About Zehneria scabra (L.fil.) Sond.
Zehneria scabra (L.fil.) Sond. is a climbing herb that can reach up to 10 meters (33 feet) in length. Older sections of its stems are woody, with corky-ridged bark. Its leaves range from triangular to ovate in shape, have a cordate base, are deep green, and are scabrid punctate on the upper surface. It produces oval-shaped, bright red fruit. This species is widely distributed across Tropical Africa, and also occurs in Madagascar, India, and Java, Indonesia. In Ethiopia, where it is known locally as 'hareg ressa', crushed fruits and leaves are processed to extract oil that is used to treat scabies. Extracts from this plant are traditionally used to treat diarrhea, alopecia, wounds, and eczema. Among the Pare people of Tanzania, oil extracts from the herb are also used to treat skin-related infections.
