Mulono (whitei modia )is a versatile plant with many uses which are either documented or passed down to subsequent generations by word of mouth.
Across various ethnic groups in Africa, M. whitei is known as a mild laxative, to ease abdominal pains, alleviate nausea as well as for the treatment of fever, bilharzia and sexual dysfunction (Crouch et al., 1998a). Besides ancient documentation of the uses of M. whitei (Gelfand et al., 1985, Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962), more recent ethno-botanical surveys continually cite the local use of the species. A rootdecoction of M. whitei is documented to; induce labour in Uganda (Ssegawa and Kasenene, 2007), fight malaria infection in Benin and Nigeria (Hermans et al., 2004, Odugbemi et al., 2007), eradicate worm infestation (anthelmintics) in Nigeria (Idu et al., 2010) and cure male infertility in Cameroon (Focho et al., 2009). In Kenya, a survey showed that M. whitei is practically used for many problems, for example; ringworms, skin diseases, stomach worms, heart diseases and asthma (McGeoch, 2004). In addition, the species is used by unspecified groups in South Africa to treat stress and tension in adults (Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000). Stafford et al. (2008) highlighted that South Africans use M. whitei to stimulate appetite, as an aphrodisiac, and for treatment of fits in children.
Across various ethnic groups in Africa, M. whitei is known as a mild laxative, to ease abdominal pains, alleviate nausea as well as for the treatment of fever, bilharzia and sexual dysfunction (Crouch et al., 1998a). Besides ancient documentation of the uses of M. whitei (Gelfand et al., 1985, Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962), more recent ethno-botanical surveys continually cite the local use of the species. A rootdecoction of M. whitei is documented to; induce labour in Uganda (Ssegawa and Kasenene, 2007), fight malaria infection in Benin and Nigeria (Hermans et al., 2004, Odugbemi et al., 2007), eradicate worm infestation (anthelmintics) in Nigeria (Idu et al., 2010) and cure male infertility in Cameroon (Focho et al., 2009). In Kenya, a survey showed that M. whitei is practically used for many problems, for example; ringworms, skin diseases, stomach worms, heart diseases and asthma (McGeoch, 2004). In addition, the species is used by unspecified groups in South Africa to treat stress and tension in adults (Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000). Stafford et al. (2008) highlighted that South Africans use M. whitei to stimulate appetite, as an aphrodisiac, and for treatment of fits in children.
A number of scientific studies involving the use of different solvent extracts of M. whitei parts have been performed by various workers. These include biological assays investigating the aphrodisiac, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tyrosinase and antioxidant activities (Table 1). Most of the assays attempt to investigate the efficacy of the plant extracts against major health problems encountered by humans. M. whitei extracts have shown great potential in most of the biological activities investigated thus validating most of its traditional uses since ancient times. Particularly, the investigation for aphrodisiac efficacy of M. whitei roots, yielded positive results (Lampiao, 2009, Martey and He, 2010). Some aldehydes are cytotoxic against certain types of cancer in vitro. As this may be due to inhibition of tyrosinase, it was decided to investigate M. whitei for possible anticancer activity against various cell lines (Kintzios and Barberaki, 2004). The efficacy of M. whiteiextracts against mental, neurological or behavioural problems via in vivoand in vitro systems has also received intense investigation by our group (RCPGD) in collaboration with the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Recently, a monoterpene lactone (−)-loliolide (4) which was responsible for in vitro serotonin transporter(SERT) affinity was isolated (Neergaard et al., 2010). Owing to the unique nature of the isolated compound (4), further studies to elucidate the SERT inhibition mechanism as well as the in vivo efficacy are on-going.
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