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Scientific
Classification
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Eudicots
- Order: Sapindales
- Family: Burseraceae
- Genus: Commiphora
- Species: Commiphora pedunculata
Engl.
Synonyms: Common
Names: UPPER VOLTA: MOORE sabnughagha (Aub.) NIGERIA: ARABIC luban (JMD)
ARABIC-SHUWA luban (JMD) HAUSA daashin jeji (ZOG) lubban the gum-resin (JMD)
namijìn-daáshií = the male dashi (auctt.) Species
ID: NMP 205;wfo-0000617405 Local
Names:
- Yoruba: "Arokeke,"
"Oluwa"
- Hausa: "Dashi,"
"Dashi mai kura"
- Igbo: "Oji odu"
Basic
Description Commiphora
pedunculata
is a deciduous shrub or small tree characterized by:
- Height: Typically grows up to 6
meters tall.
- Bark:
- Texture: Smooth and exfoliating in
papery flakes.
- Color: Pale green to grayish; inner
bark may exude a fragrant resin when cut.
- Leaves:
- Arrangement: Alternate or clustered on
short shoots.
- Type: Pinnately compound, often
with three leaflets (trifoliate).
- Leaflets: Oval to elliptical with
entire or slightly toothed margins; leathery texture.
- Flowers:
- Type: Small, unisexual (dioecious
species with separate male and female plants).
- Color: Greenish-white to cream.
- Arrangement: Solitary or in small
clusters in the leaf axils.
- Fruits:
- Type: Drupe.
- Shape: Ovoid to ellipsoid.
- Color: Reddish to purplish when ripe.
- Seed: Enclosed in a hard, shiny
endocarp.
Distribution
and Habitat
- Geographical Range:
- Native
to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa.
- Found
in countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Cameroon, and
Chad.
- Habitat:
- Savannas
and Woodlands:
Common in dry savanna and open woodland ecosystems.
- Soil
Preference:
Adaptable to various soil types but prefers well-drained sandy or rocky
soils.
- Climate: Thrives in arid to semi-arid
climates with low to moderate rainfall.
- Altitude:
- Occurs
from sea level up to elevations of about 1,500 meters.
Medicinal
Properties Commiphora
pedunculata
is utilized in traditional medicine for various therapeutic purposes:
- Antimicrobial Activity:
- Use: Treats bacterial and fungal
infections.
- Application: Resin or bark extracts
applied topically to wounds, sores, and skin infections; also taken
orally for internal infections.
- Evidence: Traditional use suggests
efficacy, though scientific studies are limited.
- Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic
Effects:
- Use: Alleviates pain and reduces
inflammation.
- Conditions: Rheumatism, arthritis,
muscle aches, and general body pains.
- Mechanism: May involve inhibition of
inflammatory mediators.
- Digestive Aid:
- Use: Addresses gastrointestinal
issues such as stomach aches, diarrhea, and indigestion.
- Preparation: Decoctions made from bark or
resin taken orally.
- Respiratory Treatments:
- Use: Relieves symptoms of
respiratory ailments like coughs, colds, and bronchitis.
- Method: Inhalation of smoke from
burning resin or ingestion of preparations.
- Skin Conditions:
- Use: Treats skin diseases,
rashes, and ulcers.
- Application: Topical application of resin
or poultices made from crushed leaves or bark.
- Other Uses:
- Astringent
Properties:
Due to tannins present in the bark, useful in controlling bleeding and
treating hemorrhoids.
- Aromatherapy: Resin used for its aromatic
properties in incense and traditional rituals.
Phytochemical
Constituents The
therapeutic effects are attributed to various bioactive compounds found in the
plant:
- Essential Oils:
- Components: Rich in monoterpenes (e.g.,
α-pinene, limonene) and sesquiterpenes.
- Activities: Antimicrobial,
anti-inflammatory, analgesic.
- Resins and Gums:
- Constituents: Contains myrrh-like
substances.
- Benefits: Healing properties, used in
traditional medicine and perfumery.
