Sarcoca dodecandra
| Sarcocadodecandra | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Phytolaccaceae |
| Genus: | Sarcoca |
| Species: | S. dodecandra |
| Binomial name | |
| Sarcoca dodecandra ( L'Hérit. ) V.Skalický | |
Sarcoca dodecandra, basionym Phytolacca dodecandra, commonly known as endod, Gopo Berry, or African soapberry, is a trailing shrub or climber native to Tropical Africa, Southern Africa, and Madagascar.[1]
Endod (as it is known in Amharic or Shibti in Tigrigna ) has been selected and cultivated by Africans for centuries, particularly in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is used as a soap and shampoo as well as a poison to stun fish. Endod is lethal to snails[1] - a fact discovered by Ethiopian scientists - and may be effective controlling schistosomiasis. After Aklilu Lemma, an Ethiopian scientist, demonstrated endod's potency to American scientists, they took out a patent, hoping to sell endod as a biological control for the Zebra mussel, a pest in the Great Lakes of the US and Canada[2][3] .
References
Key in Harold H. Lee, Zebra Mussels in Google or Yahoo search, one will find all the published articles by Lee et al.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hanelt, Peter (2001), Mansfeld's Encyclopedia of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops (Except Ornamentals), Springer, ISBN 3-540-41017-1
- ↑ {{Citation American scientists, Harold H. Lee and Peter Fraileigh did a series of experiments to demonstrate Endod's efficiency in controlling zebra mussels. In order to help Ethiopia,these American scientists took out patents for the usage and added Aklilu Lemma as the third inventor. In the event that Endod becomes a cash crop for Ethiopia, Ethiopia will share the profits. | inventor-last =Lee | inventor-first =Harold H. | inventor2-last =Fraleigh | inventor2-first =Peter C. inventor3= Lema inventor3=Aklilu | issue-date =1993 | title =Method of controlling zebra mussels with extract of Phytolacca dodecandra | country-code =US | patent-number =5252330 }}
- ↑ US 5334386, Lee, Harold H. & Peter C. Fraleigh, "Method of controlling zebra mussels", issued 1994
Prelude Medicinal Plants Database