Simaba africana

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Quassia africana

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales. Finally, it is situated within the family Simaroubaceae and the genus Simaba.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed throughout the West-Central Tropical Africa region. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Cameroon and the Congo. Its natural habitat also extends to the territory of Equatorial Guinea. Furthermore, the species is documented in Gabon and the enclave of Cabinda. These diverse locations highlight its specific ecological niche within the West-Central tropical zone.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Simaba africana is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived woody plant, it undergoes a developmental progression from seed germination to a mature, stable state, where it can invest in significant structural growth and repeated reproductive cycles. This perennial nature enables the plant to establish a robust presence within its ecosystem, often navigating seasonal fluctuations by maintaining its physiological functions over extended periods rather than completing its life cycle within a single year.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Simaba africana is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub. This plant is self-supporting rather than being an obligatory or facultative climber. In terms of vertical development, it reaches a mean height of approximately 3 meters, with individual specimens typically ranging from a minimum height of 2.44 meters to a maximum height of 3.66 meters.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height max:

3.657644477 m

Plant height mean:

3 m

Plant height min:

2.438429651 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Simaba africana is characterized by complex metabolic pathways and structural adaptations suited for its native tropical environments. In terms of its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms; instead, it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system. Its metabolic processes involve robust photosynthetic efficiency to support its growth patterns, alongside specialized secondary metabolite production that contributes to its medicinal properties. The plant's physiological regulation includes sophisticated transpiration controls and osmotic adjustments to maintain cellular homeostasis under varying environmental conditions.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Simaba africana has 3 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Stem

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Simaba africana has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Simalikalactone D.

Simalikalactone D

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Simaba africana has 2 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Antiplasmodial.

Antimalarial

1. Journal of natural products

Antiplasmodial

1. Parasitology international

Preparations

Simaba africana has 8 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extracts, chloroform fraction of the root extract, chloroform soluble fraction, crude extracts, methanol extracts of the leaves.

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chloroform fraction of the root extract

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

Chloroform soluble fraction

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

Crude extracts

1. Parasitology international

Methanol extracts of the leaves

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

Methanol extracts of the roots

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

Methanol extracts of the stem

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

Root extract

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