Sweet Dattock

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Sweet Dattock
• Tallow Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, it is further categorized under the family Fabaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Detarium, with its species name being microcarpum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed throughout the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is documented across several specific countries, including Benin and Burkina. Additionally, it can be found within the territories of Gambia and Ghana. The species also extends its range into Guinea-Bissau. Together, these locations define the specific geographical footprint of this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Detarium microcarpum is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its natural ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures, specifically manifesting as a phanerophyte through its woody, tree-like growth habit. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage seasonally as part of its biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Detarium microcarpum is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, functioning as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana. It is an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, and thrives in terrestrial environments rather than aquatic or semiaquatic habitats. The plant typically reaches a mean height of 6 m, though it can achieve a maximum height of approximately 9.14 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

9.144111192 m

Plant height mean:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Detarium microcarpum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy in tropical woody species that involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. Furthermore, this plant functions as a nitrogen fixer, possessing the physiological capacity to engage in symbiotic relationships that allow for the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, thereby enhancing nutrient uptake and supporting its growth in diverse ecological niches.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Detarium microcarpum is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects. The plant produces fleshy fruits that serve as the vessel for its reproductive development. The seeds contained within these fruits exhibit significant physical characteristics, with a mean seed mass of approximately 4.94226 g, ranging from a minimum of 1.86852 g to a maximum of 8.016 g. Furthermore, the seeds maintain a consistent volume throughout their development, with a recorded mean, minimum, and maximum seed volume of 10,000 mm³.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

8.016 g

Seed mass mean:

4.94226 g

Seed mass min:

1.86852 g

Seed volume max:

10000 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Detarium microcarpum has 5 reported plant parts identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, fruit, seed, stem.

Leaf

1. Protoplasma
2. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
3. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Root

1. Protoplasma
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
3. Journal of tropical medicine

Fruit

1. Journal of natural products
2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Seed

1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
2. Bollettino chimico farmaceutico

Stem

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Frontiers in microbiology

Chemicals

Detarium microcarpum has 35 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include D-glucose, Gallic acid, 2-oxokolavenic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyclerodan-13E-en-15-oic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyclerodan-13Z-en-15-oic acid.

D-glucose

1. Carbohydrate research
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Gallic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

2-oxokolavenic acid

1. Journal of natural products

3,4-dihydroxyclerodan-13E-en-15-oic acid

1. Journal of natural products

3,4-dihydroxyclerodan-13Z-en-15-oic acid

1. Journal of natural products

3,4-epoxyclerodan-13E-en-15-oic acid

1. Journal of natural products

Alphitolic acid

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Alpinumisoflavone

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Clerodane Diterpene

1. Fitoterapia

D-(-)-bornesitol

1. Carbohydrate research

Activities

Detarium microcarpum has 2 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial.

Antidiabetic

1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Antimicrobial

1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Conditions

Detarium microcarpum has 13 reported investigations on conditions identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease, Chikungunya virus infection, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhi, Shigella boydii.

Alzheimer's disease

1. Journal of natural products

Chikungunya virus infection

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Salmonella enteritidis

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Salmonella typhi

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Shigella boydii

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Antidiabetic

1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Cancer

1. Protoplasma

Cervical cancer

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Dysentery

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Gastrointestinal disorders

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Preparations

Detarium microcarpum has 14 reported preparations identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Gum, Leaf Extract, alkaloid fractions, aqueous bark extracts, bark extract.

Gum

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Leaf extract

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Alkaloid fractions

1. Protoplasma

Aqueous bark extracts

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Bark extract

1. Carbohydrate research

Crude extracts

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Ethanol/water (7:3) extract of the roots

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Extract root barks

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Extracts of stem bark

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Fruit pulp extract

1. Journal of natural products