Behold the healing power of sandpaper leaf.
Professor of Industrial Chemistry at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Muibat Olabisi Bello, has listed the effectiveness of “fig leaf” in healing many ailments confronting the human race.
Scientifically known as Ficus exasperate, a member of the family Moraceae, fig leaf is commonly referred to as Sandpaper leaf. It is called “Erepin” or “Ewe Ipin” in Yoruba; “Anwerenwa” or “Asesa” in Igbo; and” Ganyan takarda or ‘’ganyan da ya yi kama da takarda’’, in Hausa.
Bello, while delivering the 66th Inaugural Lecture of the LAUTECH, listed diseases in whose treatment the leaf has effectiveness to include diabetes, skin diseases, ulcer, dysentery, diarrhea, stomach ache and hemorrhoids.
Bello, who said her group in 2014 reported the proximate composition of mineral element contents and fatty acids profiles, said the sand paper leaf is widely spread in all eco-regions of Nigeria.
According to her the common name sand paper leaf derives from the rough surface of the leaves and it’s widely spread in all eco-regions of Nigeria. To the Yoruba it is known as “ewe ipin” in Yoruba.
She explained that Ficus plants have a vast traditional role in indigenous systems of medicine. She explained that the bark, leaves, fruits and latex are considered to be very effective in diabetes, skin diseases, ulcers, dysentery, diarrhea, stomach ache, hemorrhoids and as carminative, astringent, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer agents.
She also added that the young leaves are prescribed as a common anti-ulcer remedy.
According to her, “The leaf extract has been used in African traditional medicine to treat epilepsy, high blood pressure, rheumatism, arthritis, intestinal pains and colics, bleeding and wounds. Other industrial uses of sandpaper leaves are for polishing woods, stabilization of vegetable oils, and suppression of foaming.
“This large genus with high nutritional and economic value plays a vital role as a genetic resource, making up a good and significant part of the biodiversity in the rainforest’s ecosystem. In tropical habitats, many animals particularly fruit-eating birds, rely on figs as a nutritious food source.”
Noting that the figs are well enjoyed by birds, Bello said humans have also exploited the figs, adding that her group had earlier reported the proximate composition, mineral element contents and fatty acids profiles of the fruit oil.
She said the study of nutrient and anti-nutrient phytochemicals in the leaves showed that the leaves contained high levels of fibre, ash, carbohydrate, mineral elements and low levels of anti-nutrient phytochemicals.
Also, the fruit of Ficus Esasperata is a good dietary source of protein, fibre and nutraceutical elements, the fatty acids compared favorably well with that of some conventional seed oils thus holding great potential for further phytochemical exploration to enhance livelihoods.
