Acokanthera oppositifolia
Acokanthera oppositifolia, commonly known as the Bushman's Poison, is a toxic evergreen shrub native to Africa. Renowned for its potent cardiac glycosides, it has historically been used to create arrow poisons. While biologically dangerous, it remains a subject of botanical interest due to its intense pharmacological properties and medicinal potential.
- Scientific name: Acokanthera oppositifolia
- Family: Apocynaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianales, it is classified under the family Apocynaceae and the genus Acokanthera. Therefore, its complete scientific name identifies it as Acokanthera oppositifolia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Apocynaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Acokanthera | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Acokanthera oppositifolia, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In German, it is referred to as Buschmanns Schöngift, while in Afrikaans, it is called Boesmansgif. Its names in Arabic dialects include ثبيرة متقابلة الأوراق (ar) and ثبيره متقابلة الاوراق (arz), and in Chinese, it is known as 长药花 (zh).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Buschmanns Schöngift | Wikidata |
| af | Boesmansgif | Wikidata |
| ar | ثبيرة متقابلة الأوراق | Wikidata |
| arz | ثبيره متقابلة الاوراق | Wikidata |
| zh | 长药花 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 对叶箭毒木 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 對葉箭毒木 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across various regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its range extends into East Tropical Africa, where it is present in both Kenya and Tanzania. Moving toward the southern regions, the species is also located in South Tropical Africa. Specifically, this medicinal plant inhabits the landscapes of Malawi and Mozambique.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Malawi | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Zambia | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Zimbabwe | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Cape Provinces | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Eswatini | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Acokanthera oppositifolia, is characterized by its distinct morphological structures, including its woody stems and individual stem components that support its growth. The stems serve as the structural framework of the plant, providing the necessary stability to hold its foliage. Most notably, the leaves are a prominent feature, typically appearing in an opposite arrangement along the stem, which is a defining characteristic of its vegetative anatomy.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Acokanthera oppositifolia has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonols, proanthocyanidins.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| proanthocyanidins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Acokanthera oppositifolia has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include abdominal pains, arthritis, cancer, chronic pain, convulsions.
- Total uses
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| abdominal pains | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| arthritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chronic pain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| convulsions | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| headaches | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| parasites | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |