Plant parts of Voacanga africana are utilized by African natives for various purposes, including as hallucinogens, in cultic ceremonies, and as aphrodisiacs.[6]
Ethnomedicinal use
A decoction made from the stem or root bark is employed for the treatment of mental disorders and as an analgesic. The sap is applied to cavities in teeth. In southeastern Nigeria, Voacanga africana is an integral part of numerous healing rituals.[7]
↑M.Hesse (1968), Indolalkaloide, Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, pp. 30, ISBN978-3-540-04194-8
↑U. Renner (1957), "Voacamidin und Voacristin, zwei neue Alkaloide aus Voacanga africana Stapf", Experientia13: 468–469, doi:10.1007/BF02159399
↑Zetler, G., Lenschow, E. & Prenger-Berninghoff, W. (1968), "Die Wirkung von 11 Indol-Alkaloiden auf das Meerschweinchen-Herz in vivo und in vitro, verglichen mit 2 synthetischen Azepinoindolen, Chinidin und Quindonium.", Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Archiv für Pharmakologie und experimentelle Pathologie260: 26–49, doi:10.1007/BF00545005
↑Robert F. Raffauf & M. B. Flagler (1960), "Alkaloids of the Apocynaceae", Economic Botany pages14: 37–55, doi:10.1007/BF02859365