African Locust Bean

Parkia biglobosa

Physical Characteristics

Parkia biglobosa is a deciduous Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bats, Bees, Insects. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Distribution

Western central and northeastern tropical Africa.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Seed Seedpod Edible Uses: Drink The pods contain a sweet, yellow, farinaceous pulp surrounding the seeds[46 , 301 ]. This pulp can be eaten fresh or made into sweetmeats and drinks[299 , 301 , 303 ]. It contains up to 29% crude protein and up to 60% saccharose, is rich in vitamin C and high in oil content[303 , 317 ]. The pulp also yields a flour that is much used in parts of Africa[301 , 317 ]. The pink brown to dark brown pods are about 45cm long and 2cm wide[418 ]. Seeds are fermented to make dawadawa, a black, strong-smelling, tasty food high in protein. Dried fermented seeds keep for more than a year in traditional earthenware pots without refrigeration, and small amounts are crumbled during cooking into traditional soups and stews that are usually eaten with sorghum- or millet-based dumplings and porridges. Because of the savoury taste and the high protein and fat values of the seed, it is sometimes described as a meat or cheese substitute, but it is not usually eaten in large amounts. Dawadawa is rich in protein, lipids and vitamin B2. Parinari curatellifolia is deficient in the amino acids methionine, cystine and tryptophan, but fermented beans are rich in lysine. The fat in the beans is nutritionally useful (approximately 60% is unsaturated)[299 , 303 ]. The seeds contain antinutritional factors and have to be processed before use as food. Boiled and fermented seeds contain 35% proteins, 29% lipids, 16% carbohydrates and have good organoleptic properties and a positive effect on intestinal flora[299 ]. A coffee substitute is prepared from the parched seeds[299 , 301 , 303 ]. The seeds are roasted and ground into a powder for use as a coffee substitute[317 ]. Young pods are sometimes roasted on embers and eaten[303 ]. Leaves are edible but not commonly eaten[303 ]. They are sometimes eaten as a vegetable, usually after boiling and then mixed with other foods such as cereal flour[299 ]. Young flower buds are added to mixed salads[299 ].

Medicinal Uses

Analgesic Anticoagulant Antidiarrhoeal Antidote Antihaemorrhoidal Antiinflammatory Antiseptic Diuretic Febrifuge Hypotensive Leprosy Malaria Mouthwash Ophthalmic Purgative Skin Vitamin C The bark is used as a mouthwash, vapour inhalant for toothache, or for ear complaints. It is macerated in baths for leprosy and used for bronchitis, pneumonia, skin infections, sores, ulcers, bilharzia, washes for fever, malaria, diarrhoea, violent colic and vomiting, sterility, venereal diseases, guinea worm, oedema and rickets, and as a poison antidote[303 ]. Leaves are used in lotions for sore eyes, burns, haemorrhoids and toothache[303 ]. Seed is taken for tension, and pulp for fevers, as a diuretic and as a mild purgative[303 ]. Roots are used in a lotion for sore eyes[303 ]. An alcoholic extract of crude seeds showed anti-hypertensive activity and contractile effect on smooth muscles of the intestine, and increased the tonus and mobility of the uterus[299 ]. Ichthyotoxic and molluscicidal activities have been recorded for the seeds due to the presence of saponins[299 ]. The bark, leaves and pod husks are rich in tannins, which in general have anti-diarrhoeal activities[299 ]. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities have been demonstrated for the bark extracts[299 ]. The aglycone flavonoids in the leaves have spasmolytic activity on smooth muscles, and also vasodilatory and antiseptic effects[299 ]. Coumarin derivatives in leaf extracts have anticoagulant activity[299 ].

Known Hazards

The bark and pods contain substances toxic to fish - the alkaloid parkine that occurs in the pods and bark may be responsible[303 ].