THE MAGICAL APPLE OF SODOM PLANT.
While growing up 'ewe bomubomu' is one of those plants i've seen growing almost everywhere, its flowers and fruits is one that do enticed me and i noticed how people expecially the 'fulani' cattle rearers goes by looking for this plant, this is what prompted me to found out more about the 'apple of sodom'plant and i was left amazed with some of its numerous importance.
Sodom apple 'ewe bomubomu' as it is fondly called among yoruba tribes of Nigeria, is a family of flowering plant and milkweed, it is a coagulant and thats why the herdsmen and those who produce milk can't do without the plant. Its a plant commonly grown in some part of africa and asia.
The people staying in the northern part of the country are mostly cattle rearers and produces milk and cheese as part of their occupations, the sodom apple is one of the plants commonly found with them, because they use it as a coagulant in producing cheeses/ milk
The tree most times grows by itself without necessarily planted by anyone and its seen everywhere, i found out more some other uses of sodom apple and i was able to get alot as it is a very useful plant.
- Its a coagulant because it contains organic acid calotropain which helps in making cheese to solidifies milk.
One don't have to go into the forest to get this leaf its growing by the roadside and water course
- Asides from this, sodom apple has numerous importance from its roots to stem and even the leaves.
Because of its root poisonous component, the root is used to treat snakebites or scorpion bites, its fluid is used to treat ringworm and used as laxatives.
The leaves are used for treating asthma,
Infact the juice extracted from its leaves is use to treat wound and the blended/powered leaves used for
treatment.
Consuming atleast 1gram of dry latex of sodom apple for 2-3 days within 7days works for diabetes
Whatever be the uses, I think this is very underused and undervalue among people here, maybe because of its bitterness or poisonous roots components are why people run away from the plants and people don't use it more often like the moringa,aloe vera or other herbs plant. personally I want to see this plant being more utilized especially after finding out its benefits.