Adansonia digitata (Baobab) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Adansonia digitata (Baobab) — family Bombacacées.

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 11 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The monograph draws on 30 scientific references recorded for the species.

Therapeutic indications in alcoholic extraction:

Note: scientific reference excerpts are kept in their original language (most often English), without translation, to respect the source text of publications.

1. Bacterial infection : Plant part used: ECORCE. Documented pharmacological profile: Tétracycline-Streptomycine-like.
   According to YUSHA’U M (2010): The extracts were tested for antimicrobial activity against clinical bacterial isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis & Staphylococcus specie using disc diffusion & microbroth dilution technique. This indicates that AD root bark has the potential for the production of drugs against some clinical bacterial isolates. According to MATSUETE GT (2025): Pulmonary infection induced by Klebsiella pneumoniae is becoming one of the leading causes of respiratory infection worldwide.
2. Arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism : Plant part used: Seed. Documented pharmacological profile: Diclofénac-like.
   According to Thiagarajan V (2015): The present study evaluates the effect of the ethanolic extract of AD seeds on the Fruend’s Complete Adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis. The altered haematological parameters (Hb, RBC, WBC and ESR) in the arthritic control rats were significantly brought back to near normal by the Adansonia digitata seed treatment at the dose level of 200 mg/kg & 400 mg/kg in both developing & developed phases of arthritis.
3. Hypercholesterolaemia, hyperlipidaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia : Plant part used: FRUIT (PULP). Documented pharmacological profile: Atorvastatine-like.

Further indications (including other extraction modes where applicable), dosages, precautions for use and full scientific references are available in the complete monograph.

Photo credit : Photo from the Traditional Martinique Pharmacopoeia.