Girdlepod

Mitracarpus scaber

Other Names : Mitracarpus scaber, Ogwungwo, Obuobwa, Gududal, Irawo lle
Mitracarpus scaber is a very common weed of cultivated or fallowed land. It is a perennial herb of 30 cm tall.

health Benefits and Uses of Girdlepod

• Leaves of M. scaber have been widely used in traditional medicine in West Africa for the treatment of headaches, toothaches, amenorrhea, dyspepsia, hepatic diseases, skin infections, veneral diseases, as well as leprosy.
• Leaf extracts of M. scaber have shown antimicrobial, antifungal, antitrypanosomal, hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects
• Used to treat skin infections such as infected wounds, dermatosis, eczema, mycosis, ringworms and scabies.
• Popular in traditional medicine practices in West Africa for the treatment of headaches, toothaches, amenorrhoea, hepatic diseases and venereal diseases.

References

• Bisignano G, Sanogo R, Marino A, Aquino R, D’Angelo V, Germanò MP, De Pasquale R, Pizza C. Antimicrobial activity of Mitracarpus scaber extract and isolated constituents. Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 2000; 30:105-108.
• Sanogo R, Germanò MP, de Pasquale R, Keita A, Bisignano G. Selective antimicrobial activities of Mitracarpus scaber Zucc. Against Candida and Staphylococcus sp. Phytomedicine 1996; 2(3):265-268.
• Abere TA, Onwukaeme DN, Eboka CJ. Pharmacognistic evaluation of the leaves of Mitracarpus scaber Zucc (Rubiaceae). Trop. J. Pharmaceut. Res. 2007; 6(4):849-853.
• Nok AJ. Azaanthraquinone inhibits respiration and in vitro growth of long slender bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma congolense. Cell Biochem.Funct. 2002; 20:205-212.
• Germanò MP, Sanogo R, Costa C, Fulco R, D’Angelo V, Torre EA, Viscomi MG, De Pasquale R. Hepatoprotective properties in the rat of Mitracarpus scaber (Rubiaceae). J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 1999; 51:729-734.
• Ekpendu TO, Akah PA, Adesomoju AA, Okogun JI. Antiinflammatory and antimicrobial activities of Mitracarpus scaber extracts. Pharmaceut. Biol. 1994; 32(2):191-196