African peach

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African peach

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sarcocephalus russeggeri
• Sarcocephalus latifolius
• Nauclea esculenta
• Sarcocephalus sambucinus
• Sarcocephalus esculentus
• Sarcocephalus esculentus var. amarissima
• Sarcocephalus esculentus var. velutina
• Cephalina esculenta

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 Gentianaales, it is classified under the family Rubiaceae. Specifically, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Nauclea, which includes the species Nauclea latifolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the diverse landscapes of West Tropical Africa. Its presence can be documented in the country of Benin, where it plays a role in the local ecosystem. It is also found within the borders of Burkina, contributing to the region's botanical diversity. Furthermore, the species extends its range into Gambia and Ghana. Finally, its geographical reach includes the coastal and inland territories of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Nauclea latifolia is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its conducting shoots well above the ground, specifically functioning as a nanophanerophyte in certain developmental stages or environmental contexts. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal biological rhythm.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Nauclea latifolia is characterized by a woody growth form that primarily manifests as a tree, though it can also present as a shrub. As a self-supporting organism, it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it is classified as an independent species rather than a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial habit. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with a minimum height of 10 m and a maximum height reaching up to 30 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 6.52 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

6.524018532 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Nauclea latifolia is characterized by its specialized metabolic pathways and growth strategies adapted to tropical forest ecosystems. As a woody perennial, its physiological processes are heavily reliant on efficient photosynthetic mechanisms to support rapid biomass accumulation and the synthesis of complex secondary metabolites, such as indole alkaloids. In terms of nutrient acquisition, the plant does not engage in symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria to convert atmospheric gas into organic forms; therefore, it is not a nitrogen fixer, as indicated by its lack of specialized root nodules for this purpose. Instead, its nitrogen physiology depends on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through an extensive root system. This reliance on soil-derived nitrogen dictates its distribution patterns, often favoring nutrient-rich riparian zones where mineral availability supports its robust vegetative growth and reproductive cycles.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Nauclea latifolia is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily involving insects and specifically bees, which facilitate the fertilization process. The fruiting period is highly concentrated, with both the onset and conclusion of fruiting occurring around July, though the timing can be variable. Once fertilization is successful, the plant produces seeds that are remarkably lightweight; the seed mass is extremely fine, ranging from a minimum of 0.00018 g to a maximum of 0.00022 g, with an average mass of approximately 2e-04 g. Following maturation, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to distribute its seeds throughout its habitat.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruiting time :

Jul

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.00022 g

Seed mass mean:

2e-04 g

Seed mass min:

0.00018 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Nauclea latifolia has 3 reported plant parts identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, stem, leaf.

Root

1. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Die Pharmazie
5. Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology

Stem

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Parasitology research

Chemicals

Nauclea latifolia has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Saponins, Strictosamide, Tramadol, Vincosamide, BETA-SITOSTEROL.

Saponins

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Strictosamide

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Tramadol

1. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
2. Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

Vincosamide

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Daucosterol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Flavonoid

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Flavonoids

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

N-Desmethyltramadol

1. Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

O-Desmethyltramadol

1. Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

Activities

Nauclea latifolia has 9 reported activities identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antinociceptive.

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Analgesic

1. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Antibacterial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antifungal

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antinociceptive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antiplasmodial

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Bacteriostatic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Spasmolytic

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Nauclea latifolia has 32 reported medicinal uses identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria, diarrhea, E. coli, Entamoeba histolytica, Gram-negative bacterial infections.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations