Blogger's Note: If you are regular follower/reader of this blog, most probably you are familiar with occasional blog entries from distinguished guests such as Dr. Fekadu Fullas who wrote many books and articles on medicinal use of plants, herbs and spices in Ethiopia. It is with great honor that we bring you today his latest article on Tena'dam one of the widely used herb for culinary as well as medicinal purposes in Ethiopia. Enjoy!
A Short Review on
Tena’adam (Ruta chalepensis L)—Herb
of Grace
Background
Known by the common local name
tena’adam, Ruta chalepenesis is a
shrubby plant that is cultivated in the highlands of Ethiopia. It also grows in
the Mediterranean region, the Middle East and the Canary Islands. Descriptive
of the smell and taste of the plant, “Ruta”
is an old Latin name for rue, which literally means bitterness or
unpleasantness. This bitterness arises from the rutin constituent of the plant.
The specific epithet “chalepensis’ is
derived from name of the Syrian town of Chalep, which today is called Haleb or
Aleppo. Herb of Grace and Garden Rue are the common English names for tena’adam.
R. chalepensis is usually confused with a closely related species, Ruta graveolens. The latter is not known
to grow in Ethiopia. It originated in Europe, and is cultivated in many parts
of the world. However, the two species share many similar chemical constituents
and morphological features. In folk medicine, they also have many intersecting
uses.
R.
chalepensis is sold under the Arabic names fidjeli and fidjla in drug
markets of Algiers (Algeria) and under the names ruta and rutsa in Rabat
(Morocco) drug markets. It is also known by the names Syrian rue, Allepo rue
and Rue d’Alep. Interestingly, another plant Peganum harmala is also sold in these markets under the same name,
Syrian rue.
The Syrian rue Connection
Common names can sometimes be
misleading. For example, the name Syrian rue (Persian rue, wild rue) is used to
refer to both R. chalepensis (family: Rutaceae) and Peganum harmala (family:
Zygophyllaceae), which are two entirely different plants. The latter is also called
African rue, which has hallucinogenic and intoxicant alkaloids. It is said the hallucinogenic
seed alkaloids of P. harlmala
inspired the concept of “flying carpets.”
Culinary and Medicinal
Uses of Tena’adam
In Ethiopia,
the leaves are used to flavor sour milk and cheese. They are also used to
flavor “kuti” which is used as a hot beverage brewed from coffee leaves. The
fruits are used as ingredients of the local “berbere” spice mix. The volatile
aromatic constituents may be responsible for the flavor of the plant.
The Amharic
name tena’adam literally means Health of Adam, thus signifying the medicinal
applications of the plant. In Ethiopian folk medicine, it is used to treat
colicky babies, diarrhea, earache, heart pain, hemorrhoids, influenza symptoms
and intestinal disorders. The dried and ground fruits are boiled and taken by
mouth for diarrhea. The juice from the crushed leaves is mixed with water and
administered to colicky babies. The ground plant material is made into an
ointment to be used for hemorrhoids. The boiled plant is used to treat
influenza symptoms.
In north
Africa, an infusion of tena’adam is used for colds, earaches and intestinal
problems. Due to its strong smell, the fresh plant is used as a scorpion
repellant. In Algiers, the infusion of the plant is used as nose drops to treat
vomiting and fevers in children.
Adverse Effects
The oil, on
repeated application, can cause blisters and reddening of the skin. When taken
in large doses, it can lead to toxic effects, such as abortion in pregnant
women, confusion, convulsive twitches, severe epigastric pain, gastroenteritis
and vomiting. The medicinal use of the plant seems to be restricted due to
these very secondary effects.
Conclusion
There is a mention in the common literature that rutin, a constituent of tena’adam,
may have anti-spasmodic activity, perhaps explaining its traditional use in
Ethiopia for colicky babies. As mentioned above, the use of the plant for cold,
earache and intestinal problems in north Africa seems to parallel its similar
use in Ethiopia. It should be stressed, however, that the medical claims
accorded to tena’adam have not been confirmed by well-structured and controlled
scientific studies.
Suggested Readings
Asfaw N, Demissew S. Aromatic Plants of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa
(Ethiopia): Shama Books; 2009; pp 162- 64
Boulos L. Medicinal Plants of North Africa. Michigan (USA):
Reference Publications, Inc.; 1983; p 158.
Fullas F. Spice Plants in Ethiopia: Their Culinary and
Medicinal Applications. Sioux City (USA); 2003; pp 133-7.
Jansen PCM. Spices, Condiments and
Medicinal Plants in Ethiopia, their Taxonomy and Agricultural Significance.
Wageningan; PUDOC; 1981; pp 104-11.
The author can be reached at FeFuBal@aol.com