Ethnobotanical and general use

Nutritional use
The seeds have a high (20-25 %) content of oilused for culinary purposes; also as a lubricant, for illumination and the manufacture of soap. Seeds are eaten fried or fresh and ground. They are also a food for cattle. Even the flowers are eaten by cows.

Medical use

Caule, cortex, folia.

Twigs and stem. They are applied locally, are used as an antiinflammatory for tumors and abscesses.

Bark. Bark is applied to treat wounds. Bark is said to have emetic, diuretic and antispasmodic properties when applied in infusion.

The resin. Resin of the bark is used to cure intestinal problems.

A decoction of the bark strengthens the hair as a wash and taken as a drink it helps to expel the placenta after birth in humans as well as in cows. A bath with the decoction cures oedema. Bark crushed and boiled helps to cure rheumatism when applied in a bath.

Leaves. With leaves in decoction, pickles and insect stings are treated, while skin conditions are cured with a cataplasm or bath.

Root. The root is used to cure leprosy.

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Stem: The French Guiana Wayapi wash in a decoction of the bark for its febrifuge properties.

Leaf: Surinam Indonesians use juice from bruised young branches in a preparation to treat asthma. Infusion for dissolving phlegm and to soothe rectal inflammation. Leaves stewed for a gonorrhoea remedy.
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Range. Nicolson (1979) regards the original range as pantropical. Bornstein (1989) indicates that it is native from Mexico south to northern South America and the West In­dies, and introduced and more or less naturalized in the Old World. Villiers (1973) notes an American origin for the plant, and that its presence in Gabon, West Africa is rarely in prima­ry forest, and it is a species of zones occupied or cultivated by man. Cultivated in Myanmar.

Uses
Leaf: Used in the treatment of gonorrhea.

Root: Useful tonic; also employed as a diuretic. Juice from the roots is used to treat diabetes. The gum is used as a tonic, astringent, laxative, and restorative.
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Origin:
West and South India. Often found planted around villages and temples.

Action:
Gum—laxative, astringent, demulcent (given in painful micturition).
Unripe fruit—astringent.
Root—diuretic, antidiabetic, antispasmodic (used in dysentery).
Flowers—laxative; used in lochiorrhoea.
Unripe pods—used in vertigo and migraine.
Seed oil— used in rheumatism.
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Origin:
Mexico
Medicinal  properties:
- Anti inflammatory
- Boils
- Insect bites
- Mange

1) South American medicinal plants : botany, remedial properties, and general use / I. Roth, H. Lindorf. Berlin ; New York : Springer, c2002. -- p. 492.

2) Robertt, A., et al.. Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana)/Smithsonian NMNH. cited online: 17-08-2017.

3) DeFilipps, Robert A.; Krupnick, Gary A. / PhytoKeys, v. 102. - - p. 1 - 314,  2018.

4) Khare, C.P./ Indian Medicinal Plants. -- Nueva Dheli: Springer, 2007 . - p. 836.

5) Armando González Stuart/ Plants Used in Mexican Plants Used in Mexican Traditional Medicine Traditional Medicine: Their Application and Effects In Traditional Healing Practices. - p. 46.