Phytolacca dodecandra L'Her.
Phytolacca dodecandra L'Her.
Phytolacca dodecandra L'Her.
Phytolacca dodecandra L'Her.
| Botanical Name | Phytolacca dodecandra L'Her. |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Phytolaccaceae |
| Genus: | Phytolacca |
| Species: | P. dodecandra |
| Common Names: | Endod, soap berry, African soap berry (English). Phytolaque, endod. Fitolaca (French) |
Plant Synonyms
Phytolacca abyssinica Hoffin Pircunia abyssinica Moq.
Plant Local Names
Ghana: Akan - Ahoro
Nigeria: Igbo - Ogwashi okomofo Uburuku aweli, Yoruba - Ososo
Plant Habitat
P. dodecandra is native to Sub-Saharan -Africa and Madagascar and has been introduced in Asia and tropical America. It occurs in forest, forest margins, riparian fores'tf thickets, wetter bushland, in fences along cultivated land and around houses, on mountain slopes and in open fields, at 1500-3000 m altitude. It grows best under direct sunlight in humid, weakly acidic soils that contain high levels of organic matter, in areas with an annual rainfall of about 1400 mm and a distinct dry period. In areas with high evapotranspiration, especially at lower elevations (below 1500 m) partial shade should be available so that the plants do not burn and wilt. Full shade substantially lowers both fruit yield and saponin concentration.
Plant Material of Interest
Fruit, The root, leaf, seed
Plant Description
Climbing or scrambling dioecious, semi- succulent shrub, sometimes a liana with stems up to 10-20 m long, with a taproot; trunk sometimes up to 35 cm in diameter; stems usually glabrous; leaves alternate, simple and entire; stipules absent; petiole 1-4 cm long; blade ovate to broadly elliptical, 3-14 cm x 1.5- 9.5 cm, base rounded to slightly decurrent into the petiole, apex acute to rounded, mucronate, glabrous to shortly hairy;.inflorescence an axillary or terminal raceme 5-30 cm long, many- flowered, axis hairy; bracts up to 2.5 mm long, shortly hairy, flowers functionally unisexual, 5- merous, sweet-scented; pedicel 2-8 mm long; male flowers with narrowly oblong, about 2.5 mm long, reflexed, whitish to yellowish green sepals, petals absent, stamens 10-20 in 2 whorls, free, filaments 3-7 mm long, ovary usually rudimentary; female flowers with oblong to ovate, about 2.5 mm long, reflexed sepals, accrescent in fruit, turning yellow to red, petals absent, stamens 8-12, rudimentary, ovary superior, consisting of 4-5 free, ovoid carpels, styles 1-2 mm long, curved, stigmas linear; fruit consisting of 4-5 1-seeded berries fused at base, up to 15 mm in diameter, fleshy, remains of style pointing outwards at apex, ripening orange or purplish red. Seeds kidney-shaped, laterally flattened, 2-4 mm long, shiny black.
Plant Used Parts
Plant Uses
Phytolacca dodecandra (Endod) is indigenous to Ethopia, Central and East Africa. In Ethiopia, where it is known as traditional soap, the toxic plant berries are commonly used for washing and ridding clothes of lice and to control or poison fresh water snails (Pankhurst, 1965). It is also used for purging intestinal parasites, for abortion, and against dandruff, gonorrhoea, leeches, intestinal worms, anthrax, rabies ringworm, skin itching and other skin diseases (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962, Esseret al., 2003). in Central and East Africa and Madagascar, an extract of the roots, leaves, fruits and seeds is taken as a purgative, laxative, diuretic or emetic. These plant parts are used to treat a wide range of diseases including worm infestations, oedema, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, wounds, scabies, eczema, psoriasis, leprosy, boils and vitiligo. An infusion of the fruit or the root decoction is widely taken to treat venereal diseases, bilharzia, rabies, malaria, sore throat and other respiratory problems, rheumatic pain and jaundice. In Ethiopia and Zimbabwe unripe fruits rich in molluscicidal saponins, are widely applied to control bilharzia-transmitting snails. The leaf sap is cicatrizing and haemostatic and causes a burning sensation on the skin. An infusion of the fruit or roots is taken orally and the young leaves and shoots are chewed to induce abortion. In East Africa ground leaves are applied to tumours; the root decoction is also drunk to cause vomiting as treatment of enlarged glands. In Tanzania macerated leaves or root bark are used to treat epilepsy while in Madagascar, a decoction of the aerial parts is applied to treat haemorrhoids. In eastern and southern Africa the whole plant is considered poisonous, and it is said to have caused accidental death of people eating the leaves as a vegetable. The plant is usually not used as firewood, as the smoke is believed to reduce male sexual ability.
Plant Therapeutic Action
Laxative, anthelmintic, emetic, sudorific, diuretic, antiinfective, analgesic, molluscitidal, haemostatic.
Plant Precaution for Use
The plant may be toxic and should be used with care
Plant Adverse Effect
May cause diarhoea and drowsiness
Plant Contraindication
Pregnancy and lactation
Plant Dosage Forms
Decoction
Plant Dosage
Decoction: 30 g dried plant material in 900 ml water; simmer until reduced to 600 ml; 1-3 tablspoonfuls daily
Plant Storage
Store in a cool dry place
Plant Chromatographic Fingerprint
Plant Constituents
Saponins (triterpenoid glycosides; the aglycones of the glycosides are mainly composed of oleanolic acid, bayogenin , hederogenin and 2- hydroxyoleanolic acid); phytosterols; lipids (palmitic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid); sugars, starches, pectins and gums (Parkhurst et al., 1973; Lemma et al., 1972).
Plant Pictures
Plant References
Abebe, F., Erko, B., Gemetchu, T., Gundersen, S.G. (2005). Control of Biomphalaria pfeifferi population and schistosomiasis transmission in Ethiopia using the soap berry endod (Phytolacca dodecandra), with special emphasis on application methods. Transaction of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 99(10):787-794.
Esser, K.B., Semagn, K., Wolde Yohannes, L. (2003). Medicinal use and social status of the soap berry endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) in
Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 85(2- 3):269-277.
Flemings, M.B. (1975). Effects of Endod on preidiracular glands on the larvae of mosquitoes. Unpublished report, C.W. Post College, Long Island University, New York, no. 5, pp 198-202.
Karunamoorthi, K., Bishaw, D„ Mulat, T. (2008). Laboratory evaluation of Ethopian Medicinal plant, Phytolacca dodecandra extract for its toxic effectiveness against aquatic macro- invertebrates. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 12: 381-380.
Kloos, H., McCullough, F.S. (1984). Plant Molluscicides. In: Lemma A., Heyneman,D. Silangwa S.M. (Eds.) Phytolacca dodecandra (Endod) Dublin, Ireland, Tycooly International Publishing Ltd.
Lemma, A. (1970). A laboratory and field evaluation of the molluscicidal properties of Phytolacca dodecandraBulletin WHO 42, 597- 617.
Lemma, A., Ames, B.N. (1975). Screening for mutagenic activity of some molluscicides. Transactions of the ROYAL Society of TROPICAL Medicine and HYGIENE, 69, 167- 168.
Lemma, A., Brody, G., Newell, G.W., Parkhurst R.M.,Skinner, W.A. (1972). Endod (Phytolacca dodecandra), a natural product molluscicide: increased potency with butanol extraction. The Journal of Parasitology 1972; 58: 104-107.