Common Name:

General Information

Mallotus oppositifolius is an open shrub or a tree with elongated branches that can be curved, pendulous or ascending; it usually grows up to 6 metres tall, exceptionally to 13 metres. The bole is around 10cm in diameter, usually branching from low down[, ]. The plant often has a more or less scrambling habit[].
A popular medicinal herb within its native range, it is often harvested from the wild for local use and also as a source of wood and chew sticks. The plant also has potential for use as a pioneer species for establishing woodland.

Known Hazards

The seeds are considered poisonous[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - widely distributed from Senegal to Ethiopia, south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Madagascar.

Habitat

A pioneer species on old farms in secondary (closed) forest and thickets; riverine with Uapaca and Manilkara; groundwater forest; secondary associations; roadsides; at elevations from sea-level up to 1,650 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	5.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Butterflies
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is a weed in rice fields in Nigeria[].
Plants can be coppiced and pollarded[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Most plant parts, but especially the leaves, are commonly used for medicinal purposes[].
Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, cardenolides (cardiac glycosides), anthocyanins and possibly also alkaloids and anthraquinones. The leaves contain a higher concentration of these compounds than the roots[].
Different leaf, root and stem bark extracts showed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis in vitro[].
The aqueous leaf extract showed significant activity against Shigella dysenteriae A1-induced diarrhoea in rats. The extract was not toxic[].
Aqueous and ethanol extracts of dried leaves showed significant antifungal activity in vitro against Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans, Microsporum audouinii, Penicillium sp. and Trichoderma sp[].
A methanolic leaf extract showed moderate antitrypanosomal and anthelminthic activity in vitro, but low antiplasmodial activity[].
Crude methanolic leaf and root extracts showed significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in tests[].

A leaf or stem bark infusion is taken to expel tapeworms and to treat diarrhoea[].
The ground leaves in salted water are applied to snakebites and the extract is also drunk for this purpose[].
The crushed or chewed fresh leaves, sometimes mixed with butter, are put on cuts and sores as a haemostatic and antibacterial, and on skin eruptions and rashes for fast healing. They are also applied to burns to calm pain. A steam bath with the leaves is taken to treat headache, epilepsy or mental illness. Leaf sap is used as nose drops or eye drops and the head is massaged with the pulped leaves to treat headache. The crushed leaves or leaf sap are applied to aching teeth and inflamed eyes[]. Crushed leaves or a leaf infusion are applied to treat urinary infections, venereal diseases, malaria, leprosy, chickenpox and female sterility[].

A leaf and fruit infusion is taken to treat dysentery and diarrhoea, or the leaves are added to food[].

A leaf and root decoction is drunk to treat anaemia and general fatigue[]. A root decoction and leaf sap are taken to treat pneumonia, vomiting and chest pain[].
A root and leaf paste is applied to treat convulsions, stomach-ache and chest pains[].

An infusion of the roots together with the seeds of Aframomum melegueta is taken as an enema to treat lumbago[]. In eastern Africa a root decoction is taken as an aphrodisiac[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A deep-rooting plant with a root:shoot ratio of 2:1. It has a high growth rate compared to other commonly used browse plants. It has an extensive system of fine roots, indicating its potential for use in agroforestry and land management. In West Africa it is grown in and around cassava fields to reduce the impact of animals that feed on the leaves[].
The plant is a natural pioneer species, and may have potential for use when restoring native woodland or when establishing a woodland garden[].

Other Uses

The twigs are commonly used as chew sticks[].

The thinner stems or the bark are sometimes used as binding material[].

The wood is used to make tool handles or yam stakes[].
The wood is used as fuel[].

Propagation

Seed -

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