Common Name:

General Information

Triclisia dictyophylla is a climbing plant or scrambling shrub with stems that can be up to 30 metres long and 10cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

In several parts of Central Africa the root, especially the root bark, is an ingredient of arrow poison[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Liberia to Central African Republic and southern Ethiopia, south to Angola and DR Congo.

Habitat

Dense, humid lowland to medium-elevation forests at elevations up to 400 metres[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	8.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The macerated root is taken as an abortifacient and emmenagogue[]. A decoction is drunk as a vermifuge, whereas the roots are taken raw to treat venereal diseases[]. The grated roots are taken to treat snakebites and expel roundworm[].
The root pulp or root sap is rubbed into scarifications to treat joint pain, epileptic attacks, oedema, venereal diseases and anaemia[]. A bark or root decoction is used as a wash to calm palpitations[].

A decoction of the twig bark is widely taken to treat fever and malaria, and also to treat diarrhoea, stomach problems and purulent catarrh[]. The powdered stem bark is used in the treatment of leprosy[].

A root bark decoction is taken as a treatment for stomach problems and dysentery, convulsive coughing and feverish stiffness of the limbs[].

The leaf juice is used to ease coughs[]. The leaves are suspended from the ceiling to help children with breathing problems[]. The juice of young leaves is diluted and administered as a painkiller to patients with mental health problems during attacks[].

The characteristic bioactive compounds in the plant are bisbenzyl-isoquinoline alkaloids and related dioxin alkaloids[].
A range of alkaloids have been found in the roots, stems and leaves[].
A methanol extract of the stem bark has shown strong activity against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro and a less strong, but significant effect against Trypanosoma brucei[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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