Bitter kola seeds (garcinia kola)
Fresh seeds for plantingQuantity : 02 Seeds
Garcinia kola is an evergreen tree with a heavy, spreading crown that can grow up to 30 meters tall but is usually around 12 to 15 meters. It is a multipurpose tree and an important plant in the local economy. The tree is often cultivated around villages. The seeds are sold in local markets and occasionally exported to ethnic populations living abroad. Bundles of pencil-sized wood are commonly sold in local markets for use as chew sticks. The seeds are a significant article of commerce, being traded well beyond the tree's distribution area. The tree has been classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2004) due to general habitat loss and the felling of trees to provide chew sticks for dental hygiene.
Edible Uses
The seeds can be eaten raw. They have a bitter, astringent, aromatic flavor, somewhat resembling that of a raw coffee bean, followed by a slight sweetness or lingering pepperiness. The seeds are often chewed along with the seeds of the true cola (Cola spp.), which is thought to enhance the enjoyment of the cola and allow for the consumption of larger quantities without causing discomfort.
The extremely sour fruits are sometimes eaten. They are about the size of an orange and contain a yellow pulp surrounding four seeds.
Medicinal Uses
Bitter kola is widely used in traditional medicine in Africa, with most parts of the plant being utilized to treat a wide range of ailments. Several medically active compounds have been identified, including tannins, a reducing sugar, traces of an alkaloid in the bark, and flavonoids. The bark is extremely bitter, resinous, and astringent. Various pharmacological actions have also been demonstrated.
Extracts from the stems, roots, and seeds have shown strong anti-hepatotoxic and hepatotropic activity. Petroleum ether and acetone extracts were found to be notably antimicrobial.
The bark contains a sticky, resinous gum that is taken internally for the treatment of gonorrhea. Externally, the gum is applied to skin infections and used to seal new wounds.
The bark is believed to be an aphrodisiac and galactagogue. A decoction is used to treat female sterility and to ease childbirth, with the intake being daily until conception is confirmed and then at half quantity throughout the pregnancy. It is also used to induce the expulsion of a dead fetus. The powdered bark is applied externally to malignant tumors and cancers. A tea made from the bark, combined with the bark of Sarcocephalus latifolius, is reputed as a diuretic, urinary decongestant, and treatment for chronic urethral discharge. The bark, combined with Piper guineense and sap from a plantain stalk (Musa sp.), is used to treat mastitis. Both the seed and bark are used to relieve stomach pains. The leaves and bark are utilized for pulmonary and gastrointestinal troubles. The root and bark are used as a tonic for men to improve their vitality.
The leaves have a bitter taste, and a leaf infusion acts as a purgative.
In Nigeria, the fruits are eaten as a remedy for general aches in the head, back, etc., and as a vermifuge.
The seeds are said to have antidote, antitussive, aphrodisiac, astringent, and vermifuge properties. Chewing the seeds is believed to relieve coughs, hoarseness, and bronchial and throat troubles. They are consumed dry as a remedy for dysentery and are said to act as an antidote against Strophanthus poisoning. The active principles in the seeds remain unclear. Although caffeine, present in true kola, is absent, a trace of alkaloid has been reported in some Nigerian samples but is absent in others. Tannins may contain antibacterial compounds such as morellin and guttiferin, and activity may also be related to unidentified resins.
Other Uses
The bark contains an abundant sticky resinous gum with waterproofing properties, which can be used to protect powder in the priming pans of flintlock guns from rain.
The gum in the bark is also incendiary; the twigs burn brightly and are used as tapers.
The bark is utilized in tanning and has been exported as a tanning material.
An extract of the seeds is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner.
The leaves, which have a bitter taste, are used as a deterrent to fleas.
The sapwood is creamy white, while the heartwood is yellow, darkening to brown at the center. It is hard, close-grained, finishes smoothly, and takes a good polish. The wood is durable and fairly resistant to termites. Its principal application is for chew sticks, which are said to whiten teeth and clean the mouth. These sticks are widely used in Western Africa. Smaller trees are often specifically felled for this purpose, with the wood cut and split into pencil-sized pieces.
The roots are also used as chew sticks, sometimes preferred over the wood. They are believed to prevent dental caries, although tests have shown no antibiotic activity.