Terminalia brownii

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Terminalia brownii var. gallaensis
• Terminalia hemignosta
• Myrobalanus brownii
• Terminalia confertifolia
• Terminalia semlikiensis
• Terminalia brownii var. stenocarpa
• Terminalia brownii var. albertensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Myrtales and the family Combretaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Terminalia, specifically as the species Terminalia brownii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is specifically noted within the borders of Nigeria. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, the species can be found in the Central African Republic, Cameroon, and the DR Congo. Additionally, its range extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, where it is located in Chad. Together, these locations highlight the plant's significance across diverse tropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Terminalia brownii is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated stems well above the ground level, establishing a structural presence within its ecosystem. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, undergoing a seasonal shedding of its foliage as part of its natural growth and survival cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Terminalia brownii is characterized by a woody growth form, functioning as a self-supporting tree rather than a climber, vine, or liana. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a mean height of approximately 15 m, with recorded maximum heights reaching up to 12.19214826 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12.19214826 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Terminalia brownii is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide during the light-independent reactions. This metabolic framework indicates that the plant's primary carbon assimilation occurs through the enzyme RuBisCO under typical atmospheric conditions, rather than employing specialized C4 or CAM mechanisms. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria, such as rhizobia, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms; instead, it relies on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds directly from the soil substrate to support its growth and metabolic processes.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Terminalia brownii is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, relying on living organisms to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Specifically, the plant utilizes insect pollination as its primary mechanism for fertilization. The resulting seeds exhibit a degree of morphological variability in terms of weight; the seed mass ranges from a minimum of 0.15773 g to a maximum of 0.69796 g, with an average seed mass of approximately 0.430563333 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.69796 g

Seed mass mean:

0.430563333 g

Seed mass min:

0.15773 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Terminalia brownii has 4 reported plant parts identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, stem, seed.

Leaf

1. Heliyon
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Journal of parasitology research
4. Pharmaceutics

Root

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Pharmaceutics

Stem

1. Natural product communications
2. Pharmaceutics

Seed

1. Heliyon

Chemicals

Terminalia brownii has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include DIHYDROACTINIDIOLIDE, ESCHWEILENOL C, Ellagitannins, Genipin, Leucodelphinidin.

DIHYDROACTINIDIOLIDE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

ESCHWEILENOL C

1. Malaria journal

Ellagitannins

1. Pharmaceutics

Genipin

1. Pharmaceutics

Leucodelphinidin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Luteolin 7-O-glucoside

1. Pharmaceutics

MILTIODIOL

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Myricetin 3-rhamnoside

1. Pharmaceutics

Oleanane-type triterpenoid

1. Natural product communications

Papyriogenin D

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Terminalia brownii has 5 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Analgesic, Antifungal, Antiplasmodial, Antiulcer.

Antimicrobial

1. Heliyon
2. Natural product communications

Analgesic

1. Heliyon

Antifungal

1. Pharmaceutics

Antiplasmodial

1. Natural product communications

Antiulcer

1. Heliyon

Conditions

Terminalia brownii has 22 reported investigations on conditions identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria, Escherichia coli, Plasmodium falciparum, Staphylococcus aureus, diarrhea.

Malaria

1. Biochemistry research international
2. Malaria journal
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Journal of parasitology research

Escherichia coli

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

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Malaria journal
2. Natural product communications

Staphylococcus aureus

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

Diarrhea

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Fungal infections

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Pharmaceutics

Bacillus anthracis

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Candida

1. Pharmaceutics

Candida albicans

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Cryptococcus neoformans

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Terminalia brownii has 12 reported preparations identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 80% Methanol and Aqueous Bark Extracts, Extracts, acetone and methanol extracts of the roots, alcoholic extracts, aqueous extracts.

80% methanol and aqueous bark extracts

1. Biochemistry research international

Extracts

1. Malaria journal

Acetone and methanol extracts of the roots

1. Pharmaceutics

Alcoholic extracts

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Aqueous extracts

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

Decoctions and macerations of the leaves and stem bark

1. Pharmaceutics

Ethyl acetate extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of stem bark extract

1. Natural product communications

Fractions

1. Malaria journal

Leaf ethyl acetate extract

1. Pharmaceutics