Steinmetz:Adansonia

Adansonia digitata

Also known as (or relevant to) Adansonia digitata Family Bombacaceae English Names Boabab tree Monkey Bread tree Sour Gourd tree Cream-of-tartar tree Lemonade tree Natural Habitat Senegal tropical countries (including India) Part(s) Used Cortex Cael cedra Folia Fructus

Constituent(s) pulp of fruit: free tartaric acid phlobaphene gum mucilage potassium bitartrate salts glucose: leaf: wax glucose gum albuminoids sodium chloride tannin potassium acid tartrate salts; bark: tannin gum wax albuminoids potash adansonin (glucoside antagonistic to strophantin) Action The fruit is used in making a pleasant acidulous drink in fever and is also employed in dysentery. Leaf: diaphoretic astringent febrifuge; bark; febrifuge used as a substitute for cinchona bark