Annona senegalensis

Wild custard-apple

Annona senelegensis, commonly known as the African custard apple, is a versatile medicinal shrub native to tropical Africa. Renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, various parts of this plant are traditionally used to treat ailments ranging from skin infections and inflammation to digestive issues, offering significant pharmacological potential.

  • Scientific name: Annona senegalensis
  • Family: Annonaceae
  • Native range: Africa

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Magnoliales, it is a member of the family Annonaceae. Ultimately, Annona senehalensis is categorized under the genus Annona.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Magnoliales WCVP
Family Annonaceae WCVP
Genus Annona WCVP

Common Names

This plant, Annona senegalensis, is known by various names across different languages and regions. In Esperanto, it is referred to as Senegala anono, while in Udmurt, it is called Сенегалысь аннона. In Kinyarwanda, the plant is known as Umushirashira, and in Russian, it is identified as Аннона сенегальская. Additionally, in the Koi language, it is called Сенегалісь аннона.
Language Common Name Source
eo Senegala anono Wikidata
udm Сенегалысь аннона Wikidata
rw Umushirashira Wikidata
ru Аннона сенегальская Wikidata
koi Сенегалісь аннона Wikidata
sw Mkonokono Wikidata
bg Сенегалска анона Wikidata
fa آنونا سنگالنسیس Wikidata
zh 非洲番荔枝 Wikidata
dag Bulimbuɣu Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the African continent. In the Macaronesian region, its presence is specifically noted in Cape Verde. Moving to West Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the borders of Benin. The species also inhabits the landscapes of Burkina and the Gambia. Finally, its range extends further along the coast to include Ghana.

Region Area Source
Macaronesia Cape Verde WCVP
West Tropical Africa Benin WCVP
West Tropical Africa Burkina WCVP
West Tropical Africa Gambia WCVP
West Tropical Africa Ghana WCVP
West Tropical Africa Guinea-Bissau WCVP
West Tropical Africa Guinea WCVP
West Tropical Africa Ivory Coast WCVP
West Tropical Africa Liberia WCVP
West Tropical Africa Mali WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Annona senegalensis, possesses various components that are utilized for their therapeutic properties in traditional medicine. The leaves are frequently employed in decoctions to treat ailments such as fever or inflammation, while the stem bark and various stem barks harvested from the woody structure are often processed to address digestive issues or skin conditions. Furthermore, the seeds are sometimes utilized in specific preparations, and in many medicinal practices, the whole ground plant material is used to create potent remedies that harness the combined synergistic effects of all its botanical elements.
Total parts
15
Scientific sources
21
Plant Part Sources Confidence
seeds 4 ★★☆☆☆
leaves 4 ★★☆☆☆
whole ground plant material 1 ★☆☆☆☆
stem barks 1 ★☆☆☆☆
stem bark 1 ★☆☆☆☆
roots 1 ★☆☆☆☆
root barks 1 ★☆☆☆☆
root 1 ★☆☆☆☆
methanol leaf extracts 1 ★☆☆☆☆
leaf 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Annona senegalensis has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 30 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, (+)-catechin, (+)-nornantenine.

Total chemicals
27
Scientific sources
30

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
flavonoids 2 ★☆☆☆☆
saponins 2 ★☆☆☆☆
terpenoids 2 ★☆☆☆☆
(+)-catechin 1 ★☆☆☆☆
(+)-nornantenine 1 ★☆☆☆☆
(+)-syringaresinol 1 ★☆☆☆☆
(-)-anonaine 1 ★☆☆☆☆
(-)-asimilobine 1 ★☆☆☆☆
ABTS 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Compound 2 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Activities

Annona senegalensis has 11 reported activities identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antimalarial, Cytotoxic, Anthelmintic.

Total activities
11
Scientific sources
17

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Confidence
Antioxidant 4 ★★☆☆☆
Antidiabetic 2 ★☆☆☆☆
Antimalarial 2 ★☆☆☆☆
Cytotoxic 2 ★☆☆☆☆
Anthelmintic 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Anticancer 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antifungal 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antimicrobial 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antiprotozoal 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Anxiolytic 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Annona senegalensis has 21 reported medicinal uses identified across 25 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include mental disorders, leishmaniasis, malaria, Brain Tumor, Leishmania donovani.

Total uses
21
Scientific sources
25

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Confidence
mental disorders 3 ★★☆☆☆
leishmaniasis 2 ★☆☆☆☆
malaria 2 ★☆☆☆☆
Brain Tumor 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Leishmania donovani 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Leishmania major 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Streptococcus mutans 1 ★☆☆☆☆
anthelmintic 1 ★☆☆☆☆
antioxidant 1 ★☆☆☆☆
bacterial infections 1 ★☆☆☆☆