Carpolobia lutea

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Carpolobia caudata

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 Polygalaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Carpolobia, specifically the species Carpolobia lutea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Carpolobia lutea, is primarily distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is specifically documented within the borders of Benin. Additionally, the species can be found growing throughout the country of Ghana. The geographical range extends further into Guinea, where it occupies local habitats. Finally, its distribution includes the coastal and inland areas of Ivory Coast and Liberia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Carpolobia lutea is characterized by its perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habits and ecological positioning, the species exhibits complex life form traits, functioning both as a phanerophyte, where its buds are borne on aerial shoots well above the ground, and as a nanophanerophyte, indicating a growth habit where the woody stems are relatively short.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Carpolobia lutea is characterized by its woody growth habit, manifesting primarily as a tree or shrub. The plant exhibits a terrestrial lifestyle rather than an epiphytic one, maintaining a self-supporting structure without the need for climbing. In terms of stature, it reaches a mean height of approximately 6 m, with recorded maximum heights extending to about 4.57 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height max:

4.572055596 m

Plant height mean:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Carpolobia lutea is characterized by its specific metabolic processes and nutrient acquisition strategies, particularly regarding its interaction with soil nitrogen. Unlike many members of the Fabaceae family, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms through root nodules. Consequently, the plant relies on the uptake of dissolved nitrates and ammonium from the soil profile to sustain its protein synthesis and vegetative growth. Its physiological framework is tuned to manage these available mineral resources through efficient root absorption and internal transport mechanisms, ensuring that nitrogenous compounds are distributed to support its essential biochemical pathways and medicinal secondary metabolite production.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Carpolobia lutea has 3 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf, stem.

Root

1. Nigerian journal of physiological sciences : official publication of the Physiological Society of Nigeria
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Stem

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Chemicals

Carpolobia lutea has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthraquinones, Cardiac Glycosides, Flavonoids, Saponins, Terpenes.

Anthraquinones

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cardiac Glycosides

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Saponins

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Terpenes

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tannins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

ethanol

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

polyphenols

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Activities

Carpolobia lutea has 6 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifungal, Antihelicobacter, Antimicrobial, Antiulcer, Contraceptive.

Antifungal

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Antihelicobacter

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Antimicrobial

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Antiulcer

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Contraceptive

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Estrogenic

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Conditions

Carpolobia lutea has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria, family planning, fertility, gingivitis, gonorrhea.

Malaria

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Family planning

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Fertility

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Gingivitis

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Gonorrhea

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Infectious diseases

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Infertility

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Ulcers

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Carpolobia lutea has 5 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include C. lutea leaf, ethanolic root extract, methanolic root extract, root, stem.

C. lutea leaf

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Ethanolic root extract

1. Nigerian journal of physiological sciences : official publication of the Physiological Society of Nigeria

Methanolic root extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Root

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Stem

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM