Griffonia simplicifolia
| Griffonia simplicifolia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Griffonia |
| Species: | G. simplicifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Griffonia simplicifolia (DC.) Baill.[1] |
|
| Synonyms | |
Griffonia simplicifolia (syn. Bandeiraea simplicifolia Benth.) is a woody climbing shrub native to West Africa and Central Africa. It grows to about 3 m, and bears greenish flowers followed by black pods.
[edit] Chemical constituents
The seeds of the plant are used as an herbal supplement for their 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP ) content.[2] [3] 5-Hydroxytryptophan is an important building block for the human body to form serotonin. [4] Serotonin plays an important role in the body specially as a neurotransmitter to transport signals between neurons in the nervous system. Griffonia simplicifolia also has a legume lectin called GS Isolectin B4, which binds to alpha-D-galactosyl residues of polysaccharides and glycoproteins.
[edit] Synonyms
Botanical synonyms for the plant also include Schotia simplicifolia (Vahl ex DC) Baill.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Bandeiraea simplicifolia - ILDIS LegumeWeb". www.ildis.org. http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb?sciname=Bandeiraea+simplicifolia. Retrieved 2008-03-15.
- ^ "5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)," Medical Reference, Complementary Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center [1]
- ^ Emanuele E, Bertona M, Minoretti P, Geroldi D., "An open-label trial of L-5-hydroxytryptophan in subjects with romantic stress.", Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2010;31(5):663-6. [2]
- ^ Lemaire PA, Adosraku RK., "An HPLC method for the direct assay of the serotonin precursor, 5-hydroxytrophan, in seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia.", Phytochem Anal. 2002 Nov-Dec;13(6):333-7. [3]
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