Common Name:

General Information

Voacanga africana is an evergreen shrub or tree growing from 1 - 11 metres tall and branching from low down[, ]. The bole can be 2 - 30cm in diameter[].
The tree has a long history of traditional medicinal use in Africa, where it also supplies food and a range of commodities. Various parts of the plant are exported to pharmaceutical companies in Europe, America etc as a source of medicinal compounds[]. The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental, being valued for its sweet-scented flowers[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Sudan and Kenya, south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Habitat

An understorey tree of forest, secondary jungle and savannah woodland[]. Open woodland or light forest; riverine forests; in savannahs it is only found in moist places; at elevations up to 1,000 metres[]

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	9.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is not frost resistant, but plants will survive if protected for the first 3 years[].

Edible Uses

Fruit[].

The wood is burnt to make a salt[].

Medicinal

The latex obtained from the tree is applied to wounds and into carious teeth[].

An extract of the bark is used for washing sores[].

The plant (parts unspecified, possibly the bark-sap) is used in Congo for treating sores, furuncles, abscesses, fungal infections, filaria and eczema[].

A root decoction is taken orally by women to ward off the untoward consequences of premature or precipitant parturition and to treat dysmenorrhoea[]. The same prescription is used as a treatment for painful hernias. A bark or root-decoction is used to treat heart-troubles (spasms, angina?)[].

A decoction of the leaves is taken orally as a strengthener and is a treatment for fatigue due to shortness of breath[].
The leaf decoction is taken by enema to treat diarrhoea; it is used in baths to treat general oedema; by frictions and draughts for leprosy; and in a lotion to treat convulsions in infants[].
The sap of the leaves is used as nose-drops in treating insanity[].

All parts of the plant are rich in alkaloids, especially the bark: the root-bark contains 5 - 10%; the stem-bark 4 - 5%; the seeds 1.5%; the leaves 0.3 - 0.45%.
Voacamine is the principle alkaloid present followed by voacangine, voacangarine, voacorine and vobtusine[, ]. Many other alkaloids have also been identified, as well as the presence of small amounts of tannins and flavonoids[]. The alkaloids are of particular interest to the pharmaceutical industry. They show a vast range of pharmacological activities including analgesic, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, cardiotonic, cytotoxic, diuretic, hypotensive, vasoconstrictor, central nervous sytem-stimulant, and exerting a spasmolytic effect on the smooth muscle of the intestine[]. Several of the compounds are extracted from the plant for use in medical preparations[].

Other Uses

There is an abundant white latex in the bark and other parts of the tree. It does not coagulate and has been used to adulterate better rubbers[, ]. Children use it to make balls to play with[]

The bark contains a fibre which is used to make a yarn, and which may also be admixed with cotton or other fibres for making mats[].

A seed oil is obtained as a by-product of the pharmaceutical industry obtaining medicinal compounds[]. It has cosmetic and nutritional value[].

The wood is soft and the bole often hollow[]. Considered to be of low quality, it is sometimes used locally as poles for building purposes and to make musical instruments[]. Arrows and knife sheaths are made from the branches[].
The wood is also used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soaking for 12 hours in warm water can improve germination results[]. The seed is quite easy to germinate - it can be sown in light shade in nursery seedbeds or individual containers. Germination rates can be quite good, reaching up to 90% after 7 weeks[].
Dry seeds store well under cool conditions. Seed storage behaviour is orthodox; viability is maintained for more than 3 years in airtight storage at ambient temperature with 11 - 15% humidity[].
Cuttings are possible but success rates are generally low[].

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