African Medicinal Plants – Part I

17 Nov 2022

Blog story series written by Ms Mame Diarra Sarr

Exploring the virtues of Combretum micranthum 

Africa’s cultural and biodiversity richness is indisputable. For centuries, its societies sourced plants for food, shelter and medicinal uses. Combretum micranthum is a species found all throughout its Western region, and endemically in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso. In Senegal it is referred to as Kinkeliba, Sekhew, or Doute and has been used as a panacea (a cure-all remedy) to cure several diseases due to its concentration in flavonoids. It is well known for its powerful diuretic and digestive actions very effective for gastrointestinal problems, colic, and vomiting.  The leaves are widely utilised and known for their very rich internal (antimicrobial, anti-malarial, hepatobiliary activity) and external (cure skin disease such as psoriasis and pimple breakdowns) health benefits. Furthermore, through scientific research, the leaves are proven to contain polyphenols which have hypotensive effects. 

Kinkeliba and its natural habitat 

Kinkeliba usually grows in a dry and arid climate which explains why it is well adapted to the West African region. It can be found in savannah, skeletal soil, crystalline rocks, laterite, and pure dense stands. The plant is part of the Combretaceae family, very present in the group of Angiosperms (flowering plants). It is a shrub usually 4m high but can reach 10 to 20 m in favourable conditions. Its leaves have an alternate, shining light green color when young and typically rust-coulored when mature in the dry season. Insects and birds in its ecosystem facilitate its flowering period in the second half of the dry season and through the pluvial season. 

Utilization of the Kinkeliba leaves 

The most known used form of the Kinkeliba leaves is intaking it as a tea. The traditional way for making the tea is through a decoction. For 20g of Kinkeliba leaves, add 750ml of water and boil it for 15 minutes. Let it infuse for an additional 5 minutes and filtrate the leaves from the rest of the preparation and you have your tea ready. You can add aromatising herbs like mint leaves or rosemary leaves and some honey for taste. This tea has is largely consumed in the Senegalese society for breakfast and during evening hours with snacks. Beside its soothing taste and smell, this herbal tea has glucose-lowering activities and contains powerful antioxidants and has a verified anti-inflammatory activity. These properties combined position Kinkeliba as a super tea able to fight against the most tenant diseases of the 21^st century such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and diuretic dysfunction related diseases. 

Health benefits of Kinkeliba

The Combretum species have demonstrated significant antioxidant activities, Combretum micranthum leaves and bark also store powerful antioxidant highly beneficial to the human body. Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or slow cell damage caused by free radical. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can be produce by your body when you undergo excessive exercise or when your body converts food into energy. They can also derive from your direct environment through pollution and cigarette smoke. If the body is unable to inefficiently process and remove free radicals, oxidative stress can result leading to cell damage and possible body dysfunction. Amazingly, the intake of antioxidant-rich substances like the Kinkeliba tea can prevent the occurrence of oxidative stress and improve the overall health of the organism.

The regular intake of Kinkeliba tea strengthen the body’s waste disposal channels through its diuretic and hepatobiliary activities. And unlike other detox plants, the Kinkeliba leaves embody remarkable purifying properties without having a bitter or unpleasant taste. Its and slightly woody taste renders the tea very pleasant. This is one of the reasons why it is much appreciated in the Senegalese society and in the Western coast of the continent.  

On top of its above-mentioned virtues, the Kinkeliba tea can also be prepared with hibiscus leaves as a weight-loss tea. However, to see maximize its effects, regular amounts of water should be taken. This combination has excellent slimming effects. Therefore, it has the potential to compete in the global market of weight control industry. 

In the 21^st century, diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, cancer, and all degenerative diseases are globally ranging among societies. The one determinant they all have in common is low-graded inflammation, different from acute inflammation which is characterised by pain. This type of inflammation is very sneaky due to the fact that it doesn’t cause immediate pain or discomfort but in the long term can cause serious health issues. Therefore, having a healthy lifestyle and a diet rich in natural anti-inflammatory products such as Kinkeliba helps a lot in preventing these diseases and having a strong immune system. Scientific studies done both in vitro and in vivo experiments support a potential new application of Combretum Micranthum leaves as an anti-diabetes agent due to its active ingredients. These cutting-edge findings actually place Kinkeliba as a powerful nutraceutical preventing and potentially treating type II diabetes, if further explored. 

Kinkeliba leaves for fighting endemic diseases 

Due to its climate, weather, and sometimes acute poverty levels, the communities in West Africa have been fighting diseases like malaria, fevers, diarrheas, stomatitis, gastritis, contusions (bruise), sprains and many others illness. These diseases have been traditionally healed through different parts of the Combretum micranthum. Below is detailed how different parts of the plant can be used to treat a wide spectrum of illnesses. 

• The roots: are used in fighting constipation, fever, gastritis, trichuriasis (whipworm infection), and indigestion.
• The bark: Is used to heal sprains and contusions (bruise).
• The leaves:  have a cholagogue and diuretic action, fights against microbial agents, heal fever, malaria, and diarrhea, attenuate bronchitis and cough.
• The fruits: are used in the treatment of stomatitis (painful swelling and sores inside the mouth).

Kinkeliba leaves in cosmetic usage

The active ingredients of the plant, mostly stored in the leaves is nowadays used in the cosmetic industry given the fact that it slows the aging process of the skin and protects it from external damage caused by UV exposure or environmental pollution. Some brands use its active ingredients to manufacture cleansers and body lotions. Traditionally, the topical application of the decoction of the leaves on the skin cured various skin diseases such as psoriasis and prevent acne breakdown. The hair-care industry as well benefits from the virtues of the plant. Kinkeliba leaf powder is used as a cleansing mask for the scalp or as an aqueous macerate to strengthen the hair fiber and particularly prevent breakage. Furthermore, the infusion of the leaves can be utilised as rinsing water after shampooing to deeply cleanse the hair. 

Conclusion 

The utilization of plants for food and medicine is an integral part of the African culture. Kinkeliba which actually translates to “health tree” or “infusion for long life” stores amazing health benefits like including but not limited to the ones mentioned in this blog that have to be communicated to the general public in order to promote the valorisation of the African indigenous plants which have been viewed with a lot of skepticism for a long time.  Furthermore, along its virtues, the commercialisation of the Kinkeliba leaves financially support local communities in Senegal and its value chain includes different actors that actively participate in the economic development of the country. Therefore, the Combretum micranthum is a pillar species in the development of the wildlife economy in Senegal and West Africa at large that now needs empowering and effective policies for its conservation. 

Mame Diarra Sarr, AWEI Intern 2022