); Anonymous (1979) p. 12. 3.9. Lu 3.7. Kova ova, a)/(otchi; ovi, i)Kova. Latin name: Vernonia gerberifirmis Oliv. & Hiern subsp. macrocy unus (0. Hoffm.) C. Jeffrey (Vernonia macrocyan~~ 0. Hoffm). Umbundu name: (e, Umbundu name: u Lu (tuber) (Other spellings: Ulo Branco, Ulo Amarelo (Marcos, 1989). Kimbundu name: Ulo, Use. Portuguese name: Linho de gombo. Latin name: hibiscus cannabinas L.? Family : Malvaceae. Area: Malange. Observations See M edical indications Kakaholua. Spleenalgia (confirmed by Marcos, epilepsy (adult), haematuria (idiopathic), ism, insomnia. 3.8. Lembe Umbundu name: oka; otu Lembe (Other spelling and names: Kalembe (in Kimbundu near Malange); Kafoto (in Kimbundu near Dembos, Father Spoerndli and in umbundu near Caconda, J. Anchieta ex Ficalho); Okaheleje (near Benguela and Caconda, J. Anchieta); Kingandu? (around Bie according to the explorers, Capelo and Ivens). Latin name: Tephrosia vogelii Hoof. f. Family : Leguminosae-Papilionoideae. Area: Huambo. medical indications Helminthiasis (adult) (confirmed by Anony- 1989) palud- Observations l The Latin name of this plant was identified thanks to a Kimbundu vernacular term! l According to Alves (1951), it should be a ‘hemlock’. This seems to be confirmed by an informant who affirms that the (u)Lu is used as an ichthyotoxic by the Ovimbundu. l In Mungo (Province of Huambo), the big root of the plant (u)Lu is used as a soap and a pisicide. l The root of the Hibiscus ~annab~nus L. - (u)Lu or (u)Lo in Umbundu - ‘is used as a soap to wash E. Eossard/J. Ethnophmnacol. 40 (1993) 7 1-19 even the ‘salale’ (white ant, termites) doesn’t affect clothes and is served for fishing, with big portions it’ (Gossweiler, 1950). of the bulb (?) thrown into weirs’. (Anchieta). e Beehives are often built with this wood, accora As the zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA hibiscus cunnab~nus .L. has no ‘big root’ ding to Hauenstein (1967). or ‘bulb’, (u)Lu must probably correspond to l In the Malange province, the Autochthons use another plant. the root of the (o)Mako to kill fish. Githens (1949) l For that Hibiscus, Vernon writes that the and Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) write that ‘leaves, pods and flowers are cooked for food’. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDC the root contains poisonous alkaloides one of which is erythrophleine. The root is also used in references trial by ordeal. Watt and Beyer-Bra~dwijk (1962) pp. 736, 739; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 124, 157, pictures no. 38,39; (b) (o)Ngayo and (o)Ngai: Gossweiler (1950) p. 117; Alves (1951) p. 566; o I’(o)Ngaye is also called ‘Pau-ferro’R according Marcos (1989) no. 265, 266; Vernon ( 1983) p. 52; to tin informant, Mr. Chipa. It seems that the Anchieta (1985) pp. 142, 144. name ‘Pau-ferro’ is used for woods of the same 3.10. M ake Umbundu name: 6; 616 Mako. (Other spelling and name: Omaku; (o)Ngaye). Ny aneku name: (omu)N~i. Lar in Rae: ~~y~~~o~~~e~ afr~ca~unl fweiw. ex Ben&.) Harms. &z&y: Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae. Area: Benguela. Umbundu medical indications Epilepsy (adult} (confirmed by Ovihemba)~ cephalalgia, heart (cardiac pains}, moribund, leprosy, (o)ndendo*, (u)twe unene*, (j)mbalan~a~. Hauenstein: odontalgia. Alves (195 1): rheumatism. Marcos (1989): otalgia. & Fever (con~rmed by Correspondence (1958-62) letter dated 8.2.60: febrifuge, anti-malaria), vomitive, ordeal, laxative: emeto-cathartic, cough, chest pains. (a) (o)Mako: Hauenstein (1967) confirms that the (d)Mako is an ‘Ery throphleum africanam’, Alves (1951) writes that it is called ‘Pau-ferro’ (ironwood) in Portuguese and Gossweiler (1950) adds that it is a ‘very highly estimated wood as a construction material because its resistance to the elements is unrivalled: neither the sun nor the rain can spoil it; l *Umbundu pathological concept. quality. It is not certain that they come from the same tree. The (o)Mako and the (o)Ngaye could actually be two different trees. e The (o)Ngaye is a ‘tree with hard wood. It is quite poisonous. One dies if he chews a certain quantity. In return, the smoke of the burning root alleviates rheumatic pains and headaches. ‘E&S farinam ad contrahendam vaginam nimis di~fftatarn necnon adhibent muiieres ad infectiones (Alves, 1951). * An infusion of the leaves of the Ery thro~h~eum a~ican~ (Welw. ex Benth.) Harms is used (with or instead of the Combreturn co&turn Fresen. (Combretum mechowianum 0. Hoffm.) and the Burkea africana Hook.) by the Bushmen Vassekele to cure ophthalmological infections (Guerreiro, 1968). debellandas’ References Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 602, Gossweiler (1953) pp. 88, 243, picture no. 37; Alves (195 I) pp. 627,933 (ongaye); Ovihemba p. 9; Hauenstein (1967) pp, 119, 160: Guerreiro ( 1968) p. 312; Marcos no. 105; Bonnefoux no. 2; p. I?; Antunes and Dekindt (1900); Correspondence (1958-1964X letter dated 8.2.60. 3. f 1. ~banga ~~~~~ name: U; 014, i Mb~~~a and u; ovi, i Tola. (Other names: Umbanga = Umbangalala =: Umba~galunda according to Alves (195 1). MbanGaluada, Ebanga, Umbunga (Marcos); Utola 8 zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA E. Bossard/J. Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993) 1- 19 Utito; Mu1010 according to Pereira and Santos (1964) for the Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (Buuhiniu thonningii Schumach.). Nyaneka name: (omu) Tola. (Other names: (omu)Ngola, (omu)Tuionfolo). Latin name: l Piliostigmu thonningii Redh. (Buuhiniu thonningii (Schumach.) MilneSchumach.). (Called Umbanga near Caconda and Benguela according to J. Anchieta and near Ganda according to 0. Hundt.) Family: Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae. l (Cordiu ufricunu Lam. (Cordiu ubyssinicu R. Br.)) (called Umbanga near Babaera, Benguela and Ganda according to Gossweiler (1950). Fumily: Boraginaceae. l [Erythrinu ubyssinicu Lam. ex DC (Erythrinu huillensis Welw. ex Bak.)]. (Called Umbanga around BiCand Chinguar according to M. Childs.) Fum ily : Leguminosae-Papilionoideae. Area. Benguela, Ganda, Babaera. l (u)Mbanga: “Leafy tree from the ‘lundas”’ (abandoned villages): ‘Buuhiniu’ (Alves, 1989). l Piliostigmu thonningii: ‘The bark of the trunk and the branches of the shrub are astringent. The bark is employed (cooked), for internal use, to combat paludal fevers and, for external use, in the treatment of wounds and ulcers’ (Gossweiler, 1953). l The macerated bark of this species is used currently as a piscicide. References Gossweiler (1953) pp. 105, 125, 227, 359; Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 640 (Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redhead), 148 (Cordia); Ovihemba pp. 6, 12, 13, 14, 20; Exe11p. 199; Marcos (1989) no. 28,44,67, 304, 3 11; Pereira and Santos (1964) (under Bauhinia); Alves (195 1) pp. 664, 665; Exe11 (1956) p. 199. 3.12. Mbango Umbundu medical indications 0 Caries. Fatigue, weakness, impotence. l Cough (with haemoptysis), tuberculosis, lungs, bronchitis, pneumonia; asthma, cough (confirmed by Ovihemba and Marcos, 1989). l Vomiting (children), diarrhoea (children), constipation (children) (confirmed by Alves, 1951)). 0 uro-genital system, colic (male uro-genital system), (o)ngandu*, child birth (difticult). l paludism (confirmed by Gossweiler, 1950) spleenalgia, hypertension (arterial), moribund, caries, madness, (o)fela*, (otchi)saluke*. l wound (Marcos, confirmed by Alves (195 1) and Gossweiler (1953): wound, ulcer). l haemorrhoids, epistaxis, haematuria, haemoptysis. Marcos (1989): rachitis; liver. l Nyuneka medical indications Paludism, wound, ulcer. Umbundu name: u; ovo, ovi, i Mbango. Other names: Omuhintala (in Huila Province, Antunes and Dekindt, 1900) Muango (in Kwanza-Sul and Amboim, Gossweiler, 1950) Manga-Kanga (in Seles and Kwanza-Sul, Gomes and Sousa). Latin name: Croton mubungo Muell. Arg. Family. Euphorbiaceae. Area: Kwanza-Sul, Huila. Medical indications Hallucinations ’ (o)ndambwa* (;athological group cir$r:ed by Marcos: madness, ‘spiritual’). l Asthma, tuberculosis. l Hepatalgia, uro-genital system, constipation (purgative), (i)ndembwe*. Marcos (1989): paralysis, sleeping sickness. Observations Alves confirms that it is a ‘Croton’. The roots are generally used for medical purposes. l Welwitsch (in Mendonca, 1945) writes that the cooked bark of that Croton is a drastic (purgative). It can be used alone or with the plant named (omu)Ndondo. l l Observations l This plant was identified thanks to a Nyaneka vernacular term! According to different informants, it seems that Umbanga is a Piliostigma. *Umbundu pathological concept. *Umbundu pathological concept. E. Bossard/J. Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993) 9 I-19 after by gazelles and which looks like a pea pod, l The macerated bark of this species is used by though rounder. The Autochthons use its root, the Autochthons for fishing. Githens (1949) and pulverised and boiled (about two soup-spoons), Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) write it contains with the aid of a clyster, to fight against intestinal the toxalbumine cretin. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA worms. The leaves, in infusions, have the same use. The vapour of the infusion is used to cure eye afReferences fections’ (Alves, 1951). Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 400; l ‘An infusion of the pound root of Swartzia Gossweiler (1953) pp. 52 (manga-kanga), 56 madagascariensis (Taub.) Desv. is used to combat (muangu), 93 (omuhi-ntala), 429,430; Alves (1951) earaches’ (Redinha, 1975). p. 666; Marcos (1989) no. 190, 325; Morais (1974) l The fruits of the S. madagascariensis are used as p. 163; Mendonca (1945) pp. 303, 304, Githens piscicides, mainly in the Huambo Province. ‘The (1949). pericarp contains no rotenone, no alkaloid, no hetero-side hydrolyzable by emulsin and no an3.13. Ngai thraquinone derivative. It contains a small amount of catechu tannin, sucrose, a yellow flavone pigNy aneka name: (omu)Ngai. Latin name: ment C33H40019and a haemolytic saponoside and Ery throphleum africanum (Welw. ex Benth.) yields 1.4% of greenish-blue ash rich in Harms. manganese’ (Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk, 1962). Observations See Mako 3.14. Ngandja Umbundu name: 6; 616 Ngandja. (Other spelling and name: Onganja, Ombenje or (o)Mbendje (near Ganda and Benguela. 0. Hundt)). English name: snake bean. Latin name: Swartzia madagascariensis (Taub.) Desv. Family : LeguminosaeCaesalpinioideae. Area: BiC, Katchiungo, Caconda, Benguela. M edical indications l Parasitism (confirmed by Alves: intestinal worms), helminthiasis (children), constipation, dropsy. l Epilepsy (adult), epilepsy (children), dizziness. l Cough, tuberculosis. l Tumour-phlyctenae (confirmed by Ovihemba: (olw)anga*). l Lepra, nightmare, moribund, (i)mbalangwa*. Alves (1951): ophthalmic affections. Redinha (1975): otalgia. References Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 649, 650; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 89, 107,221; Ovihemba p. 8; Alves (1951) p. 925; Redinha (1975) p. 348; Exe11 et al. (1956) pp. 167, 168; Morais (1974) pp. 162, 163. 3. IS. Palangonga Kimbundu name: (mu)Palangonga. (Other names: (di)Anza, (mu)Zende (around Malange); (mu)Zuembe, (mu)Zuemba (in Kwanza-Norte). Latin name: Albizia coriaria Welw. ex Oliv. Family : Leguminosae-Mimosoideae. Area: KwanzaNorte, Malange, Quela. M edical indications Astringent. Observations l The bark is an ichthyotoxic used for fishing. It is also used for tanning leather. The bark is said to contain tannin and the saponin musennin (Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk, 1962). Observations l ‘A plant, the fruit of which is extremely sought ‘Umbundu pathological concept. References Gossweiler (1953) p. 254; Watt and BeyerBrandwijk (1962) p. 555. 10 zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA E. Bossard/ J. Elhnopharmacol. 40 (1993) 1- 19 3.16. Pilangu Umbundu name: oka; otu Pilangu. Other spellings: Okapilango, Okapilangolo, Okapyangu; Capilangolo (Marcos); Okapelangalo (Hambly). (Other name: (otchi)Eko). Latin name: Rurkea africana Hook. Observations: See Kalati. 3.17, Pupu Umbundu name: otchi; ovi, i Pupu. Other spelling: Kipupu. Kimbundu name: (Mu)Tala Menha. Other names: Seka-Seka (in Kwanza-Norte), (mu)K~m~ (around Benguela). Latin name: Lon~hoearpus sericeus (Poir.) Kunth. Family : Leguminosae-Papilionoideae. Area: Kwanza-Sul, Kwanza-Norte, Vale do Bengo, Malange. respondence (1958~64), letter 8.260; Anon~ous (1978) p. 12. 3.18. Sombo W mb~du name: u; ovi, i Sombo (tree). olu; ovalu, alu, 010 Sombo (fruit). (Other spelling and name: Usombo do Mato (Marcos); Okumakuma (in Huambo and Quipeio)). Latin name: Sy zy gium huiliense (Hiem) Engl., Sy zy gium guineense (Willd.) DC. Family : Myrtaceae. Area: Bit!, Katchiungo. M edical indications Abortion (spontaneous), childbirth (difficult), tuberculosis. Ovihemba: cough (with haemoptysis). Alves (1951) (for the Cassia, see ‘Observations’); syphilis (syphilitic ulcers). Marcos (1989): scurvy, gingivitis; paralysis. Observations Umbundu medical indications Wound, infected wound, scurvy. Kimbundu medical indications Constipation (newborn), helminthiasis (adult). Observations l ‘For the treatment of wounds, the fresh or dry bark is used, but in powder form . . . and the sap is used as a disinfectant’ (Redinha, 1975) l It could also be a Lonchocarpus nelsii (Schinz) Heering & Grimme which cures, for example, the ‘doenCa de pele e feridas cancerosas’ (skin disease and cancerous wounds) (Correspondence (1958-64)). l According to Ficalho, this plant cures scurvy. l This plant should have an ichthyotoxic effect and seems to be used as a piscicide in both the Kimbundu and the Umbundu areas. Farnsworth et al. (1986) noticed that the ~onchoearpus nicou (Aubl.) DC. contains rotenone and is used as a piscicide. l For (u)Sombo, Alves (1951) cites a ‘tree whose roots seem to attract water because there is always moisture, a spring or a river under it: ‘Cassia psilocarpa’ (Cassia psilocarpa Welw.). Baths prepared with its crushed root serve to cure the syphilitic wounds (ulcers)’ (Alves, 195 1). l (u)Sombo (u$ombo) = ‘consumable fruit, healthy, pleasant and tasty’, according to J. Anchieta. o The macerated bark is used in Malange province as an ichthyotoxic for fishing. References Watt and dyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 800, Gossweiler (1953) pp. 126, 270; Alves (1951) pp. 1329, 1330; Exe11 and Mendonca (1956) pp. 176, 177 - (Cassia psilocarpa Welw.); Ovihemba p. 15; Marcos (1989) no. 174,212; J. Anchieta (1985) pp. 145, 148. 3.19. Tala M enha Kimbundu name: (mu)Tala Menha. Latin name: (Poir.) Kunth. References Lonchocarpus sericeus Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 624; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 40, 218; Redinha (1975) p. 348; Farnsworth et al. (1986) pp. 170, 174; Cor- Observations See Pupu. E. Bossardl J. Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993) I-19 II zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDC 3.22. Tub 3.20. To/a Umbundu name: (u)Tola. Ny aneka name: (omu)Tola. L&n name: Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (Bauhinia thonningii ~huma~h.). Kimbundu name: (ka)Tula. (Other name: (ka)Tutulu). Latin name: Sy nadenium angolense N. E. Br. Observations See Tuvu-Tuvu. Observations See Mbanga. 3.23. Tutulu 3.21. Tonga- Tongu (omu)Tonga-Tonga. Kimbundu (mu)Tonga-Tonga. Latin name: Phy tolacca dodecandra L’Herit. Family : Phytolaccaceae. Area: Benguela, Caconda, Golungo Alto, Dembos, Cazengo, Vale do Bengo (Kabiri, FotoSakaala). Umbundu name: name: Umbundu medical indications constipation (drastic, strong purgative!). Kimbundu medical indications Umbundu name: e; (oka) Tutulu. Latin name: E. Br. Sy nadenium angoiense N. Observations See Tuvu-Tuvu. 3.24. Tuvu- Tuvu Umbundu name: e; ova, a Tuvu-Tuvu = e, (oka)Tutulu. (Other names: Etutulu Linene or Etulu-Tulu Linene, Atutulu Atito or Atulu-Tulu Atito, Etutulu (Lyov’olwi); Katutulu = Kimbundu name!). Latin name: Sy nadenium angolense N.E. Br. Family : Euphorbiaceae. Area: Malange (cultivations). Helminthiasis (children), scabies. M edical indications Observations l The leaves of this plant are used as soap. Githens (1949) and Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) add that it contains saponins. m The Phy toiacca dodecandra has a molluscicidal effect on the vehicle of the bilharziosis, an effect which has been verified in the field and by laboratory experimentations (Anonymous, 1979, pp. 12, 13). The ichthyotoxic effect is ‘ascribed to a toxic saponin’ (Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk, 1962) l According to Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962), this plant has numerous other indications, including some which cause us to think it is best to use this plant carefully: strong abortive, poison, etc. references Gossweiler (1953) pp. 394, 395; Anonymous pp. 3, 12, 13; Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 833, 837; Githens (1949) p. 52. l Stomach ache, dropsy, stitch, uro-genital system, (o)ngandu*, metralgia, menstruations (abundant), childbirth (confirmed by Passos), rachialgia, tuberculosis, haemoptysis, nightmare, (o)ndambwa*, (otchy)ongwa*. Passos: heart (cardiac palpitations). Observations l ‘A plant with large leaves used to cover cooking pots and so on. The one which grows alongside rivers has medicinal applications: an infusion of the roots is used to cure madness and hipaches’ (Alves, 1951). * Etutulu and Etuvu-Tuvu are the same plant, whose roots are used to cure madness’ (Guennec et al., 1972) l The latex of the majority of the Sy nadenium is highly irritant, indeed poisonous. It is employed as a poison and as a piscicide. *Umbundu pathological concept. 