Zanha africana

Safety & Hazards

The fruits can cause severe diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities^[1]. The fruits, and other parts of the plant, contain saponins^[1]. Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish^[PFAF]. Although used medicinally, fatalities following ingestion of an infusion of the pounded root are known^[2].