GINGER: WHITE GINGER (Mondia whitei) is a truly versatile and magical African herb, widely used for medicinal purposes and an excellent garden theme in which a climber is needed to provide a shady area. With older stems that become woody, it grows from a tuberous rootstock that has a ginger or licorice flavor and an aroma reminiscent of vanilla. The opposite leaves are large (100 to 300 x 50 to 150 mm) with a cordate base and petioles of 30 to 55 mm long which, with the ribs on the lower surface, are usually reddish purple. The false stipules are large and fimbriaceous.
The inflorescence is axillary and branchy, the flowers are short-lived and last for 3 to 4 days. The petals are reddish purple, ± 14 mm long and with a green border. The flowers are unusually large for the subfamily Periplocoideae and have a fruity, foul-smelling scent that grows as the day progresses. Large paired fruits or follicles (75 to 100 x 44 mm) are semi-woody with a velvety surface.
Mondia comes from the Zulu word for the plant, “umondi”. White, a South African farmer, sent specimens to Kew to John Croumbie Brown, a colonial botanist from the Cape, who sent them to Joseph Dalton Hooker, who described the species. A decoction or infusion of Mondia whitei is used to treat a wide range of other conditions. In West Africa, roots are used to make an energy drink for wedding parties and are used as spices. They have a sweet aftertaste and are used to make a drink similar to ginger beer.
As an aphrodisiac and for the treatment of impotence and infertility, men eat root crusts (both fresh and dried) or drink the aqueous extract of Mondia whitei. The dried leaves are powdered and mixed with food and taken daily as a supplement. The leaves are squeezed in water and the filtrate is drunk to stop heavy bleeding after delivery. The decoction of leaves is drunk to stop vomiting. Mondia whitei is widely distributed in tropical Africa, from Guinea through Cameroon to East Africa.
It is widespread in Zimbabwe, but is threatened in South Africa due to excessive collection for medicinal purposes. In Kenya, it is most prevalent in the remaining Kakamega rainforest and its atypical values Malava, Kisero and Bunyala, scattered in the forests and mountain ranges of Nandi, the Chyulu Hills and Mount. The main threat to the species has been overexploitation by local communities for commercial and subsistence purposes. It is reported that the species became extinct in the wild in the Tugela River in South Africa (Crouch et al., 199). In Kenya, it is one of the most exploited species of the Kakamega forest by local communities (Mukonyi, 199).
It is reported that it disappeared from the central province due to overexploitation and increased demand for agricultural land. The roots of Mondia whytei are widely harvested in the Kakamega forest in a well-organized trade, leading to the scarcity of the mondia whytei plant. Mondia Whytei's roots are sold in cities in Kenya and other African countries. Roots are consumed by young and old alike as a flavoring and appetizing treat. More than 500 members of the community adjacent to the Kakamega Forest received training on M. Community members are shown how to prepare seedbeds for M.
Once mature, the roots come from the plots of the farmer of M. Whytei will be purchased and used for commercial production in powders and other forms. Mondia whytei root infusion is popularly used as an aphrodisiac in Malawi and as a natural snack, enhancer of cerebral and peripheral blood circulation. The uncontrolled collection and sale of large quantities of plant material from the forest leads to the destruction of many forest plants. Local communities, traditional medicinal herbalists and herbal sellers popularly collect roots, bark and entire shrubs. The Kakamega project has introduced a new action plan to support the sustainable use of medicinal plants.
Farmers have been mobilized to practice the cultivation of certain medicinal plants on their farms. This translates into a reduction in pressure on forest medicinal herbs and, at the same time, provides alternative income to local communities. Candidate medicinal plants for cultivation and marketing on farms were selected on the basis of product efficacy, toxicity, propagation potential and market evaluation of products. Extensive agronomic studies accompanied this selection process. The formulation of plant products was refined by ICIPE in collaboration with the Department of Pharmacology at University of Nairobi and Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI).
The root of Mondia whytei (known locally as mukombera) is being formulated into high-value powder by KEFRI. It is a source of nutrients such as vitamins A, D, K & E; minerals such as magnesium, zinc, iron & calcium; proteins; while its aroma makes it useful as food flavoring agent. The Whytei have been planted by communities adjacent to forests on their farms. Farmers also plant endangered tree species such as Prunus africanus next to vine to maintain it. Mondia whitei is a slow-growing vine that used to be abundant in Kakamega forest but now scarce due to overexploitation by local communities for commercial & subsistence purposes. It is an excellent garden theme where climber is needed to provide shady area & its roots provide nutrients & aroma useful as food flavoring agent.
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