Baobab
OTHER NAME(S): Abebrødstræ, Adansonia, Adansonie d'Afrique, Affenbrotbaum, African Baobab, Afrikaanse Kremetart, Afrikanischer Baobab, Albero Bottiglia, Albero di Mille Anni, Apebroodboom, Apenbroodboom, Arbre à Palabre, Arbre Bouteille, Arbre de Mille Ans, Bao Báp Châu Phi, Baob, Baoba, Baobab Africain, Baobaba, Baobabu, Baobab Afrykanski, Baobab Agaci, Baobab del África, Baobab Africain, Baobab Africano, Baobab de Mahajanga, Baobab de Mozambique, Baobab Fruit, Baobab Milk, Baobab of Mahajanga, Baobab Prstnatý, Baobab Seed, Baobab Seed Oil, Baobab Tree, Baobab Wlasciwy, Baobab Yemisi, Baovola, Boab, Boaboa, Boringy, Bottle Tree, Bawbab, Boy, Bozobe, Calebassier du Sénégal, Cream-Tartar Tree, Dead Rat Tree, Dton Baobab, Ethiopian Sour Bread, Fruit de Baobab, Graine de Baobab, Gros Mapou, Harilik Ahvileivapuu, Hou Mian Bao Shu, Huile de Graines de Baobab, Igi Ose, Imbondeiro, Judas Fruit, Judas Fruit Trees, Kremetart, Kuka, Kremetartboom, Lait de Baobab, Maymun Ekmegi Agaci, Mboio, Mboy, Monkey Bread Tree, Noce d'Egitto, Pain de Singe, Rainiala, Reniala, Ringy, Sefo, Shagar El Bawbab, Shagar Khubz El Qurud, Sour Gourd, Upside-Down Tree, Vanoa, Vontana, Adansonia digitata, Adansonia baobab, Adansonia bahoba, Adansonia situla, Adansonia somalensis, Adansonsia sphaerocarpa, Adansonia sulcata
Overview
Baobab (Adansonia digitata) is a tree native to Africa, Madagascar, Australia, and the Arabian Peninsula. It's commonly used as a source of water and food.
The wood of the baobab tree trunk has a water content of up to 79%. The fruit and leaves are rich in many nutrients and are used as food.
As medicine, people use baobab for diabetes, eczema, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Uses
We currently have no information for Baobab overview.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Baobab is commonly consumed as a food. There isn't enough reliable information to know if baobab is safe to use as a medicine or what the side effects might be.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Baobab is commonly consumed as a food. There isn't enough reliable information to know if baobab is safe to use as a medicine or what the side effects might be.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if baobab is safe to use as medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Baobab overview.
Dosing
Baobab is commonly consumed as food. As medicine, there isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of baobab might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
References
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- Anani K, Hudson JB, de Souza C, et al. Investigation of medicinal plants of Togo for antiviral and antimicrobial activities. Pharm Biol 2000;38:40-5.
- Hudson JB, Anani K, Lee MK, et al. Further investigations on the antiviral activities of medicinal plants of Togo. Pharm Biol 2000;38:46-50.
- Osman MA. Chemical and nutrient analysis of baobab (Adansonia digitata) fruit and seed protein solubility. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 2004;59:29-33.
- Chapotin SM, Razanameharizaka JH, Holbrook NM. Baobab trees (Adansonia) in Madagascar use stored water to flush new leaves but not to support stomatal opening before the rainy season. New Phytol 2006;169:549-59.
- Chapotin SM, Razanameharizaka JH, Holbrook NM. A biomechanical perspective on the role of large stem volume and high water content in baobab trees (Adansonia spp.; Bombacaceae). Am J Bot 2006;93:1251-64.
- Chapotin SM, Razanameharizaka JH, Holbrook NM. Water relations of baobab trees (Adansonia spp. L.) during the rainy season: does stem water buffer daily water deficits? Plant Cell Environ 2006;29:1021-32.
- Chadare FJ, Linnemann AR, Hounhouigan JD, et al. Baobab food products: a review on their composition and nutritional value. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2009;49:254-74.
- Mulaudzi RB, Ndhlala AR, Kulkarni MG, et al. Antimicrobial properties and phenolic contents of medicinal plants used by the Venda people for conditions related to venereal diseases. J Ethnopharmacol 2011;135:330-7.
- Agency response letter GRAS notice No. GRN 000273. US Food and Drug Administration, July 25, 2009. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/GenerallyRecognizedasSafe GRAS/GRASListings/ucm174945.htm (Accessed 29 July 2011).
- Krishnappa K, Elumalai K, Dhanasekaran S, Gokulakrishnan J. Larvicidal and repellent properties of Adansonia digitata against medically important human malarial vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae). J Vector Borne Dis 2012;49:86-90.
- Martini M, Mistrello G, Amato S, et al. Anaphylaxis to baobab fruit: the paradox of "natural healthy food". Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol 2019;51(6):282-4. doi: 10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.91.
- Ebaid H, Bashandy SAE, Alhazza IM, Hassan I, Al-Tamimi J. Efficacy of a methanolic extract of Adansonia digitata leaf in alleviating hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and oxidative stress of diabetic rats. Biomed Res Int 2019;2019:2835152. doi: 10.1155/2019/2835152. eCollection 2019.
- Owoyele BV, Bakare AO. Analgesic properties of aqueous bark extract of Adansonia digitata in Wistar rats. Biomed Pharmacother 2018;97:209-12. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.10.079.
- Ntchapda F, Bonabe C, Atsamo AD, et al. Effect of aqueous extract of Adansonia digitata stem bark on the development of hypertension in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rat model. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2020;2020:3678469.
- Evang EC, Habte TY, Owino WO, Krawinkel MB. Can the supplementary consumption of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) fruit pulp improve the hemoglobin levels and iron status of schoolchildren in Kenya? Findings of a randomized controlled intervention trial. Eur J Nutr 2021;60(5):2617-2629.
- Affonfere M, Chadare FJ, Fassinou FTK, Talsma EF, Linnemann AR, Azokpota P. A complementary food supplement from local food ingredients to enhance iron intake among children aged 6-59 months in Benin. Food Sci Nutr 2021;9(7):3824-3835.
- Keramati M, Kheirouri S, Musazadeh V, Alizadeh M. Association of high dietary acid load with the risk of cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Front Nutr. 2022;9:816797.
- Rita K, Bernardo MA, Silva ML, et al. Adansonia digitata L. (baobab fruit) effect on postprandial glycemia in healthy adults: a randomized controlled trial. Nutrients. 2022 Jan 17;14(2):398.