African Soapberry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Soapberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Phytolacca abyssinica var. apiculata
• Sarcoca nutans
• Phytolacca molleri
• Phytolacca dodecandra var. brevipedicellata
• Sarcoca dodecandra
• Phytolacca abyssinica var. macrophylla
• Phytolacca lutea
• Pircunia saponacea
• Phytolacca dodecandra var. apiculata
• Phytolacca nutans
• Phytolacca dodecandra var. pubescens

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales, specifically within the family Phytolaccaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Phytolacca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Phytolacca dodecandra, is primarily found across the region of West Tropical Africa. Within this specific area, its presence is documented in the country of Ghana. The species also thrives in the natural landscapes of Guinea. Furthermore, its geographical range extends into the Ivory Coast and Liberia. Finally, the distribution of this medicinal plant includes Nigeria, completing its presence in this part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Phytolacca dodecandra is characterized by its ability to inhabit a broad altitudinal spectrum, allowing it to occupy diverse topographical niches. This species is found across a significant vertical gradient, with its distribution spanning from lowland areas at an elevation of 5 m AMSL up to higher reaches reaching a maximum of 670 m AMSL. This wide elevational range suggests an adaptable physiological capacity to withstand varying atmospheric pressures, temperature fluctuations, and moisture levels associated with different altitudes. Such ecological flexibility enables the plant to persist in a variety of habitats within its geographic range, ranging from coastal or riverine lowlands to mid-elevation terrains.

Elevational range max:

670 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Phytolacca dodecandra is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Functioning as a phanerophyte, it maintains its buds well above the ground level, a trait shared across both its classification as a phanerophyte and its specific structural life form. Additionally, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness pattern, maintaining its foliage and physiological activity throughout various environmental conditions.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Phytolacca dodecandra is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a shrub or a liana. As an obligatory climber, it functions as a liana, utilizing surrounding structures for support rather than being self-supporting. The plant is terrestrial in its ecological habit, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant height variability; it can be found reaching a minimum height of 1 m, with a mean height of approximately 4.5 m, and can reach a maximum vertical extent of up to 15.24 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15.24018532 m

Plant height mean:

4.5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Phytolacca dodecandra is characterized by its metabolic processes and nutrient acquisition strategies, which are vital for its growth in various environmental conditions. As a perennial herb, its physiological functions include complex biochemical pathways for the synthesis of bioactive saponins and various alkaloids, which serve as secondary metabolites for defense mechanisms. In terms of its nutritional physiology and interaction with soil chemistry, the plant does not possess the specialized symbiotic relationships required for atmospheric nitrogen transformation; specifically, it is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the ability to convert gaseous nitrogen into organic forms via rhizobial or actinorhizal associations. Consequently, its physiological dependence on soil nitrates and ammonium is high, requiring efficient root systems to absorb available nitrogen from the substrate to support protein synthesis and overall vegetative development.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Phytolacca dodecandra is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The plant exhibits a lack of self-fertilization, indicating a reliance on cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fleshy fruits that serve as the vessel for its progeny. The seeds produced are relatively uniform in size and mass, with a mean seed volume of 4.8 mm³ (ranging consistently at this value) and a mean seed mass of approximately 0.005395 g, with individual masses falling between a minimum of 0.00479 g and a maximum of 0.006 g. Regarding the movement of seeds away from the parent plant, the species utilizes an autochorous dispersal syndrome, where the seeds are dispersed through mechanisms inherent to the plant's own structure or internal processes.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.006 g

Seed mass mean:

0.005395 g

Seed mass min:

0.00479 g

Seed volume max:

4.8 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Phytolacca dodecandra has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, root.

Fruit

1. Bulletin of the World Health Organization
2. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine
3. East African medical journal

Root

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine
2. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

Chemicals

Phytolacca dodecandra has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Saponins, CA, CR, CU, FE.

Saponins

1. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP
2. Die Naturwissenschaften
3. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

CA

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

CR

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

CU

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

FE

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

MG

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

MN

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

Sterile water

1. Journal of equine veterinary science

ZN

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

triterpenoids

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Activities

Phytolacca dodecandra has 6 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Molluscicide, Abortifacient, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Hepatoprotective.

Molluscicide

1. Bulletin of the World Health Organization
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Tropical and geographical medicine

Abortifacient

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antibacterial

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Antifungal

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine

Teratogenic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Medicinal Uses

Phytolacca dodecandra has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include schistosomiasis, rabies, malaria, anthrax, ascariasis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations