Table 2 Medicinal and toxic plants described in Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium (1705) by Maria Sibylla Merian
Family and species | Illustration | Original vernacular namea | Part | Originb | Traditional use | Pharmacological evidencec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANACARDIACEAE Anacardium occidentale L. | 16 | Caschou Boom, Caschou Appels [cashew] | Fruit (nut) | South America and Caribbean | Good as a vermifuge | |
CUCURBITACEAE Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai | 15 | Water Meloenen [watermelon] | Fruit | North Africa and Oriental Africa | Useful for recovery from sickness | Source of vitamins and minerals [139]; antidiarrheal activity [140]; diuretic and antiurolithic activities [141]; anti-inflammatory activity [142]; increases recovery in cases of fatigue, malnutrition and indigestion [143] |
EUPHORBIACEAE Jatropha gossypiifolia L. | 38 | Not mentioned [bellyache bush] | Leaf | South and Central America and Caribbean | Purgative; decoction of its leaves is used to treat Beljack lethargic disease (disentery) | |
Manihot esculenta Crantz | 4; 5 | Manihot, Manyot, Cassave, Cassava [cassava] | Root | South America | Juice contains a poison; if consumed, both animals and humans die in pain | Neurotoxicity caused by cyanogenic glycosides [147,148,149,150,151,152] |
Ricinus communis L. | 30 | Palma Christi, Olyboom [castor oil plant] | Seed oil | East Africa | Seeds when boiled in water release an oil which is applied over any kind of wounds | Skin wound healing [153,154,155]; anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities [156] |
FABACEAE Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby | 32 | Slaapertjes [sicklepod] | Leaf | South and Central America, Caribbean and Barlavento Islands (West Africa) | Leaves are used to cover wounds, helping healing | Anti-inflammatory and wound and fracture healing activities [157,158,159,160,161] |
Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw | 45 | Flos Pavonis, [peacock flower] | Seed | Central America | Seeds are given to women to accelerate labor; enslaved black and indigenous women look for this plant for abortion | Sedative, emmenagogue, dysmenorrhea [162]; anti-inflammatory activity [163, 164]; antifertility effect [165,166,167] |
MALVACEAE Gossypium barbadense L. | 10 | Surinaamse Cattoen Boom [Sea Island cotton, creole cotton] | Leaf | South America | Leaves are used for refreshment and wound healing | Analgesic activity [168, 169]; refreshment [170, 171]; wound and burn healing [172] |
RUBIACEAE Genipa americana L. | 48 | Tabrouba [genip, genipap] | Fruit | South and Central America, Caribbean and Barlavento Islands (West Africa) | Indigenous people believe the fruit is poisonous | Not found |
Duroia eriopila L.f | 43 | Marmelade-Doosies-Boom | Trunk | South America | Trunk protrusions are medicinal for lung diseases | Not found |
SOLANACEAE Solanum mammosum L. | 27 | Appel van Sodom [nipplefruit] | Fruit | South and Central America, Caribbean and Barlavento Islands (West Africa) | Deadly poison for both animals and humans | Very toxic plant due to its steroidal glycoalkaloids [173] |