Common Name:

General Information

Anthocleista djalonensis is a tree growing up to 15 metres tall. The cylindrical bole is unbuttressed, it can be up to 40cm in diameter. The twigs sometimes have 2 erect spines or small cushions above the leaf axils[, ].
This tree is one of several species in the genus that are much used in traditional medicine and for similar medicinal purposes. They may all be used as substitutes for each other. When sold on the market it is difficult to differentiate the dried bark of the different species. The tree is commonly harvested from the wild[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Guinea Bissau to Cameroon.

Habitat

Rather dry localities, in savannah or thickets, at elevations from sea-level up to 500 metres[]

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	12.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Anthocleista djalonensis is widely used throughout its distribution area as a strong purgative and diuretic[].

The root is commonly taken to treat intestinal problems, including constipation; to regulate menstruation; and as an abortifacient[]. A root maceration is taken alone or with honey to treat malaria[]. Combined with potash, the root is taken to treat fungal skin infections and filarial worm infections, including loa loa filariasis[]. A root decoction is also taken to treat hernia of the groin[].
Applied externally, it is used as a wash or bath, or as a vapour bath, to treat a range of conditions including leprosy; venereal diseases; acute inflammations; boils on the skin; oedema and scrotal elephantiasis[].

A tea made from the chopped soft root bark, soaked in water, is taken to treat thrush[].
An infusion of the bark is used to treat broken bones in women[].
An extract of twig bark is used as eye drops and to treat diarrhoea in babies[].
Powdered stem bark, mixed with the roots of Aloe buettneri, is taken to treat hepatitis, jaundice and cirrhosis[].

A tincture of the leaves is taken to treat diarrhoea and dysentery. A decoction of dry, fallen leaves is drunk to treat jaundice[].

The bark contains the quinoline alkaloid brucine and the monoterpene glycoside loganoside (loganine). Brucine is a strychnine derivative. In chemistry, brucine and strychnine are commonly used as agents for chiral resolution[].
Loganoside plays an important role in the partial synthesis of alkaloids such as quinine, reserpine and strychnine[].
The root bark contains irlbacholine, which tested positive for antifungal activity against the pathogens Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus and Trichophyton rubrum. Irlbacholine has been synthesized chemically[].
The plant also contains triterpenes, the monoterpene-diol djalonenol, the dibenzo-pyrone djalonensone, the iridoid glycosides sweroside (djalonenoside) and amplexine and the xanthone lichexanthone[].
The stem bark contains the phthalide djalonensin[].
The cold water and ethanol extracts of the roots have antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli[].
An aqueous extract of the plant has shown hypertensive activity[].
An alcoholic leaf extract showed in-vitro antispasmodic and smooth muscle relaxant activities[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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