Markhamia obtusifolia
Golden bell-bean
Markhamia obtusifolia, commonly known as the Markhamia tree, is a versatile medicinal plant found across tropical Africa. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, its leaves and bark are traditionally used to treat various ailments, including skin infections, inflammation, and digestive issues, offering significant potential in ethnobotanical studies and pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Markhamia obtusifolia
- Family: Bignoniaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales, it is classified under the family Bignoniaceae and is identified by the genus Markhamia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Bignoniaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Markhamia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Markhamia obtusifolia, is referred to by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Kinyarwanda, it is known as both Umukoli and Umunyagakoli. In Chinese, the plant is identified by the name 钝叶猫尾木, which is used across different regional variations including 钝叶猫尾木 (zh), 钝叶猫尾木 (zh-hans), and 钝叶猫尾木 (zh-cn).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| rw | Umukoli | Wikidata |
| zh | 钝叶猫尾木 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 钝叶猫尾木 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 钝叶猫尾木 | Wikidata |
| rw | Umunyagakoli | Wikidata |
| rw | Umukundambazo | Wikidata |
| af | Goueklokkiesboontjieboom | Wikidata |
| en | Golden Bell-bean | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found in Burundi and the Central African Republic. The species also extends through the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda within that same West-Central zone. Moving toward the eastern side of the continent, its range reaches into East Tropical Africa. Specifically, this medicinal plant is documented to grow within the borders of Kenya.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Angola | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Malawi | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Zambia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the Markhamia tree, utilizes its leaf as a primary component in traditional medicinal practices. The broad, pinnate leaves are often harvested and prepared in various ways, such as being crushed into a paste or decocted into a tea, to treat ailments ranging from skin inflammation to digestive issues. Because the leaves contain specific bioactive compounds, they serve as a vital part of the plant's therapeutic profile in many herbal remedies.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Markhamia obtusifolia has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, lignans, phytosterols, terpenoids.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lignans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phytosterols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Markhamia obtusifolia has 6 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antifungal, Antiinflammatory, Antiprotozoal, Antiviral.
- Total activities
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiprotozoal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Markhamia obtusifolia has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Aspergillus flavus.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Aspergillus flavus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |