BAOBAB: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Baobab (Adansonia digitata) is a tree native to Africa, Madagascar, Australia, and the Arabian Peninsula. It's commonly used as a source of water and food.

The wood of the baobab tree trunk has a water content of up to 79%. The fruit and leaves are rich in many nutrients and are used as food.

As medicine, people use baobab for diabetes, eczema, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

We currently have no information for BAOBAB overview.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Baobab is commonly consumed as a food. There isn't enough reliable information to know if baobab is safe to use as a medicine or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Baobab is commonly consumed as a food. There isn't enough reliable information to know if baobab is safe to use as a medicine or what the side effects might be.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if baobab is safe to use as medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Interactions ?

We currently have no information for BAOBAB overview.

Dosing

Baobab is commonly consumed as food. As medicine, there isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of baobab might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.

View References

REFERENCES:

Agency response letter GRAS notice No. GRN 000273. US Food and Drug Administration, July 25, 2009. Available at: www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/GenerallyRecognizedasSafe GRAS/GRASListings/ucm174945.htm (Accessed 29 July 2011).

Anani K, Hudson JB, de Souza C, et al. Investigation of medicinal plants of Togo for antiviral and antimicrobial activities. Pharm Biol 2000;38:40-5. View abstract.

Chadare FJ, Linnemann AR, Hounhouigan JD, et al. Baobab food products: a review on their composition and nutritional value. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2009;49:254-74. View abstract.

Chapotin SM, Razanameharizaka JH, Holbrook NM. A biomechanical perspective on the role of large stem volume and high water content in baobab trees (Adansonia spp.; Bombacaceae). Am J Bot 2006;93:1251-64. View abstract.

Chapotin SM, Razanameharizaka JH, Holbrook NM. Baobab trees (Adansonia) in Madagascar use stored water to flush new leaves but not to support stomatal opening before the rainy season. New Phytol 2006;169:549-59. View abstract.

Chapotin SM, Razanameharizaka JH, Holbrook NM. Water relations of baobab trees (Adansonia spp. L.) during the rainy season: does stem water buffer daily water deficits? Plant Cell Environ 2006;29:1021-32. View abstract.

Hudson JB, Anani K, Lee MK, et al. Further investigations on the antiviral activities of medicinal plants of Togo. Pharm Biol 2000;38:46-50. View abstract.

Krishnappa K, Elumalai K, Dhanasekaran S, Gokulakrishnan J. Larvicidal and repellent properties of Adansonia digitata against medically important human malarial vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae). J Vector Borne Dis 2012;49:86-90. View abstract.

Mulaudzi RB, Ndhlala AR, Kulkarni MG, et al. Antimicrobial properties and phenolic contents of medicinal plants used by the Venda people for conditions related to venereal diseases. J Ethnopharmacol 2011;135:330-7. View abstract.

Osman MA. Chemical and nutrient analysis of baobab (Adansonia digitata) fruit and seed protein solubility. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 2004;59:29-33. View abstract.

Prentice A, Laskey MA, Shaw J, et al. The calcium and phosphorus intakes of rural Gambian women during pregnancy and lactation. Br J Nutr 1993;69:885-96. View abstract.

Sena LP, Vanderjagt DJ, Rivera C, et al. Analysis of nutritional components of eight famine foods of the Republic of Niger. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 1998;52:17-30. View abstract.

Affonfere M, Chadare FJ, Fassinou FTK, Talsma EF, Linnemann AR, Azokpota P. A complementary food supplement from local food ingredients to enhance iron intake among children aged 6-59 months in Benin. Food Sci Nutr 2021;9(7):3824-3835. View abstract.

Anani K, Hudson JB, de Souza C, et al. Investigation of medicinal plants of Togo for antiviral and antimicrobial activities. Pharm Biol 2000;38:40-5. View abstract.

Chadare FJ, Linnemann AR, Hounhouigan JD, et al. Baobab food products: a review on their composition and nutritional value. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2009;49:254-74. View abstract.

Ebaid H, Bashandy SAE, Alhazza IM, Hassan I, Al-Tamimi J. Efficacy of a methanolic extract of Adansonia digitata leaf in alleviating hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and oxidative stress of diabetic rats. Biomed Res Int 2019;2019:2835152. doi: 10.1155/2019/2835152. eCollection 2019. View abstract.

Evang EC, Habte TY, Owino WO, Krawinkel MB. Can the supplementary consumption of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) fruit pulp improve the hemoglobin levels and iron status of schoolchildren in Kenya? Findings of a randomized controlled intervention trial. Eur J Nutr 2021;60(5):2617-2629. View abstract.

Hudson JB, Anani K, Lee MK, et al. Further investigations on the antiviral activities of medicinal plants of Togo. Pharm Biol 2000;38:46-50. View abstract.

Keramati M, Kheirouri S, Musazadeh V, Alizadeh M. Association of high dietary acid load with the risk of cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Front Nutr. 2022;9:816797. View abstract.

Martini M, Mistrello G, Amato S, et al. Anaphylaxis to baobab fruit: the paradox of "natural healthy food". Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol 2019;51(6):282-4. doi: 10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.91. View abstract.

Ntchapda F, Bonabe C, Atsamo AD, et al. Effect of aqueous extract of Adansonia digitata stem bark on the development of hypertension in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rat model. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2020;2020:3678469. View abstract.

Osman MA. Chemical and nutrient analysis of baobab (Adansonia digitata) fruit and seed protein solubility. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 2004;59:29-33. View abstract.

Owoyele BV, Bakare AO. Analgesic properties of aqueous bark extract of Adansonia digitata in Wistar rats. Biomed Pharmacother 2018;97:209-12. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.10.079. View abstract.

Prentice A, Laskey MA, Shaw J, et al. The calcium and phosphorus intakes of rural Gambian women during pregnancy and lactation. Br J Nutr 1993;69:885-96. View abstract.

Rita K, Bernardo MA, Silva ML, et al. Adansonia digitata L. (baobab fruit) effect on postprandial glycemia in healthy adults: a randomized controlled trial. Nutrients. 2022 Jan 17;14(2):398. View abstract.

Sena LP, Vanderjagt DJ, Rivera C, et al. Analysis of nutritional components of eight famine foods of the Republic of Niger. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 1998;52:17-30. View abstract.

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.

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