A descriptive cross-sectional study on various uses and outcomes of Garcinia Kola among people of Oshimili North in the Delta State of Nigeria

Background: A preliminary review of literature for this study shows that the use of Garcinia Kola (bitter kola) as plant medicine is common among Africans but no scientific evidence to support its uses to prevent or treat common medical conditions. The purpose this study, therefore, is to determine whether ingesting bitter kola could provide relief for common health conditions such as cough and flu symptoms, food poison, act as anti-bacteria, anti-virus, anticancer and libido enhancement.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study was based on a structured questionnaire for adults aged 18 and above (n = 274) in Oshimili North Local Government area of Delta State of Nigeria. Likert scale data was coded as follows. 1 = Strongly disagree 2 = Disagree 3 = Neutral 4 = Agree 5 = Strongly agree. As Likert-type data is usually ordinal data, which makes more sense when converted to interval data. The converted ordinal data was analysed using SPSS computer software. Ethical requirement including the administration of information sheet, written informed consent and the provision of confidentiality were ensured.
Results: Total questionnaire returned and analysed n=274; male (n=155) female (n=119) respondents. The results show that the benefits derive from ingesting bitter kola was rated high for cough, bacterial or viral infection and anti-cancer. The results also show that most of the respondents consider bitter kola having low benefits for relieving food poison, diarrhea, or stomach upset. Chi-square results show no association between gender and perceived benefits of bitter kola for relieving these conditions. In addition, results show that females perceive benefits derive from ingesting bitter kola as low as an aphrodisiac whereas males consider it as average. Chi-square results show significant association between gender and perceived benefits of bitter kola as an aphrodisiac.
Conclusion: The study found that bitter kola provides health benefits for cough and other cold symptoms; act as anti-bacterial, anti-viral infections and anti-cancer. However, this study could not find any conclusive evidence to supports the age long claim of bitter kola as treatment for food poison, diarrhea or stomach upset and aphrodisiac (libido).