Xylopia aethiopica

Xylopia aethiopica  (Annonaceae), commonly called negro pepper, African pepper, Guinea pepper and spice tree, is an ever green aromatic tree growing up to 15-30 m high. It is a native to the low land rain forests and moist fringe forests in the savanna zones and coastal regions of Africa. Folklore medicine claimed it to be useful as abortifacients, ecbolics as well as in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery; stomach disorder, menstrual disorder, naso-pharyngeal infections, arthritis, rheumatism, infections, among others. This present article is a collection of up to date information regarding the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicological studies carried on  Xylopia aethiopica by different researchers (authors).

In the southern and southwestern parts of Nigeria, xylopia aethiopica is much acclaimed to possess nutritional properties for the control of diverse or definite physiological processes and were evaluated and compared based on the folklore methods of the finished medicinal products and practices. Result showed variability and statistically significant differences in the percent composition of the detected bio-active phyto-mineral elements and suggested that the novel hydro-alcoholic formulations, specifically, hydro-methanolic, potentiated the stimulation of the phyto-minerals and ranked: hydro-methanolic (60.8%), > hydro-ethanolic (21.3%), > methanolic (11.81%) > ethanolic (6.15%). Evident in hydro-methanolic formulation, it can be a good source of the following micro-minerals: iron (32.7%), magnesium (10.2%), manganese (8.9%), calcium (7.6%), potassium (0.69%), zinc (0.36%), sodium (0.28%), phosphorus (0.08%) and lead (0.001%). The percent proximate composition ranged: carbohydrate 72.6 to 77.7, protein 12 to 14.7, fiber 2.99 to 6.0, ash value 2.5 to 3.9, lipid/fat 1.47 to 2.3, and moisture content 0.98 to 1.96. While the anti-nutrients detected were: tannin 87%, oxalate 12.03%, hydrogen cyanide 0.93%, and phytate 0.08%.  The findings of this study provided importantly that xylopia aethiopica can ameliorate natural healing and scientific credence on the rationale of the folklore hydro-alcoholic methods, particularly, hydro-methanolic formulations in processing and dispensing the finished bio-active products from which our understanding of the safety, effectiveness and quality of finished nutritional or medicinal products and practices may emerge.

Preliminary characterization and isolation of phytomedicinal components of dried black fruits of xylopia aethiopica in hydro-methanolic (1:4 v/v), hydro-ethanolic (1:4, v/v), methanolic, ethanolic and aqueous solvents has been compared. Results showed variability and significant differences in phytomedicinal compositions and the potency ranked: hydro-methanolic > hydro-ethanolic > methanolic > ethanolic = aqueous and the percentage difference was 75%, 54%, 45.8%, 29% =29% which perhaps validates the efficacy of the therapeutic potentials of xylopia aethiopica for many of the traditional medicinal applications.  Anthraquinone and combined anthraquinone were exclusively found in hydro-methanolic and methanolic concentrates and accounted for 44.4 % and 33.3 % respectively. Glycosides (-terpene, sterols and deoxy-sugar) accounted for 100% in hydro-alcoholic concentrates respectively. Alkaloids and the phenolic compounds flavonoids and tannins with the exception of saponins which was negligible or absence in the solvents were also the phytomedicinial constituents. Results suggest that the ability of hydro-alcoholic to enhance the isolation of useful constituents might be attributed to the differential solubility of the combined hydrophobic and hydrophilic components of the phytomedicinal bioactive ingredients in the solvent which, is still subject to further studies. Hydro-alcoholic, specifically hydro-methanolic, therefore is recommended for isolation and characterization of economically important medicinal plants of medical interest.