Edible Parts: Leaves  Shoots
Edible Uses: Condiment

Young leafy shoots - cooked[299 , 301 ]. Eaten as a potherb or added to soups[301 ]. The leaves often have an intensely bitter flavour, but forms exist that are nearly free of bitterness[301 ]. The plant should be harvested by trimming off the ends of whole shoots[299 ]. This encourages new growth whereas simply removing leaves can slow down growth[299 ].

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antidiarrhoeal  Bitter  Dysentery  Febrifuge  Infertility  Laxative  Malaria  Mouthwash  
Parasiticide  Stomachic  Tonic

Bitterleaf is commonly used in traditional medicine in Africa. Leaf decoctions are used to treat fever, malaria, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis and cough, as a laxative and as a fertility inducer[299 ]. They are also used as a medicine for scabies, headache and stomach-ache. Leaves are placed on a wound as a substitute for iodine[299 ]. The bitterness in the leaves is caused by sesquiterpene lactones and steroid glucosides. Some of these compounds have significant antiparasitic activity, especially vernodalin and vernonioside B1. Vernolepin showed platelet anti-aggregating properties. Vernodalin and vernomygdin have cytotoxic activity[299 ]. Young twigs are chewed as a stomachic tonic and appetite stimulant[301 ]. One of the most common medicinal uses of Vernonia amygdalina is as a treatment against intestinal worms including nematodes[299 ]. Not only humans but also chimpanzees ingest the bitter pith of Vernonia amygdalina for the control of intestinal nematode infections[299 ]. Root extracts are used as treatment against malaria and gastrointestinal disorders[299 ]. In Zimbabwe a root infusion is used to treat sexually transmitted diseases[299 ]. Bark infusions are also taken to treat fever and diarrhoea, dried flowers against stomach disorders[299 ]

Charcoal  Fencing  Fuel  Hedge  Parasiticide  Plant breeding  Soil stabilization  Teeth  Wood

Agroforestry Uses: The plant is sometimes grown as a hedge[299 ]. The branches are termite resistant and are used as stakes to line out fields and as a live fence[299 , 418 ]. The tree is sometimes planted to prevent soil erosion[418 ]. Other Uses: Bitterleaf is useful as a control agent against diseases in plants[299 ]. The ash from burnt branches is used to control seed-borne fungi, thus ameliorating seed viability and germination capacity[299 ]. Young twigs are used as toothpicks or chewing sticks[299 ]. They have been shown to contain substances that have a marked activity against bacteria that cause gum diseases[299 ]. They also act to stimulate the appetite[418 ]. The wood is used for timber[418 ]. The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[303 , 418 ]. Dry stems and branches provide fuel[299 ].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Hedge