SOME EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF Vernonia amygdalina Delile (BITTER LEAF)

Abstract

Current trends in lifestyle management call for effective utilization of natural products. Vernonia amygdalina is one of the vegetables consumed by Equatorial Africans in its natural state, particularly the leaves. It has been found to be of immense nutritional and medicinal significance. V. amygdalina is ecologically adapted to African countries within the equator. It is traditionally used in making fence around human settlements and locally consumed as a delicacy. However, since time immemorial, the medicinal properties of V. amygdalina were discovered and continually being tapped and utilized. V. amygdalina is found to be effective against common ailments like snakebite, insect sting treatment, dyspepsia, influenza, dysentery, malaria, respiratory infections, fever, colic pain, loss of appetite, irregular stools, diarrhea, cough, hepatitis, tuberculosis, mouth ulcers, bronchitis, gastro-intestinal disorder, sores, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, malaria, urinary tract infection and febrifuge. It also serves as a tonic, stomachic and antihelmintic. It is therefore recommended that we should be cultivating and effectively utilizing V. amygdalina around our homes and farms because of its numerous nutritional and medicinal advantages so as to boost our health and reduce the cost of purchasing synthetic drugs.