Health benefits of Bitter Kola

Chairman, Bioresource Development Group
(BDG) Prof Maurice Iwu answers the question
on Bitter Kola Benefits
Bitter Kola, Garcinia kola, used extensively in
West Africa as a social beverage and offered
to guests as ‘Kola’ in many of Nigeria’s
cultural settings, is valued also for its
medicinal properties. It is used in traditional
medicine for the treatment of Laryngitis,
general inflammation, bronchitis, viral
infections and diabetes as well as a
rejuvenating agent, adaptogen and general
antidote. Scientists at our laboratories have
performed extensive research and written
many books on this wonder plant called
‘Garcinia’. Researchers have identified bitter
kola as a potential antibacterial, anti-
inflammatory, anti-diabetic and a potential

detoxifying agent.

Bitter kola is a food supplement and anti-
infective agent in the management of cold,
bronchitis, and it reduces congestion of the
upper respiratory tract.
Because some people do not like to chew
Bitter kola, yet want to experience its potency
in some of the above, at Bioresource
Development Group (BDG) has come up with
a formulation, called Garcinia-IHP.
Garcinia-IHP is a scientifically processed
garcinia kola which retains all the goodness
of bitter kola in capsules, with the potency
and effectiveness guaranteed.

Major indications

Cold remedy

Very effective in managing symptoms of cold
and sore throat, pains, cough, nasal
congestion and helps coagulate phlegm.

Antimicrobial

It is used in many tropical countries to fight
infectious diseases. It is effective for
managing pains, bacteria and viruses.

Detoxification

Garcinia has a cleansing effect on the liver,
gall bladder and the entire body system. It
reduces the absorption of poison.
Anti-inflammatory activity
Kolaviron is a deflated ethanol extract from
the seeds of garcinia kola, which studies
have shown to have analgesic and anti-
inflammatory properties.

Other health benefits

Immunity:The anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant property makes the body resistant
to infections. It is used to prevent infections
especially in people with immune system.

Libido enhancement:Impotence is restored by
increasing blood supply to the core area in
men who have hardening of the arteries.
Bitter kola is the number one sexual
performance medicine for men. Few natural
products can match the sexual benefits of
bitter kola.

Hangover:It prevents the alcoholic induced
hangover and improving lung function.

Improving lung function: Garcinia kola has
been used for centuries to treat chest colds
in traditional medicine, but research has taken
a look and found out why it is effective. A
study in the 2008 issue of The Internet
Journal of Pulmonary Medicine, performed on
mice, reports that Garcinia Kola works by
dilating the alveolar duct and sacs in the
lungs by improving the strength of the fibres
in the lungs tissue. Garcinia Kola’s beneficial
attributed to its high antioxidant content.

Reduction of eye pressure:An increase in eye
pressure can lead to glaucoma, according to
a report from The New York Times Health
Guide. Researchers at Lagos University
Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos,
tested the effectiveness of eye drops that
contained 0.5 percent extract of Garcinia
Kola. The results of their study, published in
the January 2010 issue of Middle East
African Journal of the Opthamology showed
that the opthamolic solution that contained
the Garcinia significantly reduced eye
pressure when used twice a day.

Relieve arthritis: Osteoarthritis is the most
common form of arthritis, characterised by
pain, inflammation and limited movement in
the joints, according to the National Institutes
of Health. Causes of osteoarthritis can
include joint injury, obesity and aging. Since
many arthritis sufferers prefer natural herbal
medicines to other pain relievers and
medications, researchers at Obafemo
Awolowo University in Nigeria tested the
effects of Garcinia kola against arthritis
symptoms. The result of the study, written by
Olayinka O. Adegbehingbe and published in
the July 2008 issue of the Journal of
Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, conclude
that Garcinia kola significantly reduced
inflammation and pain and increased joint
movement in subjects that had osteoarthritis
symptoms. It is believed that Garcinia Kola
works well as a result of its antioxidant
properties. What the study termed as the
“side effects” of Garcinia Kola were “weight
loss”, “increase in sex drive” and “extended
sleep” which many considered helpful to
meet their individual and marital demands.

Medical significance: Garcinia kola is used to
fight infectious diseases. It has shown to
possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and
antiviral properties.

Blood glucose lowering: The folk use of bitter
kola in the management of elevated blood
sugar has been validated by several
laboratory studies. Garcinia-IHP is beneficial
as a food supplement for diabetics.
Weight loss: Bitter kola has been shown to
be a natural hunger suppressant and also
increases the urge to drink more water.

How to use bitter kola: It should be eaten by
removing outer brown coated skin. As the
name implies it is very bitter to eat, hence,
Garcinia-IHP is encapsulated Garcinia kola,
so if you cannot handle the bitter taste of the
raw seeds, you can still enjoy the benefits
that it offers to your health.

Antioxidant property: Bitter kola contains
kolaviron, mixture of bioflavonoids,
benzophenones and chromanols which are
responsible for its strong antioxidant
activities. An evaluation of the antioxidant
properties of garcinoic acid (structurally
similar to vitamin E) and its congeners
showed that it has a stronger antioxidant
activity than vitamin E.

Bitter kola as an adaptogen: It is intriguing
that bioflavonoids of Garcina kola are capable
of modulating almost any physiological
anomaly. The answer perhaps lies in the role
of flavonoids in the evolutionary course of
human beings. Humans, over many millennia,
have adapted to a diet, which is favourable
for the survival and the flavonoid-like
structures, were part of that
primordialphysiological scheme.
If you take Garcinoa-IHP and experience
diarrhea, hives, irregular heartbeat other signs
of allergic reaction, discontinue use
immediately and seek medical attention.