Encephalartos altensteinii vs Bowenia serrulata

Side-by-side comparison of medicinal herbs

Herb

Encephalartos altensteinii

Nutritive

Nutritive

Encephalartos altensteinii

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Bowenia serrulata

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Description

An African cycad used by Zulu and Xhosa peoples as food with elaborate detoxification processing.

Australian cycad used by Aboriginal peoples as a food source after careful processing to remove toxins.

Active Compounds

cycasin, starch, flavonoids

cycasin, macrozamin, starch after detoxification

Traditional Uses

Processed food source, Traditional use, Ceremonial use

Aboriginal food source after toxin removal, Ceremonial use

Modern Uses

Ethnobotanical documentation

Nutritive starch source after processing

Adult Dosage

Processed only as traditional food

Properly processed starch only as food

Contraindications

Raw plant highly toxic, Critically endangered — protected

Raw consumption extremely toxic, Contains neurotoxins

Side Effects

Neurotoxicity from raw plant

Severe neurotoxicity if improperly prepared

Drug Interactions

0 known interactions

Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals

Sources: WHO Monographs · NCCIH · PubMed · Commission E