12 E. Bossard/ J. Erhnopharmacol. References Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 238, 296, 437; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 17, 34, 87, 407; Alves (1951) pp. 1580, 1586; Guennec et al. (1972) p, 491, Passos and Wilford (1986) p. 33. 3.25. Viiu Kimbundu name: (mu)Vilu. (Other names: Kunungandu (in Kwanza-Norte), (mu)Bilu (in Cazengo); (ku)Mungandu (sap of this plant). Latin name: Adenia fobata (Jacq.) Engl. Family : Passifloraceae. Area: Kwanza-Norte, Cazengo, Golungo Alto. M edical indications Helmin~iasis. Observations l An infusion of this plant seems to be a strong anthelminthic (Gossweiler, 1953). Welwitsch (in Mendonqa) confirms this indication for the Adenia lobata (Jacq.) Welw. var. eZegans Mast. He adds that it is possible to mix the leaves and buds of that plant with the bark of the root of the Mubango. [probably the Croton mubango Muell. Arg.]. l The sap of this plant is called (ku)Mungandu and is drunk as a cold drink by the inhabitants of the Kwanza-Norte Province (Gossweiler, 1953). Paradoxically, the same sap is known as being an ichthyotoxic. It seems it contains hy drocy anic acid. References Gossweiler (1953) p, 274; Santos (1967) p. 47; MendonCa (1945) p. 332; Watt and BeyerBrandwijk (1962) p. 828 (Adenia). 4. Plants used as drugs and as soap 40 (1993) l-19 zyxwvutsr Rich.) Harms. Family : LeguminosaePapilionoideae. Area: Benguela, Ganda. Indications Miscarriage, scabies, sterility, (o)ndendo*. Ovihemba: lactation (def~tive), Marcos (1989): paralysis, menstruations. Observations l When the tubers are numerous, the plant is called (0; olo)Hamba-Hamba. l Gossweiler notes that in certain regions of tropical Africa, the S. stenocarpa is cultivated for its consumable tubers. l Alves speaks about a ‘shrub whose succulent tuber, when well-crushed, is applied as a pitch to seal beehives, to fill up holes in wood, to ‘weld’ pans with holes, to oil and reinforce new pans and to cover wounds, etc.’ l According to Le Guennec, this plant was also used as soap by the Ovimbundu before the introduction of commercial soap. References Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 649 Gossweiler (1953) pp. 84, 211; Alves (1951) pp. 123,124; Ovihemba p. 18; Marcos (1951) no. 188; Le Guennec and Valente (1972) p. 576. (Spherzosty lis); 4.2. Lu Umbundu name: u Lu (tuber). (Other spellings: ulo Branco, ulo Amarelo (Marcos, 1989). Kimbundu name: ulo, use. Portuguese name: Linho de gombo. Latin name: Ziibiscus cannabinus L.? Family : Malvaceae. Area: Malange. Indications Plants used as soap are listed by Latin name in Table 4 and vernacular name in Table 5. Spleen pain (confirmed by Marcos), epilepsy (adult), haematuria (idiopathic), paludism, insomnia. 4.1. Hamba Observations Hamba. Other spelling: Hamba-Hamba (Marcos, 1989), See ‘Observations’. Latin name: Sphenosty iis stenocarpa (A. Umb~du name: o; 010 l The Latin name of this plant was identified thanks to a Kimbundu vernacular name! Wmbundu pathological concept. E. Bossard/J. Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993) l- 19 13 Table 4 Plants used as soap and as drugs listed alphabetically by Latin name Vernacular name (Prefix) Radical Latin name Adenodolichos anchietae (Hiem) Harms (Adenodolichos Hoffm.) Harms8 europhy llus Harms)” Adenodolichos rhomboideus (0. L. Oliv. b Dolichos splendens Welw. ex Bak. b Hibiscus rannabinus L. ? Phytolacca dodecandra L’HI6it. Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn Sesbania bispinosa Fawc. & Rendle (Sesbania aculeata Pers. Solanum aculeastrum Dunal var. al~ifolium (C.H. Wright) Bitter C.H. Wright) Sphenosty l~s stenocarpa (A. Rich.) Harms Ximenia americana L. Carica papaya Cassia kirkii (Solanum albifolium (otchi)Pumbulu (otchi)Pumbulu (otchi)Mama (e)Yendje (otchi)Pumbulu (u)Lu (omu)Tonga-Tonga (otchi)ficni (e)Yendje (e)Sosa (o)Hamba (ufolulo)Meke aThree Latin names for one vernacular name. bTw0 Latin names for one vernacular name. l According to Alves, it seems to be a “hemlock’. This is confirmed by a source which affirms that this plant is employed as an ichthyocide by the Ovimbundu. l In Mungo (Huambo Province), the big root of the (u)Lu plant is used as a soap and as a piscicide. l The root of the Hibi~c~ cann~~n~s L. - (u)Lu or (u)Lo in Umbundu - ‘is used as a soap to wash clothes and is served for fishing, with big portions of the bulb [?] thrown into weirs’ (Anchieta). Table 5 Ptants used as soap and as drugs listed alpha~tically Vernacular name (Pretix) Radical 1:; (otchi) (u/otu/o) (otchi) (otchi) (otchi) (otchi) (e) Hamba Lu Mama Meke Neni Pumbulu Pumbulu Pumbulu Sosa (emu) (e) (e) Tonga-Tonga Yendje Yendje “Three Latin names for one vernacular name. bTw0 Latin names for one vernacular name. l As the ~~~~~c~ cu~abin~~ L. has no ‘big root’ or ‘bulb’, (u)Lu must probably correspond to another plant. l Of this Hibiscus, Vernon writes that the ‘leaves, pods and flowers are cooked for food’. Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 736, 739; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 124, 157, photos no. 38, 39; Gossweiler (1950) p. 117; Alves (1951) p. 566; by vernacular name Latin name Sphenosty lis sterocarpa Hibiscus can&binus Carica papaya (A. Rich.) Harms L.? L. L. (L.) Kuhn Adenodolichos anchietae (Hiern) Harms (Adenodolichos europhy llus Harms)” Adenodoliehos rhomboideus (0. Hoffm.) Harms” Dolichos splendens Welw. ex Bak.” Solanum aeule~zrum Dunai var. alb~~ljurn (C.H. Wright) Bitter (Solanwn albl~li~ C.H. Wright) Phytolacca dodeeandra L’Htrit. Sebasnia bispinosa Fawc. & Rendle (Sesbania aculeara Pers.)b Cassia kirkii Oliv. b Ximenia americana Pteridium aquilinum E. Bossard / J, Erhnopharmacol. 40 (1993) 14 Marcos (1989) no. 265, 266; Vernon p. 52; Anchieta (1985) pp. 142, 144. I - I9 4.4. M eke Umbundu name: u; ovi, ilolu; 010, alu, ovaluto; 010 Meke. (Other names: Olosambiambia (in 4.3. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA M ama Chinguar, M. Childs; confirmed by Morais), Inge (in Quissama), Onambeke (in Camu~uio), W~~~n~~ name: otchi; ovi, i Mama (Ui). Por(olo)Menga-Menga). Ny aneka- ~umbe name: tuguese name: mamoeiro or papaia. French name: (omu)Peke. Portuguese name: Ameixieira do papayer. Latin name: Carica papay a L. Family : Brasil. Latin name: Ximenia americana L. Family : Caricaceae. Area: Planalto. Olacaceae. Area: Benguela, Ganda. Anal helminthiasis (child) (confirmed by Alves (1951), Janeiro and Charvalho (1970) and Chuyen (1987): anthelmintic), dyspepsia. 0 Verruca, eczema, psoriasis, ulcer. o Abortion (procured) (confirmed by Janeiro), gonorrhoea, bilharziosis, (o~ngandu*. l Ovihemba: haematuria. l Chuyen (1987): haemorrhage (uterine). l Observations ‘Papaya. It is used as drug against eczema, ulcers, skin infections, intestinal parasites, etc.’ (Alves, 1951). l The Carcica papay a L. contains chymopapain and papain which are proteolytic and mucolytic agents. This plant is traditionally used as a digestive (Farnswo~h et al., 1986). As confirmed by Chuyen (1987): ‘the ripe papaya helps in the digestion of meat. The papaya softens the meat’. He also writes that, ‘recently, a strong antibiotic action was discovered to exist in the papaya seed’. l According to Passos, the papaya contains an anti-haemolytic. l Janeiro points out that the (otchi)Mama ‘is a good soap substitute and serves to eliminate spots.’ (Janeiro, 1970, 18) indications l Smallpox (confirmed by Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda MissIo Catolica da’) and Hauenstein, 1967). o Scabies (confirmed by numerous informants and Alves). e Scurvy, swellings (face?), mouth, dental caries, ear, nose and throat affections (confirmed by numerous informants and Marcos, 1989). l (o)ndendo*, anaemia, (otchi)sawu*. Observations e References Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 167,114l; Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda Missao Catolica da’) p. 2; Alves (195 1) p. 634; Passos and Wilford (1986) p. 32; Farnsworth et al. (1986) pp. 167, 169, 173; Chuyen (1989) pp. 67-71; Janeiro (1970) pp. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18; Costa (1975) p. 184. ‘Umbpndu pathological concept. {a] The plant l The almond of the stone is used by the Autochthons and the Portugueses in the production of a non-siccative, volatile and fairly viscous oil. It is also employed as a cosmetic and it is utilized to produce soap and lubricants (Gossweiler, 1953). l ‘A plant with an oleaginous fruit (Ximenia americana). The oil of the fruit is excellent and doesn’t become rancid: it is good for machinery and leather (Aives, 1951) (b) Other names of the plant and the fruit l The (o)Sambyambya is a big tree which yields a red fruit with a stone (Hauenstein). a (o)Menga-Menga = ‘flesh-coloured and acid fruit’, (o)Sambia or (o)Sambya Mbya = ‘red and ovoid fruit, with the size of a more~io. very acid, irritating the palate’ (Alves, 1951). (c) o The plant as a drug The pulverized root mixed with wax, palm oil or castor oil is good as unguent against scabies. The crushed root, after 24 h in water, is a good li*Umbundu pathological concept. observations quid solution for compresses that may be applied @ ‘Fem. The infusion is used to sooth toothache’ against scabies, dog scabies, etc.’ (Alves, 1951). (Alves, 1951 and Le Guennec and Valente, 1972). l Hauenstein (1967) confirms that the (o)Meke is o ‘The plant is medicinal and is also nutritious a zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA Ximenia americana and that is cures smallpox. when grown in some regions’ (Gossweiler, 1953). l The crushed leaves of this plant - in the water* The ashes of the leaves and the stems of the ing place of the hen roost - cures cystalgia, which (otchi) %eni are used to produce soap (Janeiro, affects hens’ (Kalundungu~. 1970. p. 58). (d) Use of the plant in other ethnic groups the Ambos ethnic group, the cut umbilical cord is rubbed with the roasted oleaginous fruit of the (omu)Feke ~X~rnen~~~rne~~~an~~shrub, (Estermann, 1956, pp. 71-72). NB: Ambos = ethnolinguistic group Ambo (Redinha, 1971, p. 26). l The Dimbas women maintain throughout &heperiod of mourning of a deceased husband the face covered with a layer of coal and (ono)Mpeke oil: oleaginous fruit of the (omu)Peke (Ximenia americana) (Estermann, 1961, p, 83). NB: Dimbas = Dimba tribe of the Herero group. (Redinha, 1971, p. 26). o In References Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1.962) pp. 57, 803, 1146; Gossweiler (1953) pp. 22 (inge), 87, 107 (onambeke), 182; Estermana (1956) pp. 71, 72 and (1961) p. 83; Alves (1951) pp. 716, 721,722, 1209; ~ihemba (see ‘Ganda Mis&io Cat&a da’) p* 17; Gossweiler (1950) p_ 14; Marcos (1989) no. 94; Hauenstein (1967) pp. 120, 151; Redinha ( 197f ) p. 26; Kalundungu p. 13; Morais (1974) pp. 145, 146. References Watt and dyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 297, t089; Gossweiter (f953) pp. 83, 554; Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda Misdo CatCilica da’) p. 23; Alves (1989) p. 913; Marcos (1951) no. 217; Le Guennec and Valente (1972) p, 279; Hambly (1934) p. 280; Janeiro (1970) pp. 54-58. 4.6. Pumbu~u Umbundu name: o&hi; ovi, i Pumbulu, Other spellings: Otchipululu, Ocipumbulu; Otchipumbulu Tchov’usenge (Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda M&&o CatSca da’)). tadin name: (1) Adenodo~i~hos rhomboideus (0. Hoffm.) Harms (in Caconda and Benguela, according to J. Anchieta); (2) Adenodolichos anchietae (Hiern) Harms (Adenodolichos europhy llus Harms) (in Chinguar, according to M. Childs); (3) Dolichos sp~en~~ Welw. ex Bak. (in Benguela and Ganda, according to 0. Hundt). Fam ity : LenguminosaePapilionoideae. Area: Benguela, Ganda, Caconda. Indications 4.5. nieni W mbundu name: otchi; ovi, i %ni. (Fher spellings: Ocinyeni Kovusengue (= (otchi)Neni ‘from the forest’. Big and Ghinguar. M. Childs); Otchinheni, Okatchinhenhi; Chinhenhe (Marcos, 19891, ~o~~~g~e~ename: fete ordin&rio, feto @mea das boticas. French name: foug+re commune, La& name: Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn. Firm@ : Pterid.-Dennstaedtiaceae. Area Chinguar, BiC. Madness (confirmed by Marcos, f 989). Hambly: gastralgia. Aives, Le Guennec: odontalgia. Ovihemba: conception? Constipation (purgatives (~on~~~ Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda M&o Catdlica Hambly: wound. by da’)). Observations According to Gossweiler, the Ade~od~l~~hos (0. Hoffm.) Harms. is ‘used in the fabrication of a type of maize beer’. It has a ‘tuberous rhizome’. The Dolichos splendens Welw. ex Bak. is a plant with a napiform rhizome and is known as being poisonous. l According to Afves (1951), (ot~hi)~mbulu is a ‘tuber, also called ‘Onamba’Y which grows in sheaf’ and (olu; 010, alu, ovalu)Namba is ‘a consumable tuber growing only every two years’. In 8 rhomboids 16 E. Bossard/J. Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993) I-19 258). According to Gossweiler (1950), the infusion is a zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJ of the leaves of the Rubus pinnatus Willd. subsp. afrotropicus Engl (Rubus pinnatus Willd.) is also l According to Hambly, it is a creeping plant and used in Angola to cure quinsy) (Gossweiler, 1950, the powder of the leaves heals severe wounds. l This plant was also used as a soap by the Ovimp. 258) l According to Le Guennec and Valente (1972), bundu before the introduction of commercial soap this plant was used as soap by the Ovimbundu (Le Guennec and Valente, 1972). before the introduction of commercial soap. References Gossweiler (1950) adds that it is the fruit (nonconsumable) of the Solanum aculeastrum Dunal (l), (2) Gossweiler (1953) pp. 17, 33, 83, 212, var. albz~~jurn (C.H. Wright) Bitter (So~anum 213; Alves (1951) pp. 787, 788, 1158; Ovihemba albl~lium C.H. Wright) which is used as a soap (see ‘Ganda MissZo Catolica da’) p. 22; Hambly substitute. (1934) p. 280; Le Guennec and Valente (1972) p. l The majority of the Solanum found in Angola 576; J. Anchieta (1985) pp. 141, 146. are used as drugs or foods (Solanum aethiopicum (3) Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 595, L. (S. monteiroi C.H. Wright); S. panduriforme E. 1065 (Doh’chos); Gossweiler (1950) pp. 83, 212; Meyer ex Dunal; S. scabrum Mill. (S. tin~tor~ Alves (1951) p. 1158; Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda Welw.); S. aethiopi~~ L. cv. groupe gilo {S. Mis&o Catolica da’) p. 22; J. Anchieta (1985) pp. naumannii Engl.); S. anomalum Thonn.; S. 141, 146. aculeastrum Dunal var. albtfilium (C.H. Wright) Bitter (S. albijXum C.H. Wright)). 4.7. Sosa Gossweiler’s book (1953), the Onamba Dichptera sp. Umb~du name: e; ova, a Sosa (fruit). u; ovi, i Sosa (plant). (Other spelling: Asonsa (Marcos, 1989 no. 117). Latin name: Solanum aculeastrum Dunal var. ulbifolium (C.H. Wright) Bitter (Solanum albtfolium C. H. Wright) (see also, under ‘Observations’, the definition of (u)Sosa of Alves (1951) and Marcos (1951)). Family : Solanaceae. Area: BiC, Chinguar, Kwanza-Sul, Seles. Indications (o)mula* (confirmed by Ovihemba). Marcos (1989): rhe~atism, incontinence, syphilis. References Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 989 and following (Solanum), 894 (Rubus); Gossweiler (1953) pp. 3, 119,258 (Rubus), 366; Alves (1951) p. 1343; Marcos (1989) no. 117; Ovihemba (see ‘Ganda Missao Catolica da’) p. 10; Le Guennec and Valente (1972) p. 576; Collectif (1985) p. 258. 4.8. Tonga- Tonga ~rnb~du name: Observations 0 (e)Sosa = ‘a fruit of the shrub ‘Usosa’, shape similar to an orange with a grey-green colour, bitter’. l (u)Sosa = ‘a kind of bramble (s&a) from which the Autochthons extract drugs used to cure deafness in goats [?] (surdez das cabras)’ (Alves, 1951). l Marcos (1989) calls also that plant a ‘silva- olho’. NB: it is the Rubusfruticosus L. = bramble; known in Europe for curing quinsy (Collectif, 1985, p. *Umbundu pathological concept. (omu)Tonga-Tonga. Latin L’Hirit. Family : Area: Benguela, Caconda. name: Phy tolacca Phytolaccaceae. dodec~ra Indications Constipation (drastic purgative!). observations l The leaves of this plant are used as a soap. Githens (1949) and Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) write that it contains saponins. o The P. dodecandra L’HCrit. has a molluscicidal effect on the bilharziosis vehicle, an effect which has been verified in laboratory experiments (Anonymous, 1978). Gossweiler (1953) p. 27, Teix. ‘Fiora infestante das culturas de Angola’ and ‘Flora infestante do milho Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) pp. 833, 837; (Planalto central)‘, 1965, Chianga; Alves (1951) p, Gossweiler (1953) pp. 394, 395; Anonymous (1978) 1726; Ovihemba (see “Ganda Missao Catolica da’) pp. 3, 12; Githens (1949) p. 52. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA p. 14; Farnsworth et al. (1986) pp. 168, 171, 173; Exe11 and Mendon~a (1956) p. 183 (Cassia k~rk~~ Ohv.) HambIy (1934) p. 280; Le Guennec and Valente (1972) p. 576; Lebrun and Stork (1992) p. Umbundu name: e, ova, a Yendje. (Other spel44 (Cassia senna L. var. senna). lings: Kayendje, Yendje, Okaiendje Catito, Okaiengue Catito, Eyendje Lyv’olwi, Eyendje 5. ohservatluus Katito). tatin mnz~~:(1) Se&&a b~sp~n~saFawc, & Rendte (~esb~~a aculeata Fers.): (Eyendje, Some additional plants, not identified, are also Kayendje, Yendje); (2) Cassirxkirkii OIiv.: (Ayendused as a soap. je, Okaiendje Catito, Eyendje Katito, Eyendje l The ‘crushed (oka)Pamba is used as a soap by Lyv’olwi). Family : (1) Leguminosae-Papilionoidthe natives [Ovimbundu of Caconda] to wash the eae; (2) Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae. Area: clothes’, according to Jose de Anchieta (Anchieta, Cabinda, Maiombe. I985, pp. 142-144). o For another Angolan ethnic group, the Indications Nyaneka-Humbe, at least three plants are used as l sterility, procreation, fecundity (feminine), soaps: pregnant (to fortify). - (otyi)Lembue (small creeping ~cru~~ar~a~ l nephralgia, gonorrhoea, dropsy, epilepsy - Ethindi (the bulb foams with water, forming (adult), rheumatism, cough (with haemoptysis~~ vision, madness, paludism, skin inff ammation, soap) -. Eviyu (‘Cajano, whose tuber, crushed, mixed anaemia, massage, (o)tala*, (u)twe unene*, with water and agitated, foams as soap and Ovihemba: cough. dissolves greases and resins’) Hambly: emeto-cathartic (confirmed by FarnThough presently the Kimbundu cannot oonsworth et al., 1986), antheimintic= firm this, we wiit simply mention that Father Cavazzi de Monteccucolo wrote, in 1660, that they Observatiuns used the ashes of Mbondo (Adansonia digitata L.) l ‘A shrub with limbs bending under the weight and of Kapano (Datura stramonium L.) as soaps of the fruits” (Alves, 1951) (Labat, 1732, 120-122 and 138, 139). l Farnsworth et al. (1986) points out that the Cm&z spp. contains dantrone ~dihydroxy-1 ,8 anthraqu~~one~b and is used, traditionally as a laxative. The Cassia senna L. var. setlna (C The richness of nature is such that the Angolan acutifolia Delile, C. angustifolia Vahl) contains ethnic groups studied here - as well as other peosennoside A and B. Same use (Farnsworth et al., ple - may benefit in many different ways from 1986. one unique plant. A medicinal plant may thus also * This plant was used as a soap by the Ovimb~nserve as a piscicide, in such a case, the part of the du (see ‘Ganda MissZo Catolica da’) before the plant used, as well as the dosage are vital conintroduction of commercial soap (Le Guennec and siderations. The root of Ery throphleum africanum Valente, 1972). (Welw. ex Benth.) Harms treats epilepsy and heat pain but is also used as an i~hthyotoxic and above References all as a poison in case of trial by ordeal! However, Watt and Beyer-Brandwijk (1962) p. 646; this traditional knowledge is secret, empiric and generally connected with power and authority. It *Urnbunch pathological concept. 18 zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA E. Bossard/J. Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993) I- 19 is thus not always easy to obtain complete, detailed information concerning the dosage. Certain medical plants are also used as soap; without counting the other uses indicated by the Autochthon, for some plants, which include food, drink, construction material, fiber, perfume, etc. One may conclude that the empiric knowledge that the Ovimbundu, Nyaneka-Humbe and Kimbundu have of nature is extensive and teaches us a great deal. 7. Investigacoes do Ultramar, Lisboa, Vol. I, 265 pp., 145 pictures. (Membrias - Sdrie Antropologica e Etnologica IV). Exell, A.W. and Mendonca, F. de Ascencao (1956) Conspectus Florae angolensis: (balsaminacea). leguminosae (caesapini- Min. Do Ultramar, Junta de Investigacoes do Ultramar, Lisboa, Vol. II, Fast. II, XVII-XVIII, pp. 152-320. Farnsworth, N.R., Akerele, O., Bingel, A.S. et al. (1986) Place des plantes medicinales dans la therapeutique. Bulletin de I’Organisation M ondiale de la Sante (Geneve) 64 (2) pp. 159-175. Ganda Mis&o Catolica da, Ovihemba. Missao Catolica da Ganda, Ganda, 24 pp. Githens, T.S. (1949) Drug p/ants of Africa. University of PennzyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA References sylvania Press, Philadelphia, 125 pp. (African Handbooks: Alves, A. (1951) Diciontirio etimoldgico bundo-portuguis. Centro de tipogralia colonial (pelos missionaries do Espirito Santo), Lisboa, Vol. I and II, 1775 pp. Anchieta de Oliveira, J.A. (1985) Relacoes de Botlnica (1877-1882). In: A.A. Andrade Banha de (Ed.), 0 naturalista Jose de Anchieta. Instituto de Investigacao Cientitica Tropical, Lisboa, pp. 140-158. [Estudos de Historia e Cartogralia Antiga, Memorias no. 24, 187 pp.]. Anonymous (1978) Resenha do estado actual da investigacao sobre medicina traditional e plantas medicinais. Boletim de Informactio. Comissariado, Provincial de Luanda 5, without pagination. Antunes, J.M. and Dekindt, E. (1900) Apontamentos Padre Antunes. Various manuscripts in file ‘BE 44’, I.I.A - Chianga - Huambo, 155 pp. (Including: Exemplares das Cole&es Antunes e Dekindt ou ‘Antunes & Dekindt’, existentes no Herbario (LUA); Collectio Dekindt et Antunes, accessit a 1900. Huila; Liste des plantes selon le nom Lunyaneka; PIantes de Huilla par ordre de families; Envois au M useum de Berlin; etc.). Bonnefoux, B.M. (1885- 1937) Plantes medicinales du Huila. Two manuscripts, Sri da Bandeira (actually Lubango) Congregacao do Espirito Santo. (Manuscript no. I, 238 plants; manuscript no. II, 240 plants. Decrypted at least twice (independently): by Brito Teixeira and Eric Bossard). Bonnefoux, B.M. (1941) Diciontirio olunyaneka-portugues. Tipogralia da Misdo, Huila, 206 pp. Chuyen, Vu Van (1987) Quelques plantes medicinales de 1’Angola. typed text, Luanda, 85 pp. [40 plants] Collectif (1985) Secrets et vertus des plantes medicinales. Selec- oides - 8). Gossweiler, mimosoideae). J. (1950) Flora exotica de Angola: nomes vulgares e origem das plantas cultivadas ou sub- espontcineas. Separata da ‘Agronomia angolana’, Luanda, 220 pp. Guennec, G. Le and Valente, J.F. (1972) Diciomirio PortugubUmbundu. Instituto de Investigacao Cienthica de Angola (I.I.C.A.), Luanda, 690 pp. Guerreiro, M.V. (1968) Bochimanes !KHU de Angola: Estudo etnografico. Instituto de investigacao Cientilica de Angola (I.I.C.A.), Ju&ta de Investigacoes do Ultramar, Luanda, 388 pp. Hambly, W.D. (1934) The Ovimbundu of Angola. Anthropological Series (Chicago) Vol. XXI, no. 2, pp. 89-362. (Publication 329, Field Museum of Natural History de Chicago, F.H. Rawson - Field Museum Ethnological Expedition to West Africa, 1929-30). Hauenstein, A. (1967) Les Hanya: description dun groupe ethnique bantou de I’Angola. Franz Steiner Verlag, Wiesbaden, XX, 362 pp. (Studien zur Kulturkunde, Band XIV). Janeiro, M.L. Carvalho da Silva Rosado (1970) Plantas medicinais e venenosas e tecnicas de herborizaqao. Relatorio final do Curso de Regente Agricola, Nova-Lisboa, 82 pp. Kalundungu, B.Z. M edicina traditional. typed text, Huambo, 60 PP. Lebrun, J.P. and Stork, A.L. (1991-1992) Enumeration des plantes a fleurs d’Afrique tropicale. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Gentve, Geneve, Vol. I, 249, Vol. 11, 257 pp. Machado, F.G. (1971) ContribuiGopara o estudo deplantas ictiotdxicas de Angola. Strie ttcnica do Instituto de Investigago Agronomica de Angola, Nova Lisboa, 20, pp. tion du Reader’s Digest, Paris, 463 pp. l-6. Correspondence (1958- 1964) Escola de Farmticia (Coimbra). Marcos, P. (1989) Plantas medicinais de Angola. Ervanaria Letters in records file ‘BE 17 ’ LUA Herbarium, Chianga angolana, Huambo, 27 pp. Huambo. (Various phyto-pharmacological correspondence: Martins, P.J. (1972) Cabindas: histdria - cren9a - uses e analysis, determinations, chemical compositions, etc.). costumes. Comissao de Turismo da Camara Municipal de Costa, A.F. (1975) Elementos daflora zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA aromatica: o laboratdrio Cabinda, Cabinda, 367 pp. (Chapter IX: Plantas medicinais de farmacogndsia no estudo dos dleos essenciais de Portugal e Angola. Junta PP. Estermann, de Investigacoes do Ultramar, Lisboa. 295 C. (1956) Etnografia do sudoeste de Angola: OS povos m-o-bantos e o grupo Ptnico dos ambds. Junta de e 0 seu us0 e aplicacao, Mendonca, F. de Ascensao doutrintirios, floristicos pp. 137-150). (Ed.) (1945) Colectanea de escritos. e fitogeograficos de Frederic0 W elwitsch concernentes principalmente 6 Flora de Angola. Agincia Geral das Colonias, Lisboa, p. 441. (See especially E. Bossard/J. Ethnopharmacol. 40 (1993) i-19 pp. 269-333: ‘Synopse explicativa das amostras de madeiras e drogas medicinais e de outros objectos mormente ethnographicos collegidos na provincia de Angola’, text published by F. Welwitsch publie in Lisbon (Imprensa Nacional) in 1862). Morais, J.A.D., Gouveia, A. and Rosa, J. da (1974) Subsidio para o eonhec~ento medico e antropo~~gjco do povo Undtdu: 1 estudos clinico-nutrieial, parasitoldgico e socioepidemioldgico de ton grupo de crianc;as. Missgo de Extensao Rural de Angola, Nova-Lisboa, 245 pp. Ovihemba, see ‘Ganda Mis&o Catolica da’. Passos, D. and Wilford, J, (1986) Medicina traditional versus medieina moderna. Typed text, Huambo, 42 pp. Pereira, J.A. and Santos, A. de Melo e (1964) A~ontumentos para um diciondrio forrageiro. Instituto de Investiga&o Veterinaria de Angola (I.I.V.A.)/ Instituto de Investiga&o Agronomica de Angola (I.I.A.A.), Huambo, 180 pp. (Typed text, ready to be published). Redinha, J. (1971) DistribuiGo Ptnicu de Angola. Centro de Informago e Turismo de Angola, Luanda, 35 pp. (7th edn.). Redinha, J. (1975) Etnias e cuituras de Angola. Instituto de InvestigaGo Cientitica de Angola (I.I.C.A.), Luanda, 448 PP. Santos, R., Mendes dos (1947) Plantas titeis de Angola: contribui&o iconogra$ca. Instituto de investigaqab Cientifica de Angola (I.I.C.A.), Luanda, 67 pp. 19 Santos, R., Mendes dos (1972) Contribui&o para o con- hecimento dos nomes vernaculos das plantas do Cuando Cubango. Instituto de Investigaqao Cientifica de Angola (I.I.C.A.), Luanda, 33 pp. Silva, A.J. da (1966) Dicionario PortuguZs-Nhaneca. Institute de Investiga&o Cientifica de Angola (I.I.C.A.), Luanda, 630 pp. Teixeira, J.M.L. de Brito (1965a) Flora infestante das eufturas de Angola: I - do milha (Planalto Central). Instituto de Investigaqao Agronomica de Angola (I.I.A.A.), ChiangaHuambo. (Comunica$o as VI Jornadas Silvo-Agronomicas, Nova Lisboa (Chianga), 6-13 Dec. 1965.) Teixeira, J.M.L. de Brito (196Sb) Flora mjestante das culturas de Angola: II - do trig0 (Planafto Centran. Instituto de Investiga&o Agronomica de Angola (I.I.A.A.), ChiangaHuambo. (Comunicaqao as VI Jornadas Silvo-Agronomicas, Nova Lisboa (Chianga), 6-13 Dec. 1965.) Vernon, R. (1983) Fieldguide to important arable weeds of Zambia. Department of Agriculture, Mount Makulu Central Research Station, Chilanga (Zambia), 151 pp. Watt, J.M. and Beyer-Bmndwijk, M.G. (1962) The medicinal andpoisonous plants zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTS of Southern and Eastern Africa: being an account of their medical composition, pharmacological effects and toxicology in man and animal (2nd edn.). E. & S. Liv- ingstone Ltd, Edinburgh, London, 1457 pp.