If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Tropical Plants

Annickia chlorantha

(Oliv.) Setten & Maas

Annonaceae

+ Synonyms

Enantia chlorantha Oliv.

Xylopia otunga Exell

Common Name: African Whitewood

Annickia chlorantha
Flower
Photograph by: Stefan Porembski; African Plants - A Photo Guide
© Stefan Porembski

General Information

Annickia chlorantha is an ornamental tree with a dense foliage and spreading crown[
391
Title
African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (22)
Publication
 
Author
Adesokan. A.A., Akanji. M.A. & Yakubu. M.T.
Website
http://www.academicjournals.org/AJB
Publisher
Academic Journals
Year
2007
ISBN
 
Description
A research paper on the efficacy of the bark extract of Annickia chlorantha (named Enantia chlorantha in the paper) as an antimicrobial.
]. It grows from 12 - 30 metres tall with a long, clear bole that can be 40 - 70 cm in diameter[
328
Title
African Flowering Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
Publisher
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].
The stem bark, which is used in traditional medicine, has been shown to be an effective antimicrobial, whilst the tree is also often harvested for its timber, fibre and as a source of a dye.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

Western tropical Africa - Nigeria, Cameroon.

Habitat

An understorey tree in high rainforests[
328
Title
African Flowering Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
Publisher
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
,
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitTree
Height25.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The stem bark is intensely bitter. It is used in traditional medicine in western Africa to treat jaundice, fevers, tuberculosis, bloody vomit and urinary tract infections[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
391
Title
African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (22)
Publication
 
Author
Adesokan. A.A., Akanji. M.A. & Yakubu. M.T.
Website
http://www.academicjournals.org/AJB
Publisher
Academic Journals
Year
2007
ISBN
 
Description
A research paper on the efficacy of the bark extract of Annickia chlorantha (named Enantia chlorantha in the paper) as an antimicrobial.
].
The powdered bark is applied externally to treat sores, ulcers, wounds etc[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Modern research has shown that an aqueous extract of the bark has an effective antibacterial action, especially against gram-positive bacteria[
391
Title
African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (22)
Publication
 
Author
Adesokan. A.A., Akanji. M.A. & Yakubu. M.T.
Website
http://www.academicjournals.org/AJB
Publisher
Academic Journals
Year
2007
ISBN
 
Description
A research paper on the efficacy of the bark extract of Annickia chlorantha (named Enantia chlorantha in the paper) as an antimicrobial.
]. The extract has also shown antiviral activity and has potential in relieving pyrogen-induced fever[
391
Title
African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (22)
Publication
 
Author
Adesokan. A.A., Akanji. M.A. & Yakubu. M.T.
Website
http://www.academicjournals.org/AJB
Publisher
Academic Journals
Year
2007
ISBN
 
Description
A research paper on the efficacy of the bark extract of Annickia chlorantha (named Enantia chlorantha in the paper) as an antimicrobial.
].
The alkaloids palmatine, coloumbamine and jatrorrhizine have been identified in the bark, and it is believed that these alkaloids are responsible for the medical activity[
391
Title
African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (22)
Publication
 
Author
Adesokan. A.A., Akanji. M.A. & Yakubu. M.T.
Website
http://www.academicjournals.org/AJB
Publisher
Academic Journals
Year
2007
ISBN
 
Description
A research paper on the efficacy of the bark extract of Annickia chlorantha (named Enantia chlorantha in the paper) as an antimicrobial.
].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the inner bark[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. It is used to colour cotton and other fibres[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

The fibrous bark is used for matting, caps etc. The bark is used to make the sides, partitions and doors of huts[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

The wood is yellow, turning brown upon exposure[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. Heartwood and sapwood are not differentiated[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The wood is fairly fine-grained, rather soft, easily split and taking a good polish[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. It is used for house building, furniture, general carpentry, etc[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-04-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Annickia+chlorantha>

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.