The genus Detarium comprises three very similar species: Detarium microcarpum, Detarium senegalense and Detarium macrocarpum, which grow in different habitats. This species is typically found in humid forest, whilst Detarium senegalense is more riparian and also occurs in dry forest, and Detarium microcarpum occurs in dry savannah[].

Common Name:

General Information

Detarium macrocarpum is a large tree that can grow up to 60 metres tall[]. The bole can be 70 - 100cm in diameter[].
A multipurpose tree, it is utilized locally from the wild throughout its range as a source of food, medicine and various commodities. The leaves and roots are commonly sold in local markets for medicinal purposes[]. The good quality timber is commonly harvested from the wild for trade.

Known Hazards

The bark is said to be poisonous[].

Botanical References

Range

Western tropical Africa - Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria.

Habitat

Rainforests[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	40.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

Although no specific record for this species has been seen yet, it probably has most, if not all, the same uses as the closely related D. Microcarpum[]. These uses are:-

The fruit is sweet and commonly eaten fresh, while the pulp is used in the preparation of cakes and couscous[, ]. The fruit is about 4cm long and 2.5cm wide[].
The fruits can be stored for 1 - 3 years in jute bags[].

The pulp of the fruit is used as a substitute for sugar[].

The seeds and leaves are eaten as a condiment and vegetable[].

The seeds are dried and ground into a flour[]. This is used as a traditional emulsifying, flavouring and thickening agent[].
The seeds contain a high content of gum (water-soluble polysaccharides)[]. This gum can be used to increase the water absorption of wheat flour and the mixing tolerance index of the dough significantly[]. Oil-water emulsions stabilised by the seed flour or gum tolerate freezing and thawing better than commercial salad dressing, egg powder and gum tragacanth emulsions[]. Addition of the gum to fruit products such as mango, orange, pineapple or tomato, improved their stability in storage (at 26°C) for at least 2 months and was well acceptable to consumers[].

Medicinal

Although no specific record for this species has been seen yet, it probably has most, if not all, the same uses as the closely related D. microcarpum[]. These uses are:-

The bark, leaves and roots are widely used throughout the plant's native range because of their diuretic and astringent properties[]. Modern research has verified the presence of medicinally active compounds[]. The bark has been found to contain 2 tetranorditerpenes, the clerodane diterpenes catechine and cis-2-oxokolavenic acid (0.5%), the diterpene copalic acid (1.7%) and coumarin (1%)[].
An ethanol extract of the bark has demonstrated antimicrobial action against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Listeria monocytogenes[]. The extract also showed moderate antitumor activity against breast cancer cells[].
The flavones present in a methanol extract of the plant showed strong inhibitory effects on HIV-1 or HIV-2 infection[].
A bark extract showed significant molluscicidal activity against Lymnaea natalensis[].

The bark, leaves and roots are prepared as infusions or decoctions to treat a wide range of ailments including rheumatism; venereal diseases and urogenital infections; haemorrhoids; caries; problems of the digestive system such as biliousness, stomach-ache, intestinal worms, diarrhoea and dysentery[]. They are also used against malaria, leprosy and impotence[].
Applied externally, the fresh bark or leaves are used to treat wounds, to prevent and cure infections[].

A decoction of the powdered bark is widely taken to alleviate pain such as in headache, sore throat, back pain and painful menstruation[]. The bark is also used to treat measles, nocturia, hypertension, itch and tiredness[]

A decoction of the leaves or roots is taken to treat paralysis, meningitis, tiredness, cramps and difficult delivery[].
A decoction of the leaves is taken to treat fainting and convulsions[].
The leaves, combined with the leaves of Sclerocarya birrea and Acacia macrostachya, and pounded in milk, are considered a very efficient treatment for snakebites[].

The powdered seeds are applied to skin infections and inflammations[].

The fruit is eaten to cure meningitis and malaria[]. A preparation of the fruits is taken to treat dizziness[].
Externally, the fruit pulp is used for treating skin infections[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is a red, coppery brown with dark brown veins; it is clearly demarcated from the 7 - 10cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is medium to coarse; the grain straight or interlocked; resin exudation is possible. The wood is moderately heavy, moderately hard, tough; it is durable and long-lasting even under water, being resistant to dry wood borers and moderately resistant to fungi and termites. It seasons slowly, with only a slight risk of checking or distortion; once dry it is moderately stable in service. It is easy to work with ordinary tools, though tools need to be kept tightly sharpened because there are possible difficulties when sawing and cutting due to the presence of resin; nailing and screwing are good, but require pre-boring; gluing is generally correct, but the presence of resin can cause difficulties. The wood is used for cabinet work, high class furniture, turnery, flooring, panelling, carpentry, fence poles and joinery[].

Although no other specific records for this species have been seen yet, it probably has most, if not all, the same uses as the closely related D. Microcarpum[]. These uses are:-

The tree produces a fragrant resin[].
The seeds are used as frankincense[].
The heated roots are sweetly scented and are used as a perfume and as a mosquito-repellent[].
A methanol extract of the leaves has exhibited strong feeding deterrent activity against the termite Reticulitermes speratus[].

The seeds are used to make necklaces for women[].

In southern Mali the leaves are used as roofing material[].

The leaves are used as an organic fertilizer[].

The leaves are used to make masks[].

The wood is well appreciated as firewood, as it lights quickly even if wet, burns slowly and gives off a pleasant aroma[, ].

Propagation

Seed -

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