Africa

Question 1

Prunus Africana

Answer 1

• Prunus Africana (Rosaceae)
• African Cherry, Red Stinkwood
• Bark is a source of an extract used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Bark is taken from population in Afromontane forests of Cameroon, Zaire (DRC), Kenya, Madagascar
• Some sustainability issues
• also used to treat fever, stomach upset and malaria

Question 2

Eru

Answer 2

Gnetum Africanum: important forest vegetable and medicinal plant
generates millions of year for regional economy

Question 3

Bush Mango

Answer 3

Irvingia gabonensis
A large forest tree the seeds of the Bush Mango (Irvingia gabonensis) are highly prized as
a soup thickener & medicines.
Used to make ogbono soup

Question 4

Grains of Paradise

Answer 4

Aframomum melegueta. (Zingiberaceae). 
Hot and pungent flavor 
used in many traditional medicine uses
used in early european beverages and cough mixtures
in some american beers
under research for type 1 diabetes

Question 5

Katemfe Fruits

Answer 5

Thaumatococcus daniellii (Marantaceae)
seeds contain the protein “Thaumatin”
2000x sweeter than sugar

Question 6

Strophanthus preusii

Answer 6

Strophanthus preusii (Apocynaceae)
Used to make deadly arrow poison
poison contains Glycoside GStrophanthin- powerful cardiac toxin

Question 7

Rauwolfia vomitoria

Answer 7

(Apocynaceae) Medium forest tree. Reserpine
Traditionally used to treat madness, tea made from the roots
discovered to contain resperine, an excellent treatment for schizophrenia and hypertension

Question 8

Voacanga africana

Answer 8

(Apocynaceae) Medium forest tree. Oxybral
Traditionally used to induce lactation in young mothers, twigs are used to relieve headache
Contain vincamine, precursor to oxybral, used to treat migraines

Question 9

Calabar Bean

Answer 9

Physostigma venenosum (Fabaceae), Eserine
Traditionally used in “Trial by Ordeal”, persons accused witchcraft would be forced to eat a single bean. If the person died they were considered guilty, if they survived they were innocent; few survived.
the source of the drug “Eserine” used to treat Glycoma; Alzheimers & Myasthenia gravis.

Question 10

Madagascan Periwinkle

Answer 10

Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae) Madagascan Periwinkle

Question 11

Palm Oil

Answer 11

Elaeis guineensis
Traditionally the oil is extracted by boiling the fruits before treading to extract the oil
In thousands of products, including soap
25 million Tonnes produced each year. 80% consumed by western nations
Deforestation

Question 12

Shea Butter

Answer 12

Vitellaria paradoxa

Question 13

Raffia

Answer 13

Raphis vinifera the Raffia Palm
Traditional African forest product essential to our society
Rattans are climbing palms

Question 14

Honey

Answer 14

The Baka people use the Honey Guide bird to locate the bees nest