''Jateorhiza palmata'' (calumba) is a perennial climbing plant from East Africa. It contains

isoquinoline alkaloids Isoquinoline alkaloids are natural products of the group of alkaloids, which are chemically derived from isoquinoline. They form the largest group among the alkaloids. Isoquinoline alkaloids can be further classified based on their different chem ...

and is used mainly as a bitter tonic especially in cases of

anorexia nervosa Anorexia nervosa, often referred to simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by low weight, food restriction, body image disturbance, fear of gaining weight, and an overpowering desire to be thin. ''Anorexia'' is a term of Gr ...

. It contains no tannins, hence it can be safely used in

iron Iron () is a chemical element with Symbol (chemistry), symbol Fe (from la, Wikt:ferrum, ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 element, group 8 of the periodic table. It is, Abundanc ...

preparations for the treatment of

anaemia Anemia or anaemia (British English) is a blood disorder in which the blood has a reduced ability to carry oxygen due to a lower than normal number of red blood cells, or a reduction in the amount of hemoglobin. When anemia comes on slowly, t ...

without the fear of precipitation resulted from ''

in vitro ''In vitro'' (meaning in glass, or ''in the glass'') studies are performed with microorganisms, cells, or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called " test-tube experiments", these studies in biology ...

'' interaction.

Description

Tall, dioecious twining perennial vine; often reaching the tops of trees. The annual stems, one or two from each root, are hair with glandular tips and have large bright green membranous leaves which are palmate, alternate and long petioled. The flowers are insignificant and greenish white. The female flower is followed by moon-shaped stone in a drupe. Male flowers are in long panicles. The tuberous root is large and fleshy, about in diameter with a thick bark. Transverse section yellowish, outside greyish brown. Taste is muscilagenous and very bitter.

References

External links

* Menispermaceae Flora of Africa Plants described in 1797 {{Ranunculales-stub