← The ApothecaryMalvaceaeseeds (kola nuts), fresh or driedFact-checked 24 October 2026

Kola nut

Cola nitida

Also calledCola · Colae semen

In older monographsCola vera

The caffeine-rich seed of a West African tree, chewed as a stimulant and offered as a sign of hospitality across Nigeria and West Africa, and used to flavour cola drinks. The EMA registers it as a traditional medicine for temporary fatigue; its effects are essentially those of caffeine.

What it is used for

Fatigue and convalescence
Traditional
EMA traditional use for temporary fatigue and a sensation of weakness; Commission E approved it for mental and physical fatigue. There are no clinical trials of the seed, but the maximum daily dose (9 g) contains at least 135 mg caffeine, which EMA judged makes the effect plausible.^1,2
Nausea and vomiting
Traditional
Used in African folk medicine as an antiemetic, and in Nigeria commonly for vomiting in pregnancy, although EMA does not recommend it in pregnancy.²
Migraine
Traditional
Used in Nigeria and formerly in Europe for migraine; the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (1974) listed migraine among its indications.²
Diarrhoea
Traditional
Used in African folk medicine for dysentery and listed in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia for atonic diarrhoea; untested.²
Low mood and depression
Traditional
The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia listed it for depressive states and melancholia with muscular weakness; untested.²

How it is prepared

decoction

Powdered seed simmered in water.

EMA monograph (2011): 1–3 g powdered seed in 150 ml water as a decoction, 3 times daily (adults).

Fatigue and convalescence

powder

Powdered seed in capsules or tablets.

EMA monograph: 1–3 g, 3 times daily.

Fatigue and convalescence

tincture

Tincture 1:5 in 60% ethanol.

EMA monograph: 1–4 ml, 3 times daily.

Fatigue and convalescence

Amounts are as recorded by the named source, not a recommendation.

Safety

Pregnancy: Avoid
Breastfeeding: Avoid
Children: EMA: not recommended under 18.

Interactions with medicines

MAO inhibitors (e.g. phenelzine, selegiline, procarbazine)MajorLarge amounts of caffeine can cause dangerous arrhythmias or severe hypertension; smaller amounts may cause a fast heart rate and raised blood pressure.
sedatives (e.g. benzodiazepines)ModerateCaffeine reduces their effect.
sympathomimetics (e.g. ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine)ModerateIncreased side effects.
clozapine, quinolone antibiotics, adenosine, beta-blockersMinorPotential pharmacological interactions noted by EMA's assessors.

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Do not use if

Gastric and duodenal ulcers
Heart disorders such as hypertension and arrhythmia
Hyperthyroidism

Side effects

Sleep disturbance (EMA advises against taking it before bedtime)
Over-excitability and nervous restlessness
Stomach irritation

Toxicity

Effects match those of caffeine; for healthy adults up to 400 mg caffeine a day is not associated with adverse effects. Heavy chewing has been linked to a high rate of mouth and gut cancers in northern Nigeria, an association noted by EMA without proof of cause.

In the healing traditions

African traditional medicine
Kola / cola
Chewed as a stimulant said to suppress hunger, thirst and sleep, strengthen the gums and ward off gout; taken as a tonic, antiemetic and appetite suppressant and for dysentery; powdered seeds applied to cuts to stop bleeding. Without kola, hospitality, cultural and social ceremonies are considered incomplete in Nigeria and much of West Africa.
Western herbalism
Colae semen
Used in Europe as a strong stimulant and cardiotonic and for migraine, neuralgia, diarrhoea, poor appetite and melancholy; Commission E (1991) approved it for mental and physical fatigue.
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1974; British Herbal Compendium 1992; Commission E 1991

Active compounds

caffeine: 1.5–3.8% of the seed (Ph. Eur. requires at least 1.5%); partly bound to catechins, which may explain why fresh and dried seeds differ in stimulant effect
theobromine: traces (0.02–0.08%)
(+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin and proanthocyanidins: polyphenols; in drying seeds a catechin–caffeine complex breaks down to 'cola red' and free caffeine

History

Trade in kola within Africa dates back at least to the 14th century, and exports to England and the United States are recorded from the mid-19th century. In 1886 the druggist John S. Pemberton combined coca and kola extracts in Coca-Cola, sold as a headache and hangover remedy.

Sources

Reference, not prescription. Nothing here is medical advice. Herbs can interact with medicines and be dangerous in pregnancy; tell your doctor or pharmacist about anything you take.