Kola healing

Researchers Affirm Efficacy of Bitter Kola in
Respiratory Diseases
Used as folklore remedies for the treatment of
ailments such as liver disorders, hepatitis,
diarrhoea, laryngitis, bronchitis and gonorrhoea,
BEN UKWUOMA writes on the promising use of
Bitter kola in the management of respiratory
problems.
NIGERIAN researchers have described as
promising the use of Bitter kola in the
management of respiratory problems, particularly
asthma, raising hopes of a possible formulation
of the extracts or active constituents as
medicines.
Though there are various orthodox drugs for the
treatment of respiratory tract diseases in the
country, the search for cost effective local herbal
remedies have always excited researchers.
In fact, the seeds of Bitter kola also called
Garcinia kola (GK) which forms a major part of
the herbal preparation used in traditional African
medicine practice for the treatment of various
respiratory tract diseases, including asthma have
attracted scientific scrutiny in the last decade.
In a report published recently in The Internet
Journal of Pulmonary Medicine. 2009:Volume 11
Number 1, the researchers: A.K. Okojie ,I.
Ebomoyi,C.N. Ekhator,O. Emeri,J. Okosun, G.
Onyesu, O. Uhuonrenren, and J. Atima from the
Department of Physiology, University of Benin
and Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma,in a holistic
review decided to find out the physiological
mechanism(s) underlying the use of GK for the
treatment of asthma. Specifically they were
interested in finding out the function(s) of its
phytochemical contents and how they are
beneficial in the treatment of asthma.
At the end, they said:"Garcinia kola appears to
be very promising in the treatment and
management of asthma, Our review showed that
xanthone and flavonoid, which are its major
phytochemical contents inhibit calcium influx and
histamine release stimulated by IgE dependent
ligands respectively."
Used in folklore remedies for the treatment of
ailment such as liver disorders, hepatitis,
diarrhea, laryngitis, bronchitis and gonorrhoea,
Garcinia kola belongs to the family Guittiferae
and it is commonly called Orogbo in Yoruba
language and Aki ilu in Igbo while the English
name is bitter kola. Although valued because of
its edible nut, the plant exhibits very potent
pharmacological activities such as antioxidant,
antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-
inflammatory properties. The anti-oxidant
property of GK is attributed to its very high
content of ascorbic acid.
Phytochemistry of Gk has shown its content to
include benxophenones, xanthones, biflavonoids,
alkaloids, phenols, tannins and saponins.
It is usually found in the tropical rain forest
region of West Africa. It prevails as a multi-
purpose tree crop in the home gardens of
southern Nigeria. It grows to a height of about
12 - 14m and produces reddish, yellowish or
orange coloured fruit. Each fruit contains 2 to 4
yellow seeds and a sour tasting pulp. The seeds
when chewed have a bitter astringent taste. The
flowering of the plant occurs between December
and January while the fruits mature between June
and August.