n important crop in Kenya
and Ethiopia (Verdcourt 1985). Similarly, M. peregrina
was known to the ancient Egyptians who utilized its seed
oil. All of the other 10 species of this genus are reported to
be having pharmacologic properties (Morton 1991; Olson
2001); however, some are in danger of extinction, specially
M. hildebrandtii is now extinct in the wild (Olson and
Razafimandimbison 2000)