| Botany
Erect, deciduous tree,
growing to a height of 15 meters. Trunk is cylindric, usually bearing
scattered, large spines. Branches are in distant whorls, spreading horizontally.
Leaves are compound, with 5 to 8 leaflets, lanceolate, 6-15 cm long,
pointed at both ends. Flowers are numerous, whitish, about 3 cm long.
Capsules are pendulous, oblong, about 15 cm long, 5 cm thick, containing
numerous black seeds embedded in fine silky hairs.
Distribution
Planted in settled areas.
Parts utilized
Bark, roots, leaves.
Chemical constituents
and characteristics
Young leaves is a source
of calcium and iron.
Seeds contain oil, 24.2%; ash, 5.22%; crude fiber, 23.9 %; albuminoids,,
18.9%; carbos and others, 15.9%.
The oil is a mixture of fatty acid, 70% liquid, 30% solid palmitic acid.
Kapok oil has a composition similar to American cotton-seed oil.
Roots are diuretic, aphrodisiac, antipyretic, tonic.
Bark is acrid, bitter, thermogenic, diuretic, emetic, febrifuge, purgative
and tonic.
Uses
Nutrition
Young leaves eaten as
vegetable.
Sprouts and young pods are also edible.
Folkloric
Bark is reported to be
vomitive and aphrodisiac.
Decoction of bark used for catarrh.
Decoction of roots used for dysentery, ascites, anasarca.
The gum, with milk, is a laxative for children.
Infusion of bark used as mouthwash.
Infusion of leaves, onions, and a little tumeric, used for coughs.
In India, roots used for gonorrhea, dysuria,
fevers.
Bark used for liver and spleen conditions, abdominal complaints, flatulence,
constipation.
Leaves used as emollinet. Decoction of flowers is laxative.
In Nigerian folk medicine, used for treatment
of diabetes and infections.
In India and Malaya, used for bowel complaints.
In West Africa, used for diarrhea.
Others
Pod fibers are used in
the stuffing of pillows, cushions, mattresses and the manufacture and
life-preservers.
Kapok oil, extracted from the seeds. used in the manufacture of soap;
also, a substitute for cotton-seed oil.
Tree is used for fencing and poles.
Study showed the C. pentandra fiber may be useful in recovering
oil spilled in seawater.
STUDIES
• Hypoglycemic:
(1) A study of aqueous bark extract of Ceiba pentandra
in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats caused a statistically
significant reduction of plasma glucose supporting the hypoglycemic
effects of C pentandra. (2) Hypoglycaemic effect of methylene chloride/methanol
root extract of Ceiba pentandra in normal and diabetic rats. (3) Study showed CP possesses antidiabetic activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats, with an effect more prominent than glibenclamide.
• A New Isoflavone Glycoside from Ceiba
pentandra (L.): A bark extract study of C. pentandra isolated
a new isoflavone with other known isoflavones, vavain and vavain glucoside.
• Two New Isoflavones from Ceiba pentandra and Their Effect on
Cyclooxygenase-Catalyzed Prostaglandin Biosynthesis
• Toxicological Studies: Toxicological studies reveal that C pentandra has a very low toxicity profile in all tested animals and is relatively safe for herbal oral medication.
• Anti-Fungal: Alcohol and water extracts of C citratus, C pentandar and L bengwelensis were investated for antifungal activities. Phytochemical studies yielded saponins, tannins, fats and oils, alkaloids and phenol. All the extracts inhibited the growth of test organisms: E flocosum, M canis, T rubrum and Candida albicans. The activity was attributed to the presence of saponins and phenols.
• Adsorbent: Study investigated the ability of low-cost activated carbon from C pentandra hulls, an agricultural waste material, for the removal of zinc and lead from aqueous solutions.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Cultivated for ornamental use. |
