sappanwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Sappan
• Indian redwood
• sappanwood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Caesalpinia angustifolia
• Caesalpinia sappan

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Biancaea, with its species name being sappan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Biancaea sappan, exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found within the borders of Nigeria. Its presence extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically located in the DR Congo. Moving towards the eastern part of the continent, the species is distributed throughout Tanzania and Uganda. Finally, its range reaches into South Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Mozambique.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Biancaea sappan is characterized by its existence as a perennial species, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple successive years. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs at a significant height above the ground, supported by a woody structure. Its growth pattern is defined by a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Biancaea sappan is characterized by its stature as a woody tree that can reach a mean height of approximately 10 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semi-aquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant is an independent organism, meaning it is not a parasite, and it possesses a self-supporting growth habit rather than acting as a climbing vine or liana. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody nature, supporting its form as a robust, self-supporting tree.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Biancaea sappan is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a specific leaf morphology consisting of oblong leaves with entire margins, notably lacking any leaf thorns or spines. In terms of leaf architecture and resource allocation, the plant maintains a consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 177.1197162 cm²/g, reflecting a stabilized ratio of leaf area to dry mass. Furthermore, the species possesses the physiological capability of nitrogen fixation, allowing it to enhance soil fertility and sustain growth through the biological conversion of atmospheric nitrogen.

Leaf form :

oblong

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

177.1197162 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Biancaea sappan is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit specific morphological variations in weight. The seed mass within a population shows a measurable range, with a minimum recorded value of 0.27778 g and a maximum reaching up to 0.5682 g. On average, the seed mass is approximately 0.375626667 g, reflecting the biological variability inherent in its reproductive output.

Seed mass max:

0.5682 g

Seed mass mean:

0.375626667 g

Seed mass min:

0.27778 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Biancaea sappan has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Fitoterapia
3. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Biancaea sappan has 25 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Brazilin, Brazilein, Flavonoids, Sappanchalcone, HEMATOXYLIN.

Brazilin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Archives of pharmacal research
3. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
4. Pharmaceutical biology
5. Life sciences

Brazilein

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Planta medica

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Scientific reports

Sappanchalcone

1. Archives of pharmacal research
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

HEMATOXYLIN

1. Life sciences
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Protosappanin B

1. Current drug metabolism
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

3'-Deoxy-4-O-methylepisappanol

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

3-Deoxysappanchalcone

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Planta medica

CAMPESTEROL

1. Planta medica

Activities

Biancaea sappan has 15 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antiproliferative, Hepatoprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Natural product research
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. TheScientificWorldJournal
4. Scientific reports
5. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Antibacterial

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Scientific reports
4. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Anticancer

1. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Scientific reports

Antiproliferative

1. Scientific reports
2. Journal of natural products

Hepatoprotective

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Anthelmintic

1. Parasitology research

Antifibrotic

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Antiglycation

1. Natural product research

Antimalarial

1. Journal of natural products

Chemopreventive

1. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin

Medicinal Uses

Biancaea sappan has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include colorectal cancer, hemorrhoids, oxidative stress.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations