Traditional healthcare information of Adansonia digitata L. (Baobab) in central part of India

5^th International Conference and Exhibition on Natural & Alternative Medicine

September 05-07, 2016 Beijing, China

Jitin Rahul

Indian School of Mines, India

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Altern Integr Med

Abstract :

The tree is named as â�?�?the small pharmacy or chemist treeâ�? for the reason that all parts like the leaves, bark, fruits and seeds are used as food and medicines in India. Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae) is commonly known as baobab tree native to Africa. Baobab is a multi-purpose tree which offers protection and provides food, clothing and medicine as well as raw material for many useful items. The fruit pulp, seeds, leaves, flowers, roots, and bark of baobab are edible and they have been studied by scientists for their useful properties. The fruit pulp have very high vitamin C (280â�?�?300 mg/100g), calcium (293.0 mg/100g), phosphorus (96.00-118.00 mg/100g), carbohydrates (75.60 mg/100g), fibers (52 mg/100g), potassium (2.31 mg/100g), proteins (2.30 mg/100g) and lipids content (0.27 mg/100g), which can be used in seasoning as an appetizer and also make juices. Seeds contain appreciable quantities of phosphorus (6140.0 �?¼g/g dry weight), magnesium (3520.0�?¼g/g dry weights), zinc (25.7�?¼g/g dry weight), sodium (19.6�?¼g/g dry weight), iron (18.3�?¼g/g dry weight), Manganese (18.3�?¼g/g dry weight) whereas they have high levels of lysine, thiamine, calcium and iron. The various parts of the plant (leaves, bark and seeds) are used as a panacea, that is, to treat almost any disease and specific documented uses include the treatment of malaria, tuberculosis, fever, microbial infections, diarrhea, anemia, dysentery, toothache. Phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of flavonoids, phytosterols, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. The first record on Baobab is in Orchha, Region of Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh, India. The paper summarizes the information on various aspects of traditional information, taxonomic description, medicinal properties and importantly nutritional value.

Biography :

Email: jitin.nature@gmail.com