THE MAGICAL AND MEDICINAL USAGE OF STANGERIA-ERIOPUS IN SOUTH-AFRICA

The underground caudex of the cycad Stangeria eriopus is used extensiv ely by several ethnic groups in South Africa, mainly as an ingredient in magical potions but also as an emetic. An assessment of two main ou tlets showed that 3410 plants were sold in the month of July 1992; con tinued usage of this material now threatens the remaining plant popula tions. A proximate analysis of the caudex material gives high carbohyd rate content with only small percentages of fat, protein, fibre and as h. An unusually high content of sodium sulphate may explain the effica cy of Stangeria-containing preparations as an emetic. The phytosterols sitosterol and stigmasterol are present in a 4:1 ratio while the fatt y acid component comprises palmitic, oleic, stearic and arachidic acid s. Twelve amino acids were identified in the material, including the n on-protein amino acids p-alanine, gamma-aminobutyric acid and pyroglut amic acid. The candidate neurotoxin beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine could not be detected but cycasin is present at the levels of 0.17% and 0.2 1% in fresh and dry caudex material, respectively and appears to be ac companied by the related toxin, macrozamin.