Bitterleaf

Gymnanthemum amygdalinum

Physical Characteristics

Gymnanthemum amygdalinum is an evergreen Shrub growing to 8 m (26ft) by 7 m (23ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Distribution

Tropical Africa - widespread, in most countries from Guinea to Mali and south to Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Shoots Edible Uses: Condiment Young leafy shoots - cooked[299 , 301 ]. Eaten as a potherb or added to soups[301 ]. The leaves often have an intensely bitter flavour, but forms exist that are nearly free of bitterness[301 ]. The plant should be harvested by trimming off the ends of whole shoots[299 ]. This encourages new growth whereas simply removing leaves can slow down growth[299 ].

Medicinal Uses

Antidiarrhoeal Bitter Dysentery Febrifuge Infertility Laxative Malaria Mouthwash Parasiticide Stomachic Tonic Bitterleaf is commonly used in traditional medicine in Africa. Leaf decoctions are used to treat fever, malaria, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis and cough, as a laxative and as a fertility inducer[299 ]. They are also used as a medicine for scabies, headache and stomach-ache. Leaves are placed on a wound as a substitute for iodine[299 ]. The bitterness in the leaves is caused by sesquiterpene lactones and steroid glucosides. Some of these compounds have significant antiparasitic activity, especially vernodalin and vernonioside B1. Vernolepin showed platelet anti-aggregating properties. Vernodalin and vernomygdin have cytotoxic activity[299 ]. Young twigs are chewed as a stomachic tonic and appetite stimulant[301 ]. One of the most common medicinal uses of Vernonia amygdalina is as a treatment against intestinal worms including nematodes[299 ]. Not only humans but also chimpanzees ingest the bitter pith of Vernonia amygdalina for the control of intestinal nematode infections[299 ]. Root extracts are used as treatment against malaria and gastrointestinal disorders[299 ]. In Zimbabwe a root infusion is used to treat sexually transmitted diseases[299 ]. Bark infusions are also taken to treat fever and diarrhoea, dried flowers against stomach disorders[299 ]

Known Hazards

None known