East African greenbark
Warburgia ugandensis · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Moderate (106 studies) · ★★★☆☆
East African greenbark, scientifically known as Warburgia ugandensis, is a vital medicinal shrub native to African montane forests. Renowned for its potent antimicrobial and antifungal properties, this plant is deeply embedded in traditional medicine, frequently used to treat respiratory infections, digestive issues, and various skin ailments throughout the region.
- Family
- Canellaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Stem · Leaf
- Common names
- East African Greenbark · Pepper-Bark-Tree · 3 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Not available
Names
Common Names
- East African greenbark
- pepper-bark-tree
- East African Greenheart
- Elephant Pepper Tree
- Uganda Greenheart
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Warburgia ugandensisTaxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Canellales, it is classified under the family Canellaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Warburgia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Canellales | WCVP |
| Family | Canellaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Warburgia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the borders of Rwanda and the DR Congo. Moving toward the Northeast, the species is also documented in Ethiopia. Its range extends into East Tropical Africa, where it is present in Kenya. Finally, the distribution continues southward to include Tanzania.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Uganda | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Malawi | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Warburgia ugandenensis, is highly valued in traditional medicine for its potent bioactive properties found within its various anatomical structures. The stem bark and the general bark of the tree are frequently harvested and utilized due to their concentrated medicinal potency. These components are particularly rich in specific chemical compounds, most notably various aldehydes, such as polygodial, which are responsible for the plant's intense pungent flavor and its significant antimicrobial and antifungal activities. Furthermore, the leaves are also employed in medicinal preparations, contributing to the overall therapeutic profile of the species.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| stem | African health sciences (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | Phytochemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Warburgia ugandensis has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Polygodial, Muzigadial, Ugandensidial, Warburganal, Epipolygodial.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Polygodial | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Muzigadial | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ugandensidial | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Warburganal | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Epipolygodial | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fatty acids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Kaempferol 3-arabinoside | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Kaempferol-3-rutinoside | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Muzigadiolide | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Polygodial
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of natural products
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
Muzigadial
- Dr. Duke
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
Ugandensidial
- Dr. Duke
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
Warburganal
- Dr. Duke
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
Epipolygodial
- Dr. Duke
Fatty acids
- PloS one
Kaempferol 3-arabinoside
- Phytochemistry
Kaempferol-3-rutinoside
- Phytochemistry
Muzigadiolide
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
- PloS one
Activities
Warburgia ugandensis has 52 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Allergenic, Analgesic, Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, AntiReye's.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Allergenic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AntiHIV | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AntiReye's | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticariogenic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiarrheic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidysenteric | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Warburgia ugandensis has 15 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, colorectal cancer, malaria, Candida albicans, Candida utilis.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| colorectal cancer | Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | African health sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida utilis | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plasmodium falciparum | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Saccharomyces cerevisiae | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | African health sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cervical cancer | Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| extracts | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| bark | PloS one (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| complex extracts | Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| crude extract | Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dimethyl carbonate extract of WU | Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanolic extracts | African health sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extracts of Warburgia ugandensis stem bark | African health sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fraction 27-163 D | African health sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| petroleum ether extracts | African health sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem bark water extract | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |