How African Locust Bean Boosts Immunity, Protects Against Snake Bites.

African locust bean popularly used in
seasoning traditional soups has shown
promise in boosting cellular immunity in
immune-compromised persons, as well as,
in management of diarhhoea, diabetes,
and heart attack. It could also serve as
antidote to snake bites.
THEY are used for local seasoning of soups,
from bitter-leaf soup (Onugbu in Ibo) to
palm fruit soup (Ofe akwu in Ibo). They
come with sometimes, offensive odour, but
make delicious meals.
Indeed, the fermented seeds of Parkia
biglobosa and Parkia bicolor are used in all
parts of Nigeria and the West Coast of Africa
for seasoning traditional soups. They
belong to the plant family Mimosaceae of
the order Leguminisae.
P. biglobosa popularly known as the African
locust bean tree is known in Yoruba as Igba,
or Irugba, in Hausa as Dorowa, Nune in Tiv,
and in lbo as Ogili. In Yoruba, P. bicolor is
referred to as Igba odo, Dorowa, in Hausa,
and in lbo as Ogili okpi.
According to a study published in Plant
Biology 2010, “the seed of African locust
bean when boiled and fermented is known
as dawadawa in Hausa language in Nigeria,
a black strong smelling tasty seasoning, rich
in lipid 29 per cent, protein 35 per cent,
carbohydrate 16 per cent, good source of
protein, fat and calcium for rural dweller.
“The bark is used as a mouthwash, vapour
inhalant for toothache, or for ear
complaints. It is macerated in baths for
leprosy and used for bronchitis, pneumonia,
skin infections, sores, ulcers, washes for
fever, malaria, diarrhoea, and sterility. Roots
are used in a lotion for sore eyes. ”
According to The Useful Plants of West
Tropical Africa by H. M. Burkill, “the
pulverised bark of P. bicolor is employed in
wound healing. P. biglobosa is known to
provide an ingredient that is used in
treating leprosy, and for treating
hypertension.
“In Gambia, the leaves and roots are used in
preparing a lotion for sore eyes. A
decoction of the bark of P. biglobosa is also
used as a bath for fever, as a hot
mouthwash to steam and relieve
toothache. The pulped bark is used along
with lemon for wound and ulcers. ”
But results of a recent study suggest that
the aqueous extract of leaves of Parkia
biglobosa stimulate the production of total
lymphocytes (white blood cells) and TCD4+
(a marker of the immune system).
The study published in Agriculture and
Biology Journal of North America is titled
“ Effects of aqueous extract of leaves of
Parkia biglobosa on markers of cellular
immunity in rabbit. ”
The studies of the aqueous extract of leaves
of Parkia biglobosa by Ivorien researchers
showed that doses of 25, 50, 75 and
100mg/kg of BW induced a significant
increase both in the count of total
lymphocytes count and TCD4+ count of
rabbits.
The researchers concluded, “the aqueous
extract of Parkia biglobosa leaves induced
an increase in both the count of total
lymphocytes and TCD4+ in blood. Thus,
doses of 75 and 100mg/kg Body Weight
(BW) mobilising more of total lymphocytes
and TCD4+ in peripheral blood, and over a
period of six days. To this end, the leaves of
this plant contain immunostimulatory
activity molecule.
“This assertion is supported by the increase
in the immunosuppressive activity of
Methylprednisolone by the aqueous extract
of leaves of Parkia biglobosa and the
isoprinosine. This leads us to suggest that
the aqueous extract of leaves of Parkia
biglobosa would have the same mode of
action than isoprinosine. Therefore, it could
help strengthen the immune system of
immuno-suppressed. ”
Methylprednisolone (Medrol) is in a class of
drugs called steroids. It prevents the release
of substances in the body that cause
inflammation. Methylprednisolone is used to
treat many different conditions such as
allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative
colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, or
breathing disorders.
Isoprinosine (Ip) is a prescription drug
posited to have immune modulating and
anti-viral properties.
Also, results of another study published in
the Journal of Ethnopharmacology revealed
that the aqueous methanol extracts of all
the five medicinal plants, including Parkia
biglobosa, investigated have
pharmacological activity against diarrhoea.
This may explain their use in traditional
medicine for the treatment of diarrhoea.
The study titled: “Evaluation of five
medicinal plants used in diarrhoea
treatment in Nigeria, ” was carried out by
researchers at Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria, Kaduna State.
Also, the results of a study published in
Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and
Physiology demonstrated that both
aqueous and methanolic extracts of
fermented seeds of Parkia biglobosa (PB)
exert a hypoglycaemic (reduces blood
glucose) effect, hence, PB has an anti-
diabetic property. However, only the
aqueous extract of PB ameliorated the loss
of bodyweight usually associated with
diabetes.
The researchers from the Department of
Biochemistry, College of Medicine,
University of Ibadan, wrote: “Although the
aqueous extract has a favourable lipid
profile, which is probably an indication of
its possible anti-arteriogenic property
(hypertension and ischaemic heart diseases
being common complications in diabetes
mellitus), the methanolic extract shows
possible contraindication to ischaemic heart
diseases. ”
Another research published in the Journal of
Ethnopharmacology found that
procyanidin-rich fractions from Parkia
biglobosa leaves caused a reduction in
blood pressure.
Also, researchers at the Department of
Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State,
have demonstrated the anti-snake venom
activities of Parkia biglobosa stem bark
extract.
The researchers wrote in the study
published in Toxicology: “We have studied
the ability of one such traditionally used
plant to reduce the effects of two snake
venoms (Naja nigricollis, and Echis ocellatus)
in several experimental models. A water-
methanol extract of P. biglobosa stem bark
significantly protected the chick biventer
cervicis (cbc) muscle preparation from N.
nigricollis venom-induced inhibition of
neurally evoked twitches when it was
added to the bath three to five minutes
before or after the venom.
“P. biglobosa extract (75, 150 and 300
microg/ml) significantly protected C2C12
murine muscle cells in culture against the
cytotoxic effects of N. nigricollis and E.
ocellatus venoms. The extract protected egg
embryos exposed to lethal concentrations
of E. ocellatus venom for more than 12
hours and completely blocked the
haemorrhagic activity of the venom at
concentrations of 5 and 10 microg/1.5
microl. ”
“ P. biglobosa extract (400 mg/kg) did not
protect mice injected i.p. with 5 and 2.5 mg/
kg of E. ocellatus and N. nigricollis venoms,
respectively. It, however, protected 40 per
cent of the mice from death caused by E.
ocellatus venom after the extract and
venom were pre-incubated for 30 min
before injecting the mixture.”