Common Name:

General Information

Anthostema senegalense is usually a tree growing 20 - 30 metres tall, though in Senegal and The Gambia its stature is appreciably less, and the plant is often no more than a shrub, The straight bole can be 60cm in diameter[].
Although very poisonous, the plant is often used for medicinal purposes within its native range, where it is commonly harvested from the wild. The tree also furnishes a timber,

Known Hazards

Latex is present in the bark, young shoots, leaves, flowers and fruit. It is very toxic, acrid and vesicant. It is harmful to mucous membranes and it is known to all races as being very dangerous to the eyes and capable of causing blindness[].
Leafy twigs and inflorescences are chopped up as a fish-poison[], and in rice fields branches of the leafy twigs are placed at water intake sluices to kill fish that eat the young rice plants[].

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Senegal to Benin.

Habitat

Gallery forest[]. Damp, swampy or flooded sites on river-banks, of the soudanian wooded savannah, coastal savannah or forest zone[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	20.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A latex present in the bark, young shoots, leaves, flowers and fruit is very toxic, acrid and vesicant[]. It is harmful to mucous membranes and it is known to all races as being very dangerous to the eyes and capable of causing blindness. In spite of its toxicity, it is held in high repute and, with suitable precautions, is taken for expurgation and especially in those affections requiring treatment by strong action on the intestines, e.g., menstrual troubles, displacement of the afterbirth, leprosy, etc. Treatment may be effected by adding very small amounts of the latex to food, or of the pulped root[]. The latex is used as an emetic and antidote in cases of poisoning, the latex being diluted in water and then drunk until vomiting occurs[, ]..

The macerated bark, or an infusion, is used as a treatment for all acute illnesses and also to expel intestinal parasites[, ].

The young stems, along with other ingredients, are used for neuralgia[]. Young leaves are ground up with flour, the paste is dried and this is taken as a laxative[].

The crude water extract of the stem bark has shown strong anthelmintic activity against the larvae of Haemonchus contortus[].
A crude stem bark extract exhibited significant activity against Leishmania donovani[].

Other Uses

A latex present in the bark, young shoots, leaves, flowers and fruit is very toxic, acrid and vesicant[].

The wood is white in colour and light in weight. It sometimes is used for local building purposes. It works easily and is suitable for boxes and light carpentry. Poles are used in Sierra Leone for temporary fencing[].

Propagation

Seed -

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