Scent leaf is a wonderful plant which is known for its peculiar colour and greatly appreciated for its nutritional and medicinal benefits. It is cultivated in Nigeria and known as Nnchanwu by the Igbos, Efinrin by the Yorubas and Daidoya by the Hausas.
Worthy of note is the fact that no part of this plant is useless as all parts can be used for various medicinal and nutritious purposes
For example,
- Scent leaves, due to its aromatic nature, can be used to spice up various kinds of soup (pepper soup inclusive) and other delicious meals like yam porridge.
- The stick of this leaf is being used by some people as a local chewing stick.
- Scent leaves can also be used in the prevention and treatment of malaria, cough, catarrh and fever.
- The juice gotten from squeezing its leaf can be used to cure several stomach related illnesses like cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, vomiting and convulsion.
- The essential oil of this leaf contains eugenol, which possesses antibacterial properties.
- Mashed scent leaves are also used in treating skin diseases such as ring worms.
- When left to dry and burn, this leaves could serve as a mosquito repellent
- They are also used for treating gout and fungal infections.
- Scent leaves can also be used in treating aches and reliefs from colon pains.
