Erythrophleum africanum

Erythrophleum africanum, commonly known as the African bush-tea or African mahogany, is a versatile medicinal plant native to tropical Africa. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, various parts of this shrub are traditionally utilized to treat ailments ranging from gastrointestinal issues to skin infections, showcasing its profound ethnobotanical significance.

  • Scientific name: Erythrophleum africanum
  • Family: Fabaceae
  • Native range: Africa

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Erythrophleum.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Fabales WCVP
Family Fabaceae WCVP
Genus Erythrophleum WCVP

Common Names

This plant, Erythrophleum africanum, is recognized by various local and regional names across different linguistic groups. In Afrikaans, it is known as the Ooordeelboom, while in Hausa, it is referred to as Samberu. In the Dagbani language, the plant is called Bupuŋga, and in Bemba, it goes by the name Geletali. Additionally, in Chinese, it is identified as 非洲格木.
Language Common Name Source
af Oordeelboom Wikidata
ha Samberu Wikidata
dag Bupuŋga Wikidata
bm Geletali Wikidata
zh 非洲格木 Wikidata
zh-hans 非洲格木 Wikidata
zh-cn 非洲格木 Wikidata

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within West Tropical Africa. It can be found growing in the nation of Benin. Furthermore, its presence extends into the territory of Burkina. The species is also documented in Gambia and Ghana. Finally, its geographical range includes Guinea-Bissau.

Region Area Source
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 Mali WCVP
West Tropical Africa Nigeria WCVP
West Tropical Africa Senegal WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Erythropheleum africanum, possesses medicinal properties that are primarily derived from its trunk bark. The bark of the trunk is harvested and utilized in various traditional medicinal practices to treat different ailments. Due to its specific chemical composition, the trunk bark serves as a vital component in decoctions or infusions used to address health concerns within its natural habitat.
Total parts
1
Scientific sources
1
Plant Part Sources Confidence
Trunk Bark 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Activities

Erythrophleum africanum has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihyperglycemic.

Total activities
1
Scientific sources
1

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Confidence
Antihyperglycemic 1 ★☆☆☆☆