Traditional oil palm (Elaeis guineensis jacq.) and its medicinal uses: A review

Abstract

The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) has been reported to originate along the gulf of the guinea in West Africa. The various parts of the tree have been used locally and traditionally for various medicinal purposes. Some of these uses have been proved by scientific experiments. Palm oil is extracted from the mesocarp of the fruit and is used traditionally for the treatment of headaches, pains, rheumatism, cardiovascular diseases, arterial thrombosis and an atherosclerosis due to its rich phytonutrients. The leaves are also used for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases and wound healing. The sap also has been found to be rich in phytonutrients that can be used to treat various diseases. This review therefore seeks to explore many of the uses of the oil palm using the various parts of the oil palm.

Indigenous Traditional Knowledge on Health and Equitable Benefits of Oil Palm (Elaeis spp.)

“…In traditional African medicine, different parts of the plant are used as laxative, diuretic and as a poison antidote [42]. Products from oil palm are antidotes [33].…”

“…E. guineensis is the main ingredient in the recipes for the treatment of female infertility in South-western Nigeria [51]. Products from oil palm are used in the treatment of many ailments especially gastrointestinal disorders and poisons in many parts of Nigeria [33]. E. guineensis is used for control of malaria [52].…”

“…Earlier reviews on African palm ethno-medicine [30] and on ritual uses of palms in traditional medicine [32] covered some aspects of traditional medicinal uses of palms in general, including E. guineensis. Earlier other reviews on diet and health aspects [20] and on medicinal uses [33] were limited to some aspects of traditional medicinal uses of E. guineensis. In addition, a review of the health benefits of the leaf extracts of E. guineensis has been provided extensively [34].…”

Adsorption and Desorption Properties of Total Flavonoids from Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) Mature Leaf on Macroporous Adsorption Resins

“…Oil palm cultivation produces a huge amount of waste material in the form of oil palm trunks, fronds, and leaves. These waste materials, especially oil palm leaves (OPL), contain phytochemicals that could be useful for various applications such as medicines for treating wounds, cancer, and cardiovascular and kidney diseases [4]. OPL extract was Molecules 2020, 25 The pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and particle diffusion kinetics models were analyzed to elucidate the adsorption behaviors and mechanism of the selected MARs.…”

Activité anti-inflammatoire de l'extrait aqueux des feuilles de <i>Elaeis guineensis</i> Jacq. (ARECACEAE) sur l'oedème aigu de la patte de rat induit par la carraghènine

“…est utilisée en médecine traditionnelle africaine dans la prise en charge de courbatures et dans les douleurs rhumatismales (Pousset, 2004). D'autres auteurs ont également mis en évidence les activités antioxydante et antibactérienne (Yin et al, 2013), antidiabétique (Rosalina et al, 2011), antihypertensive (Ndiaye et al, 2010), anticancéreuse et anti-inflammatoire (Gruca et al, 2014 ;Owoyele et Owolabi, 2014) Les feuilles ont été séchées dans le laboratoire à la température ambiante (25 °C environ) pendant 3 semaines. Les feuilles séchées ont ensuite été pulvérisées, donnant une poudre avec laquelle l'extrait aqueux a été préparé.…”