Olax vs Ximenia Americana

West African shrub; roots and bark used in traditional medicine of Nigeria, Benin and other West African countries.

Small thorny tree found in tropical Africa, Asia, and the Americas used in traditional medicine across multiple regions for wound healing, pain, and infections.

alkaloids, tannins, saponins, triterpenoids, flavonoids

prunasin, ximenynic acid, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids

Rheumatism and joint pain in West African folk medicine, Antimicrobial infections, Convulsions in Nigerian folk medicine, Used by Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo healers

wound healing, skin infections, joint pain, fever, diarrhea

Analgesic, Anticonvulsant research, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial

wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, analgesic

2–3 g root bark as decoction; 1–2 mL tincture

Bark decoction 200ml 2x daily or topical leaf paste

Pregnancy, Large doses

pregnancy, children under 6, prunasin toxicity with large doses

GI irritation, Potential toxic alkaloid effects in high doses

nausea, cyanide toxicity with very large doses