Agathosma betulina (P.J. Bergius) Pillans

300 tons/year

50 tons/year

250 tons/year

Producer (R 56 per kg fresh leaf) (R 8=1 €) 
(Value of industry–ca. R 120 million per year)

Buchu is mainly wild-harvested, but the proportion that is grown in fields is increasing (now perhaps reaching 40%). Crop development is ongoing (contact 4 in trade points).

Western Cape Province mainly in the dry region between Citrusdal, Paarl and Piquetberg. 15 hectares of buchu have been planted near Perth in Western Australia.

Buchu is sold as fresh leaf, dry leaf, tincture and as so-called buchu water (the water fraction remaining after the oil is hydro-distilled).

Normal agricultural requirements apply, details can be had from:

• Department of Agriculture Directorate Plant Health 
  Sub-directorate Plant Health 
  Private Bag X258, Pretoria 0001, Gauteng Province
  South Africa 
  Tel: +27 12 319 6100 
  Fax: +27 12 319 6350 
  E-mail: Mikeh@nda.agric.za

Information can be had from the following contacts

• Louisa Blomerus
  Organic Agricultural Association of South Africa
  Box 98347, Sloane Park 2156        
  South Africa          
  Tel: +27 795 2468/706 2672          
  Fax: +27 794 2169/706 2672

• Juliette Godfrey
  Waterfall Health Farm
   
• Dal Josafat
  Paarl, Western Cape Province, South Africa
   
• Elmarie Hardie
  Afriplex (Pty) Ltd
  P.O. Box. 3186, Paarl 7620
  South Africa
  Tel: +27 21 872 49 76/872 26 64
  E-mail: info@afriplex.co.za; elmarieh@envig.co.za
   
• Mr. Lance Graven
  Grassroots Natural Products CC
  Gouda, Western Cape Province
  South Africa
  Tel: +27 232 320-506  

• Western Cape Nature Conservation Board
  Private Bag X100, Cape Town, 8000
  
• General enquiries: 
  Tel: +27 21 483-4615 
  E-mail: nrockman@pawc.wcape.gov.za 
  
• Fauna and Flora permit section: 
  Deon Hignett 
  Tel: + 27 21 483-3539 
  E-mail: dhignett@pawc.wcape.gov.za 
  
• Research and Scientific work:
  Dr Ernst Baard 
  Tel: + 27 21 866-8000 
  E-mail: baarde@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za

• Mr Ulrich Feiter
  Parceval (Pty) Ltd          
  Wellington, Western Cape Province          
  Tel: +27 21 8733 573
  E-mail: parceval@adept.co.za
  Growers and producers of medicinal products

Buchu was an important part of the Khoi culture in the Cape (Laidler, 1928; Forbes, 1986) and still enjoys a great reputation as a general health tonic and medicine throughout South Africa. Buchu has a long history of use against inflammation and infection of the kidneys and urinary tract (as diuretic, diaphoretic and as urinary tract disinfectant). The product is indeed a diuretic and a mild urinary antiseptic. It is taken to stimulate kidney function and to treat mild cystitis and also prostatitis. In small doses it is an appetite stimulant and is used as digestive, carminative and antispasmodic. It is stimulant, useful for hangover, and is also used to treat colds and influenza, cough, rheumatism and gout (Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000).

Numerous other uses have been recorded, including the use (in bath water) for rheumatism and topically (often as buchu vinegar) for wounds and bruises (Neuwinger, 2000; Van Wyk et al., 1997; Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000; Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962). In modern times, it is still commonly used as an ingredient of over-the-counter medicines to treat cystitis.

Agathosma betulina contains flavonoids (mainly diosmin), mucilage and resins. The main compounds of interest, however, are the essential oil components. These include limonene, isomenthone, diosphenol (=buchu camphor) and terpinen-4-ol. Sulphur-containing compounds, including 8-mercapto-p-methan-3-one, are responsible for the characteristic blackcurrent flavour.

The oil of A. crenulata is less desirable because of the virtual absence of diosphenol and high levels of pulegone (a potentially toxic substance). A comparison of the essential oils of A. betulina, A. crenulata and a hybrid between the two has been published (Kaiser et al., 1975; Blommaert and Bartel, 1976; Posthumus et al., 1996).

Raw herb (teas, infusions), tablets, tinctures

An approved foodstuff (FDA, EU). Listed as GSL in the UK (“General Sales List”). The German Commission E listed buchu leaf (Barosmae folium) as an unapproved herb because of the lack of published information on efficacy.