Banana Bush is an evergreen perennial shrub or small tree growing from 1-14 metres (upto 46 ft) in height and a member of the apocynaceae family, having white fragrant windmill flowers occur in groups and are followed by pairs of orange fruit containing a mass of crimson flesh surrounding numerous fissured seeds.
• Its has white or pale yellow corolla lobes flowers, giving rise to orange fruit with red or yellow paired follicles, each up to 7 cm (2.8 in) in diameter.
Plant Description
The leaves are elliptic-lanceolate to oblong-elliptic, 5-12 cm long, narrowed at both ends, shining and short-stalked.
Inflorescences are axillary and terminal, peduncled, and have rather few flowers.
Calyx is green, ovoid, and short. Corolla is white, tinged with green, slender-tubed, 1.7 centimeters long and slightly enlarged upward.
Limb is 2-2.5 centimeters in diameter, composed of five (5), spreading, falcate, lanceolate lobes.
Follicles are red or yellowish-red, oblong, 2-4 cm long, and longitudinally ridged or keeled.The Fruit is probably proteolytic (breaks down Proteins).
The root bark has been used for tropical Fever.
Aboriginals from Queensland rubbed the Fruit on sores to assist healing.
History
Types & Varieties
Mechanism of Action
Additional Information
Key Actions
• Analgesic,
• Anti-protozoal,
• Anti-Inflammatory,
• Antipyretic,
• Cytotoxic, Depressant (CNS),
• Pesticidal,
• Anti-Malarial properties.
Usable Parts
Leaves, roots, bark, sap.
Directions of Preparation
Recommended Dosage
Its Active Constituents:
• Banana Bush contain:
• Indole Alkaloids (all parts of the plant give a strong positive test for Alkaloids)
• Coronaridine (a chemical compound isolated from the bark).
• Triterpenes (leaves and Fruit)
• Hydroxyvoacangine (roots) and Alkaloids closely related to ibogaine
• Its leaves and fruit contain:
• Triterpenes and Terpenoids,
• “Flavonoids,
• Its stems contain:
• Alkaloids,
• Its ethanolic leaf extract contain:
• Tannins,
• Its roots contain:
• Hydroxyvoacangine (which occurs in Voacanga sp.)
• Alkaloids closely related to ibogaine (Ratsch 1998).
• The major Alkaloids are:
• Tabernaemontaine (from stems),
• Akuammicine (from leaves)
• Its air-dried stems yielded six (6) Alkaloids:
• Tabernaemontanine,
• Ervatomine,
• Voacangine,
• Voacristine,
• Voaluteine,
• Pandine
• Its air-dried leaves yielded six (6) Alkaloids:
• Voacangine,
• Voacristine,
• Pandine,
• Akuammicine,
• Vallesamine,
• Vallesamine 17-O-acetate
Health Benefits of Banana Bush
Digestive System
• Banana Bush root and the bark decoction is used to relieve affections of The Stomach and intestines.
• A decoction of root and bark used for a variety of stomach and intestinal ailments.
• Its roots are used as an Anti-diarrhea.
Foods & Digestive System
Men Health
• Banana Bush is beneficial for erectile dysfunction, though here is no known scientific or pharmacologic basis for this claim.
Boil 15-25 leaves in 3 cups of water for 10 minute s and drink the decoction.
Foods & Men Health
Musculoskeletal System
• Banana Bush milky juice is an effective treatment for swellings.
• Its white sap of the stem is applied to thorn injuries and to hasten the surfacing of the thorn fragments.
• Banana Bush hot foot baths (a local immersion bath covering the feet, ankles and legs) can be used for a variety of conditions such as relieving head, chest and pelvic Congestion, stopping Nose bleeds, relieving spasms and pains of feet and legs, induce Sweating, relieving Menstrual cramps and Headaches.
Foods & Musculoskeletal System
Skin Health
• Banana Bush latex is applied as an emollient to Bruises, Wounds, and swellings.
• Its ripe Fruit sap is applied to ringworm Skin affected areas.
• A poultice of the plant is used to reduce swellings and abscesses.
• Banana Bush root bark has been used for tropical Fever and Aborigines from Queensland rubbed the Fruit on sores to assist healing.
• For Eczema, Boil 3 cups of chopped Banana Bush leaves in 4 ltr of water for 10 minutes or fry the fresh leaves in oil and apply to itchy Skins lesions for symptomatic relief.
Foods & Skin Health
Women Health
• Banana Bush leaves are used as a cataplasm on the belly to induce menstruation and to hasten parturition.
• A decoction of the leaves is added to the bath of women after parturition.
• Women use its root and bark at childbirth.
• Its leaves applied as cataplasm on abdomen to hasten childbirth.
Foods & Women Health
