Cape beech
Myrsine melanophloeos · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (7 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Cape beech, scientifically known as Myrsine melanophloeos, is a versatile evergreen shrub native to subtropical regions. Renowned for its medicinal properties, various parts of the plant are utilized in traditional remedies to treat inflammatory conditions, skin ailments, and digestive issues, offering significant therapeutic potential in ethnobotanical studies.
- Family
- Primulaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Bark · Stem Bark
- Common names
- Not available
- Scientific synonyms
- Chrysophyllum Melanophoeos · Rapanea Bequaertii · 29 more
Names
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Myrsine melanophloeosSynonyms
- Chrysophyllum melanophoeos
- Rapanea bequaertii
- Rapanea melanophloeos
- Rapanea usambarensis
- Rapanea lamiaensis
- Myrsine pentandra
- Rapanea gracilior
- Rapanea schliebenii
- Rapanea ulugurensis
- Rapanea umbratilis
- Myrsine simensis
- Rapanea thomensis
- Myrsine rhododendroides
- Rapanea simensis
- Myrsine runssorica
- Myrsine neurophylla
- Rapanea pulchra
- Rapanea neurophylla
- Manglilla melanophloeos
- Rapanea runssorica
- Manglilla venulosa
- Myrsine venulosa
- Scleroxylum melanophloeum
- Samara pentandra
- Rapanea rhododendroides
- Roemeria melanophloeos
- Heeria melanophloeos
- Myrsine ulugurensis
- Scleroxylum venulosum
- Sideroxylon melanophloeos
- Chrysophyllum millerianum
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ericales, it is classified under the family Primulaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Myrsine.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ericales | WCVP |
| Family | Primulaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Myrsine | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, it can be specifically identified in Nigeria. Its presence extends significantly into West-Central Tropical Africa, where it is found in Burundi, Cameroon, and Congo. Furthermore, the species is documented within the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Collectively, these locations highlight its importance within tropical African ecosystems.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Myrsine melanophloeos, possesses distinct morphological characteristics across its various components that are often studied for their medicinal potential. The stem bark is typically characterized by its texture and thickness, providing structural support and acting as a conduit for nutrients. The outer bark of the branches often displays a dark, sometimes fissured appearance, which is a defining feature of the species. Additionally, the leaf structure, typically being evergreen and leathery, serves as the primary site for photosynthesis and contains various secondary metabolites that contribute to the plant's therapeutic properties.| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| bark | Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | BMC complementary and alternative medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Myrsine melanophloeos has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include EMBELIN.
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| EMBELIN | Veterinary parasitology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Myrsine melanophloeos has 1 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| DCM extracts | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extract of R. melanophloeos stem bark | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chloroformic extract of Rapanea melanophloeos (L.) Mez | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chloroformic stem bark extract of Rapanea melanophloeos | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| medicinal bark | Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanol leaf extract | BMC complementary and alternative medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic extract | BMC complementary and alternative medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |