Solanum torvum is a popular plant in Ghana, especially among the Akan communities. It is believed that the plant has special properties of stimulating the production of blood cells and could be helpful in treating anaemia. A survey was carried out in 20 randomly selected communities in the East Akim District in the Eastern Region of Ghana to gather indigenous knowledge on food and medicinal properties of the plant. The respondents indicated that the plant had huge potential in controlling certain diseases, including malaria and cough. They also believed that the plant had certain properties that helped in producing blood cells. Nutritional analysis of the plant showed S. torvum to be a good source of iron, an essential element in haemoglobin production. However, further work needs to be done to verify the acclaimed properties of the plant

Asiedu-Darko, E

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Ghana Jnl agric. Sci.  43, 61-64A survey of indigenous knowledge about food and medicinalproperties of Solanum torvum in East Akim District of EasternRegion of GhanaE.  ASIEDU-DARKOCSIR-Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute, P. O. Box 7, Bunso, GhanaABSTRACTSolanum torvum is a popular plant in Ghana, especially among the Akan communities. It is believedthat the plant has special properties of stimulating the production of blood cells and could be helpfulin treating anaemia. A survey was carried out in 20 randomly selected communities in the East AkimDistrict in the Eastern Region of Ghana to gather indigenous knowledge on food and medicinalproperties of the plant. The respondents indicated that the plant had huge potential in controllingcertain diseases, including malaria and cough. They also believed that the plant had certain propertiesthat helped in producing blood cells. Nutritional analysis of the plant showed S. torvum to be a goodsource of iron, an essential element in haemoglobin production. However, further work needs to bedone to verify the acclaimed properties of the plant.Original scientific paper. Received 22 Oct 09; revised 29 Sep 10.IntroductionSolanum torvum belongs to the family Solanaceae,and it is believed to have originated from Centraland South America, Mexico, Brazil through to Peru(PROTA, 2004). In West and Central Africa, it isgrown as home garden crop. It also occurs in otherregions of Africa. It is cultivated as a small-scalevegetable in southern and eastern Asia, and isespecially popular in Thailand (PROTA, 2004). Itis widespread in the Caribbean (PROTA, 2004).Solanum torvum is known by different namesamong the Akan communities in Ghana. It isknown among the Akyems as “abedru” or “bedru”,the Kwahus as “kantose”, and the Ashantis as“kwahu nsusua”. Although the plant is mostlyconsumed by people in the rural communities, itis gaining importance in the peri-urban and urbancentres of Ghana (Essiedu, 1985). The fruits areaxillary, green, and about 1 cm in diameter; andare eaten either raw or cooked. The bitter fruit isused in soups and sauces, or is chopped togetherwith eggplant fruits or tomatoes.Solanum torvum is also used in traditionalmedicine. Its fruits and leaves can be used tocontrol a wide range of microbial activities(PROTA, 2004). The antimicrobial properties ofthe leaves have been known for some time inCentral America and India, and in Gabon wherepeople apply the leaves to cuts and wounds(PROTA, 2004). In Sierra Leone, the fruit is usedas cough medicine for children; whereas inSenegal, it is used to treat sore throat and stomachache. The glycoalkaloid solasodine that is foundin its leaves and fruits is used in India tomanufacture steroidal sex hormones for oralcontraceptives. In India, the leaves are dried andground to powder and used as medicine fordiabetic patients (PROTA, 2004).The leaf is also used in treating coughs; anda sedative, diuretic, and digestive tonic62 E. Asiedu-Darko  (2010) Ghana Jnl agric. Sci.  43, 61-64(Tackie, 1959).The  roots of S. torvum are used for poulticingcracks in the feet in Malaysia, or as an antitussivein China where the roots are believed to disperseextraverted blood and to relieve pain (PROSEA,1993). The seeds are smoked in Malaysia and usedto cure toothache. Extracts of the plant are usedas an antidote to snakebite and insect stings inIndia, while the leaves and fruits are eaten torelieve stomach pain (PROSEA, 1993). Solanumtorvum is sometimes used as rootstock for tomatoin Brunei to resist bacterial wilt, and for eggplantin Japan and Trinidad (PROSEA, 1993).Solanum torvum is a pantropical weedcommon along the roadside and in waste placesafter soil disturbance. It prefers moist, but nottoo wet places, and occurs up to 1600 m altitude(PROSEA, 1993).Essiedu (1985) analyzed the chemicalcomposition of S. torvum and reported that theplant was rich in protein, fat, crude fibre, and someessential minerals such as iron, calcium, sodium,potassium and phosphorus. It also containedsome carbohydrates, provitamin A (B-carotene)and vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and glycoalkaloidsthat have medicinal functions. However, theglycoalkaloids are considered toxic when theirlevels exceed 2.8 mg kg-1 body weight of solanin.In another experiment, Serfor-Armah, Fletcher& Oppong (2005) determined some essentialelements in the fruits of S. torvum, using neutronactivation analysis. They found that the ironcontent of the plant was about 17 times more thanthe value found in solanum fruits. The highvalues of iron concentration in S. torvum make itunique among other species of eggplant.Serfor-Armah et al. (2005) found that all theelectrolytes that are constituents of blood plasma(including K, Ca, and Mg) were also present in S.torvum in substantial amounts. For every 100 gof S. torvum, the elemental concentrations werepotassium (1290 mg), calcium (1016 mg), andmagnesium (1313.65 mg). They concluded that S.torvum was a good source of iron and could leadto the production of more haemoglobin cells wheneaten regularly. This may lead to improvement inthe quality of blood.Owing to the rapidly emerging importance oftraditional medicine and the claims that S. torvumcan cure many diseases, the study aimed togather indigenous knowledge on medicinal usesof the plant to authenticate the claims anddocument them for posterity.Materials and methodsThe East Akim District of the Eastern Region ofGhana was surveyed in 2007. Twentycommunities were randomly selected from a listof communities in the district. The towns wereAdadientem, Agyapomaa, Akyem Adukrom,Akyem Apapam, Akwadum, Anyinasin, Apedwa,Asafo, Asiakwa, Bunso, Ettukrom, Fisher, Maase,Nobi, Old Tafo, Osiem, Potroase, Kibi,Kukurantumi, and Wirenkyiren Amanfrom (Fig.1).In all  332 people comprising 120 men and 212women, were interviewed using questionnairesadministered by the researcher, because somepeople could not read or write. Questions thatwere asked ranged from name of respondent, age,gender, knowledge of the plant, medicinal andfood properties to mode of cultivation.Results and discussionAll the people interviewed indicated that theyconsumed S. torvum. Asked whether the plantwas cultivated, they responded in the negative.The plant grows wildly and birds are the mainagents of dispersal. The respondents claimed thatbirds, especially common bulbul (Pycnonotusbarbatus) locally known as “apatupre", prefer S.torvum.The information gathered from theinterviewees indicated that various parts of theplant are consumed or used for many food andmedicinal purposes (Table 1). Most (52%)respondents used the fruits. The plant may beused in preparing stews. It can also be used,together with palm fruits, to prepare soup, whichis believed to boost the haemoglobin counts ofIndigenous knowledge about food and medicinal properties of S. torvum 63consumers, confirming the report by Sefor-Armahet al. (2005). In explaining the reason for the boostin haemoglobin counts, Sefor-Armah et al. (2005)indicated that K, Ca and Mg (which areconstituents of blood plasma) were found to bepresent in substantial amounts in S. torvum.The respondents also claimed that the fruits,when used to prepare palm nut soup for pregnantwomen, help enhance the proper development ofthe foetus.TABLE 1Plant Parts Used by RespondentsPlant part used Frequency PercentageFruits 173 52.00Leaves 96 29.00Fruits and leaves 63 19.00Total 332 100.00The medicinal benefits of the plant, according tothe respondents, were enormous. Thirty-onepercent cited cure of malaria from drinking boiledleaves. Table 2 shows that 22 and 21 per cent ofthe respondents used the plant to treat commoncold and cough in children and adults respectively.Water extract from the fresh leaves, when slightlywarmed, is used as syrup for cough or inhaled tocure common cold. The plant is used for variousmedicinal purposes in several countries. Forexample, in Senegal the leaves are used to curesore throat and stomach ache; and in Malaysia,people use the leaves to cure stomach pain(PROSEA, 1993). In India, the leaves are used totreat diabetes (PROTA, 2004).The fresh leaves were reported (4% of therespondents) to be used in treating ring wormdisease (locally known as "kakawirewire"). Theleaves are ground together with Xylopiaethiopica,  locally known as “hwentia", to treatthe disease. Some respondents (2.6%) claimedthat water extracts from the leaves can also beused to cure sinuses, locally referred to as"kokoram’. Some respondents used the leaveso cure two or more diseases (Table 2).Information gathered from Centre for ScientificResearch into Plant Medicine indicated that S.TABLE 2Diseases Respondents Used Plant Parts to TreatType of disease Frequency PercentageMalaria 103 31.00Common cold 73 22.00Cough 70 21.00Ringworm 13 4.00Sinuses 7 2.00Malaria and common cold 43 13.00Malaria and cough I 0 3.00Common cold and cough I 0 3.00Malaria, common cold and cough3 1.00Total 332 100.00torvum is a useful medicinal plant that isrecommended in managing malnutrition andanemia in children. It added that the fruits, whenconsumed by pregnant women, help in the properdevelopment of the foetus; also, adults can usethe plant as a health tonic. The source confirmedfurther that no negative effects had so far beenassociated yet with the use of the plant, and asuch it was safe (Edwin O. Lartey, personalcommunication).It seems the medicinal properties andnutritional value of S. torvum are well knownamong the respondents, and as a result it is usedas the first line of treatment against some commondiseases.Essiedu (1985) investigated the chemicalcomposition of S. torvum and reported that theplant contains a lot of iron, which enhanceserythropoieses (red blood cell formation) orvitamin B complex. The plant’s nutritional valueand medicinal uses to improve on haemoglobinl vel was also confirmed by a source at theDistrict Health Directorate (Ms Jennifer Ampem,64 E. Asiedu-Darko  (2010) Ghana Jnl agric. Sci.  43, 61-64personal communication).Solanum torvum plays an important role in thelives of the communities visited. According tothe respondents, the plant forms an integral partof their diet and it is used in all the stews andsoups. The respondents claimed that the planthad gained popularity in recent times becauseurban dwellers who visited the communitiespatronized the plant.Another important observation is that the plantwas seen growing in almost all the homes thatwere visited in the community, indicating that theycherish the plant.ConclusionThe study indicated a huge potential for theadoption of the crop. Therefore, more research  isrecommended on the plant, especially on themedicinal aspects, to find out the authenticity ofsome claims associated with the plant. The plantshould be domesticated and integrated into thefarming systems to conserve the species.REFERENCESEssiedu, E. K. O. (1985) Chemical composition ofTetrapleura tetraptera and Solanum torvum. A BScResearch Project Report submitted to Departmentof Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana,Legon.PROSEA (1993) Plant resources of South-East Asia.8. Vegetables. Prosea Foundation, Bogor Indonesia!Pudoc Scientific Publishers, Wageningen,Netherlands. pp. 258-259.PROTA (2004) Plant resources of tropical Africa. 2.Vegetables. Prota Foundation, Wageningen,Netherlands/Backhuys Publishers. Leiden.Netheriands/CTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. pp.501-503.Tackie, A. N. (1959) Solanum torvum. West AfricaPharmacist. In Herbs of Ghana (ed. O. B. Dokosi).Ghana Universities Press, Accra.Sefor-Armah, Y., Fletcher, J. J. & Oppong, F. K.(2005) Determination of some essential elementsin Solanum torvum using neutron activationanalysis. Journal of Ghana Science Association7(2), 77-82.

A survey of indigenous knowledge about food and medicinal properties of Solanum torvum in East Akim District of Eastern Region of Ghana

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A survey of indigenous knowledge about food and medicinal properties of Solanum torvum in East Akim District of Eastern Region of Ghana

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