Multivariate analysis of the effects of various covariates on the biochemical ingredients in Prunus Africana

Abstract

Prunus Africana is a medicinal tree, which grows in Africa, used to treat chest pain, malaria and fevers. It is traded on the international market for the manufacture of products used to treat prostate gland hypertrophy (enlarge prostate gland) and the closely related but more serious condition of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Prostate enlargement currently affects more than 50% of men over the age of 50. With a rapidly ageing population in the west, it is easy to predict a great rise in demand. The extract from the pulverized bark is incorporated into capsules and sold under various trade names, including Pygenil, produced in Italy, and Tadenan, produced in France. The timber is hard and durable and used in Africa for the manufacture of various household products such as axes, hoes and furniture. Prunus Africana is traded in the form"'~f dried bark and as bark extract, about 2000kg of fresh bark, representing 1000kg of dried bark, are needed to make 5kg of extract. The average yield of bark per tree is about 75Kg. Cameroon is the biggest exporter of Prunus Africana bark extract. On average during the 1980s, 1.5 million Kg of bark were exported annually. This rose to 2 million Kg in the early 1990s. Even in 1990/1, with an official ban on exports in force by the Cameroonian government, 3.9 million Kg were exported.