African Satinwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Satinwood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Fagara gilletii
• Fagara kivuensis
• Zanthoxylum tessmannii
• Fagara iturensis
• Fagara tessmannii
• Fagara discolor
• Fagara amaniensis
• Fagara annobonensis
• Fagara gilletii var. cordata
• Fagara macrophylla var. preussii
• Fagara macrophylla
• Fagara obliquefoliolata
• Fagara melanorhachis
• Zanthoxylum melanorhachis

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 and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Sapindales and placed in the family Rutaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Zanthoxylum, specifically as the species Zanthoxylum gilletii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found across the West Tropical Africa region. Its specific distribution includes the country of Benin, where it grows in native habitats. It is also documented within the borders of Ghana, contributing to the local biodiversity. Furthermore, the species can be located throughout Guinea and the Ivory Coast. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant extends into Liberia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Zanthoxylum gillietii is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant's regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that supports its growth into a larger, more complex form. This phanerophyte life form ensures that its vital tissues are elevated, contributing to its sustained developmental cycle and long-term survival in its natural habitat.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Xanthoxylum gillietii is characterized by its robust, woody growth form, specifically identifying it as a tree. This species is a self-supporting, independent organism that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic one. As a large woody plant, it exhibits significant vertical development, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of approximately 9.14 meters to a maximum of about 36.58 meters, reaching an average height of 30 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

36.57644477 m

Plant height mean:

30 m

Plant height min:

9.144111192 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Xanthoxylum gillii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism in many woody species where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. This metabolic process allows the plant to efficiently capture atmospheric carbon dioxide under typical environmental conditions, though it remains susceptible to photorespiration in high-temperature or water-stressed environments. Furthermore, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms; instead, it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil to support its growth and nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Zanthoxylum gilletii is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period and a reliance on biological agents for successful fertilization. The flowering process typically begins in May and concludes in June, though the timing can be variable. This species follows a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically utilizing insects as the primary pollinators to facilitate genetic exchange. Due to the absence of self-fertilization, the plant relies heavily on these insect vectors to transfer pollen between individuals, ensuring reproductive success through cross-pollination.

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Zanthoxylum gilletii has 4 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 stem, fruit, leaf, seed.

Stem

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fruit

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Leaf

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Seed

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Chemicals

Zanthoxylum gilletii has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Nitidine chloride, 6-oxynitidine, Arborinine, Fagaramide, Flavonoids.

Nitidine chloride

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of natural products

6-oxynitidine

1. Journal of natural products

Arborinine

1. Fitoterapia

Fagaramide

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Lupeol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Magnoflorine

1. Fitoterapia

N-isobutyldeca-2,4-dienamide

1. Planta medica

Oblongine

1. Fitoterapia

Tembetarine

1. Fitoterapia

Activities

Zanthoxylum gilletii has 3 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antifeedant, Antioxidant.

Anticancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antifeedant

1. Fitoterapia

Antioxidant

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Conditions

Zanthoxylum gilletii has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, leukemia.

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leukemia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Zanthoxylum gilletii has 13 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include EtOH extract, bark extract, crude extract (FTB), crude extracts, ethanolic extract.

Etoh extract

1. Fitoterapia

Bark extract

1. SpringerPlus

Crude extract (ftb)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Crude extracts

1. Andrologia

Ethanolic extract

1. Andrologia

Fractions (ftba-d)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fruit extracts (zmft)

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Leaves and bark extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Methanol extracts

1. SpringerPlus

Seeds

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology