Uvaria chamae

Uvaria chamae
Finger-root
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Magnoliids
Order:Magnoliales
Family:Annonaceae
Genus:Uvaria
Species: U. chamae
Binomial name
Uvaria chamae

Uvaria chamae, commonly known as finger root or bush banana is a climbing large shrub or small tree native to tropical West and Central Africa where it grows in wet and dry forests and coastal scrublands.[1][2] The common name refers to the fruit growing in its small bunches; the fruit is edible and widely eaten. U. chamae is a medicinal plant used throughout its range to treat fevers and has antibiotic properties.[2] Among 120 plant species tested the root bark of Uvaria was found to contain the most active compounds against malaria.[3] An extract of Uvaria chamae, administered orally at 300–900 mg/kg/day showed significant antimalarial activity against both early and established infections.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Bongers, F.; M. P. E. Parren; D. Traore, eds. (2005). Forest Climbing Plants of West Africa: Diversity, Ecology and Management. CAB International. ISBN 0-85199-914-X.
  2. 1 2 Iwu, Maurice M. (1993). Handbook of African Medicinal Plants. CRC Press. ISBN 0-8493-4266-X.
  3. ↑ http://www.bepls.com/march2012/12.pdf%5Bfull+citation+needed%5D
  4. ↑ Okokon, J. E; Ita, B. N; Udokpoh, A. E (2013). "The in-vivo antimalarial activities of Uvaria chamae and Hippocratea africana". Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology. 100 (7): 585–90. doi:10.1179/136485906X118512. PMID 16989684.


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