Bitter kola

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bitter-kola
• false kola
• bitter kola

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Garcinia akawaensis
• Garcinia giadidii
• Garcinia dinklagei
• Garcinia conrauana
• Garcinia bergheana
• Garcinia ndongensis
• Garcinia nitidula

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 Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Clusiaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Garcinia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found throughout the West Tropical Africa region. Its distribution encompasses several specific countries within this diverse ecological zone. Specifically, it can be located in the nation of Benin. The species also grows within the territories of Guinea, Liberia, and Ivory Coast. Finally, its presence is well-documented across the landscape of Nigeria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Garcinia kola is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to maintain a stable presence within its tropical ecosystem over many years. As a phanerophyte, the plant directs its growth into large, woody structures where the reproductive organs are borne on branches well above the ground, a trait consistent with both its phanerophyte life form classifications. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage year-round to maximize photosynthetic activity in its native habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Garcinia kola is characterized by its robust growth form, primarily existing as a woody tree. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, meaning it does not exhibit parasitic behavior. The plant is self-supporting in its structure, rather than acting as a liana or vine, and it maintains a significant stature with a mean plant height of approximately 19.81 meters. As a woody perennial, its physical architecture is defined by a solid, lignified stem structure consistent with its classification as a large tree.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

19.81077786 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Garcinia kola is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide through the enzyme Rubisco, a trait typical of most tropical woody perennials. This metabolic process is optimized for the shaded and humid environments where the species often thrives, although it lacks the specialized adaptations of C4 or CAM metabolism. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, as it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Garcinia kola is characterized by a highly flexible and variable phenological cycle regarding its reproductive stages. The flowering process is notably inconsistent in its timing, with the flowering start and end periods described as variable throughout the year, potentially occurring across any month from January through December. Similarly, the fruiting cycle exhibits a specific pattern where the fruiting period is centered around May, though the overall duration of fruit development remains variable. This variability in both flowering and fruiting onset and cessation suggests that the plant's reproductive success is closely tied to shifting environmental conditions rather than a strictly fixed seasonal calendar.

Flowering time :

variable

Fruiting time :

May

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Garcinia kola has 4 reported plant parts identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, root, leaf, stem.

Seed

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Experientia
3. Brain communications
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. The Journal of applied bacteriology

Leaf

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

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Garcinia kola has 47 reported phytochemicals identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Kolaviron, Flavonoids, GB 2, GB-1, GB-1a.

Kolaviron

1. Experientia
2. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
3. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe
4. TheScientificWorldJournal
5. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Flavonoids

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. PloS one
3. Journal of medicinally active plants

GB 2

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Journal of chromatography. A
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

GB-1

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Journal of chromatography. A
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

GB-1a

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Journal of chromatography. A
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

GB1

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Experientia
3. Planta medica

GB2

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Experientia
3. Planta medica

Garcinoic acid

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe
3. Redox biology

Kolaflavanone

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Experientia
3. Planta medica

Tannins

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. The Journal of applied bacteriology
3. PloS one

Activities

Garcinia kola has 16 reported activities identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Neuroprotective, Antidiabetic, Antimalarial, Antibacterial, Antioxidant.

Neuroprotective

1. Brain communications
2. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Biomarkers : biochemical indicators of exposure, response, and susceptibility to chemicals

Antidiabetic

1. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
4. Biomarkers : biochemical indicators of exposure, response, and susceptibility to chemicals

Antimalarial

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Biomarkers : biochemical indicators of exposure, response, and susceptibility to chemicals

Antibacterial

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. PloS one
3. Journal of medicinally active plants

Antioxidant

1. PloS one
2. Journal of medicinally active plants
3. Biomarkers : biochemical indicators of exposure, response, and susceptibility to chemicals

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe
3. Biomarkers : biochemical indicators of exposure, response, and susceptibility to chemicals

Analgesic

1. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe

Anticancer

1. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe

Antimicrobial

1. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe

Antinociceptive

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Garcinia kola has 42 reported medicinal uses identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, bronchitis, malaria, oxidative stress, bacterial infections.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations