Scientific Name

Active Ingredient(s)

Potential Uses

Season Available

SEEDS AND NUTS

Voacanga

Voacanaga africana

Vincamine, Vimpositine

For memory  enhancement Alzheimers

Aug - Nov

Griffonia

Griffonia Simplicifolia

5-HTP (Gerotinia)

For weight loss, depression

Jan - Apr

Mahogany

Khaya senengalensis

Limonoid: 3,7-dideacetylkhivorin (1) and 1-O-acetylkhayanolide

For the treatment of fever

Jul- Sept, Jan - Mar

Annatto

Bixa orellana L

Bizone

For food colouring

Jan - Apr

Shea Butter

Butyrospermum parkii

cinnamic acid, tocopherols

Cosmetic

Jul- Sept, Jan - Mar

Allanblakia

Allanblakia boutyraceum

Palmitic acid 2-3%, Stearic acid 52-58%, Oleic acid 39-45%

For oil in the soap and magarine industries

Jul- Sept, Jan - Mar

Grains of Paradise

Aframomum meleguetta

gingerol, shagaol, paradol

Used as spice, flavouring agent and scent, , measles, and leprosy

Feb-Apr, Jul-Aug

bush pepper

Piper guineensis

Piperine

Used as Condiment and leafy vegetable

Black Pepper

Piper nigrum

Piperine

Used as spice, flavouring agent and scent

Kombo

Pycanthus angolensis

Myristoleic acid

For anti-inflammation and cosmetic

Dec - Apr

Mucuna

Mucuna pruriens

Cotton seed

Gossypium spp

For cosmetics. • Medicinal. • Pest control

Kola

Kola nitida

Caffeine

Feb-Apr

Xylopia

Xylopia aethiopica

triterpenes

Used as spice, flavouring agent and scent

Feb-May, Aug - Oct

Monodora

Monodora myristica

L-dopa

Used as spice, flavouring agent and scent

July-Sept

Coffee

Coffea robusta

Caffeine

As a beverage

Feb-May, Aug - Oct

Jathropha

Jathropha curcas

For oil

Feb-May, Aug - Oct

Moringa

Moringa oleifera

Methionine, cysteine

Seed-water purification, leaves-as nutritional supplement

Year round

Coffee Senna

Cassia occidentalis

(Z)-7-oxo-11-octadecenoic acid)

As a broad-spectrum internal and external antimicrobial

Oct – Feb

Paullina pinnata

As an aphrodisiac

Year round

Kouero

Ongokea gore

As an essential oils

Feb-May, Aug - Oct

Sesame

Sesamum indicum

Used in food due to its high protein content

Oct – Feb