Common Name:

General Information

Strophanthus eminii is a deciduous shrub or small tree that grows from 1 - 7 metres tall. It sometimes becomes a climbing shrub with stems up to 10 metres long and up to 6cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use. Because of its beautiful flowers, Strophanthus eminii would make an interesting ornamental[].

Known Hazards

The seeds are used in arrow poisons[]. The glycosides in the seeds cause the heart of the prey animal or victim to arrest in systole[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Tanzania, southeastern DR Congo, Zambia.

Habitat

Deciduous woodland or Acacia- Commiphora bushland, especially in rocky localities, at elevations from 600 - 1,650 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	5.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The roots are taken, usually with other herbs, as an anthelmintic and emetic[]. The vapours of the roots in a hot water bath are inhaled as a treatment against fever[].
A root infusion is applied to skin diseases and wounds[]. Children are bathed in a root decoction to combat fevers[].

Young twigs are chewed against the effects of snakebites[].

As in many Strophanthus species, a complex mixture of cardiac glycosides (cardenolides) is present in Strophanthus eminii, and the seeds contain the highest concentration[].
The main glycosides isolated from the seeds are emicymarin and periplocymarin, which have periplogenin as aglycone, cymarin with strophanthidin as aglycone, and cymarol with strophanthidol as aglycone. Ledienoside, with periplogenin as aglycone, has been isolated as a minor compound, and was previously found in Strophanthus ledienii. When used as an arrow poison, these glycosides cause the heart of the prey animal or victim to arrest in systole[].

Other Uses

The soft leaves are sometimes used as toilet paper for babies[].

Propagation

Seed -

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