Pygeum africanum

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Almond
• African Cherry
• pygeum
• African-Almond
• Bitter Almond Tree
• Red-Stinkwood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pygeum africanum
• Lauro-cerasus africana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Rosales, falling into the family Rosaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Prunus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is specifically noted in Ghana. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, the species can be found in Burundi and Rwanda. It also inhabits the Gulf of Guinea Islands within the West-Central Tropical Africa zone. Additionally, the plant is documented as growing in Cameroon.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Prunus africana is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse altitudinal gradient, typically found within montane forest ecosystems. The species occupies a broad vertical distribution, ranging from an elevation of 150 m AMSL to a maximum of 2400 m AMSL. This extensive elevational range allows it to inhabit various microclimates, from lower montane forests to high-altitude cloud forests, where it plays a vital role in the structural complexity and biodiversity of its habitat.

Elevational range max:

2400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

150 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Prunus africana is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its ecosystem over many years through consistent growth and development. Throughout its lifespan, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle and evergreen deciduousness enables the species to maintain photosynthetic activity and structural stability across diverse environmental conditions.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Prunus africana is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting, independent organism. It is a strictly terrestrial species, neither aquatic nor epiphytic, and does not exhibit parasitic behavior. The plant displays significant variation in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of 40 m, maintaining a mean plant height of approximately 21.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

40 m

Plant height mean:

21.5 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Prunus africana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its native habitat. The plant exhibits a remarkably low leaf thickness, with a mean value of 0.024 mm, suggesting highly specialized leaf morphology likely adapted to specific moisture or light interception requirements. Furthermore, Prunus africana does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than establishing symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nutritional needs.

Leaf thickness mean:

0.024 mm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Prunus africana is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects, with bees playing a significant role in the process. The plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as drupes, which have an average length of 0.95 cm and an average width of 0.7 cm. Following maturation, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to distribute its seeds. The seeds themselves vary in mass, ranging from a minimum of 0.22727 g to a maximum of 0.46 g, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.343635 g. Morphologically, the seeds exhibit a mean length of 8.7 mm and a maximum width of 6.7 mm, with a maximum height of 6 mm. The seed volume is consistent throughout its recorded measurements, maintaining a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 270 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

0.95 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width mean:

0.7 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed height max:

6 mm

Seed length mean:

8.7 mm

Seed mass max:

0.46 g

Seed mass mean:

0.343635 g

Seed mass min:

0.22727 g

Seed volume max:

270 mm³

Seed width max:

6.7 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Prunus africana has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

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

Root

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Chemicals

Prunus africana has 35 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BETA-SITOSTEROL, Fatty acids, Flavonoids, Ursolic acid, docosyl ferulate.

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. World journal of urology

Fatty acids

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientifica

Flavonoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Scientifica

Ursolic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

docosyl ferulate

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

2alpha-Hydroxyursolic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Crataegolic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Daucosterol

1. Dr. Duke

Epimaslinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Friedelin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Prunus africana has 158 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antiandrogenic, Antimicrobial, Antimutagenic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archivio italiano di urologia, andrologia : organo ufficiale [di] Societa italiana di ecografia urologica e nefrologica
3. Scientifica

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientifica

Antiandrogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientifica

Antimicrobial

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Scientifica

Antimutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Toxicology in vitro : an international journal published in association with BIBRA

Antiproliferative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archivio italiano di urologia, andrologia : organo ufficiale [di] Societa italiana di ecografia urologica e nefrologica

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Prunus africana has 11 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, malaria, Aspergillus flavus.

Cancer

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Integrative cancer therapies

Prostate cancer

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Scientifica
4. Integrative cancer therapies

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Scientifica

Malaria

1. Journal of helminthology
2. Scientifica

Aspergillus flavus

1. International journal of microbiology

Breast cancer

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Chest pain

1. Scientifica

Diabetes mellitus

1. Scientifica

Family planning

1. Heliyon

Schistosomiasis

1. Journal of helminthology

Preparations

Prunus africana has 8 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include bark, extracts, 70% ethanolic root extracts, Dichloromethane extracts from different parts, aqueous and organic extracts of leaves.

Bark

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extracts

1. Journal of helminthology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

70% ethanolic root extracts

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Dichloromethane extracts from different parts

1. Toxicology in vitro : an international journal published in association with BIBRA

Aqueous and organic extracts of leaves

1. International journal of microbiology

Herbal extracts

1. Current pharmaceutical design

Organic extracts

1. PloS one

Products

1. World journal of urology