Combretum indicum (PROTA)

Combretum indicum is native to tropical Asia. There is still doubt whether it is indigenous to East Africa or was introduced there long ago. It is nowadays widely cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropics, mainly as an ornamental plant, and has become naturalized in many localities.

The bitter half-ripe fruits and seeds are widely known as being anthelmintic and are used as such, usually in decoction, particularly to treat ascariasis. In large doses they cause nausea, vomiting, hiccough and even unconsciousness. The seed of the dried ripe fruit is used to reduce vomiting, and roots in decoction are also taken as a vermifuge. Although the seeds are often applied to stop diarrhoea, an oil extracted from the seed has purgative properties. Leaf juice or seeds, macerated in oil, are applied externally to treat boils, ulcers, parasitic skin infections and fever. Various preparations of the plant are applied both externally and internally for pain relief. In the Indian Ocean islands a decoction of the leaves is used to bath children with eczema.

In tropical Asia Combretum indicum is considered an important medicinal plant. In the Philippines the fruits are chewed as a remedy for coughs, and the crushed fruits and seeds are externally applied to alleviate nephritis. In Vietnam a root decoction is taken to treat rheumatism. In Papua New Guinea plants are eaten daily by men and women as a method of birth control.

Combretum indicum is widely cultivated as an ornamental, often planted in hedges or allowed to grow over a support. In West Africa, the long, flexible stems are used for basketry, fish weir and fish traps. Ripe seeds are reported as sweet and pleasant to eat if the seed coat is removed. The flowers are also reported as edible, although they have no flavour, and they can be mixed into salads to add color. In Indonesia, very young shoots are eaten raw or steamed.