- Flavonoids and Phenolic
Compounds:
- Effects: Antioxidant activity,
contributing to anti-inflammatory effects.
- Triterpenoids and Steroids:
- Roles: May modulate inflammatory
pathways and provide analgesic effects.
- Tannins:
- Properties: Astringent, antimicrobial.
Known
Toxicity
- General Safety:
- Generally
considered safe when used in traditional therapeutic doses.
- Potential Toxicity:
- Overconsumption: May lead to gastrointestinal
discomfort.
- Allergic
Reactions:
Some individuals may experience skin irritation or hypersensitivity to
the resin.
- Side Effects:
- Gastrointestinal
Issues:
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea if taken in large amounts.
- Dermatological: Contact dermatitis from
topical application in sensitive individuals.
- Contraindications:
- Pregnancy
and Lactation:
Use with caution; safety not well-established for pregnant or
breastfeeding women.
- Children: Dosage should be carefully
monitored; professional guidance recommended.
- Interactions:
- May
interact with anticoagulant medications or drugs metabolized by the liver
enzymes.
- Recommendations:
- Consultation: Advisable to consult a
healthcare professional before use, especially when combining with other
medications.
- Dosage: Adhere to recommended doses
as per traditional practices or professional advice.
Additional
Information
- Economic Uses:
- Resin
Production:
- Uses: The resin is harvested for
use in incense, perfumes, and traditional medicines.
- Commercial
Value:
Has potential economic importance similar to other resins like myrrh and
frankincense.
- Timber:
- Applications: Wood used as fuel, for
charcoal production, and in making small wooden implements.
- Ecological Importance:
- Wildlife
Habitat:
Provides shelter and food resources for various animals, including birds
and insects.
- Soil
Conservation:
Helps in stabilizing soils in arid regions, preventing erosion.
- Drought
Resistance:
Adapted to survive in dry conditions, contributing to the resilience of
savanna ecosystems.
- Conservation Status:
- Threats:
- Overharvesting: Excessive collection of
resin and wood can threaten wild populations.
- Habitat
Loss:
Expansion of agriculture and urbanization leading to habitat
degradation.
- Status: Not currently listed as
endangered but requires sustainable management practices to ensure
long-term viability.
- Cultural Significance:
- Traditional
Practices:
Used in cultural rituals, spiritual ceremonies, and as a symbol in
folklore.
- Folklore
and Beliefs:
May hold significance in traditional beliefs and practices, often
associated with healing and protection.
- Research Opportunities:
- Pharmacological
Studies:
Further research could validate traditional uses and potentially lead to
new therapeutic agents.
- Sustainable
Harvesting:
Studies on cultivation and sustainable resin tapping methods can help in
conservation efforts.
- Economic
Development:
Exploration of its commercial potential could benefit local communities
economically.
References
- Burkill, H. M. (1995). The
Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp. 220-223).
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- Neuwinger, H. D. (2000). African
Traditional Medicine: A Dictionary of Plant Use and Applications (pp.
155-156). Medpharm Scientific Publishers.
- Langenheim, J. H. (2003). Plant
Resins: Chemistry, Evolution, Ecology, and Ethnobotany (pp. 345-347).
Timber Press.
- Chikamai, B., & Gachathi,
F. N. (1994). Gum and resin resources in the arid and semi-arid lands of
Kenya: Ethnobotanical and commercial utilization. Kenya Journal of
Sciences, Series B, 5(1), 5-19.
- Van Wyk, B. E., & Gericke,
N. (2000). People's Plants: A Guide to Useful Plants of Southern Africa
(pp. 80-82). Briza Publications.
- Adjanohoun, E. J., Aboubakar,
N., Dramane, K., Ebot, M. E., Ekpere, J. A., Enow-Orock, E. G., ... &
Wirmum, C. K. (1996). Traditional Medicine and Pharmacopoeia:
Contribution to Ethnobotanical and Floristic Studies in Cameroon (pp.
210-212). Organization of African Unity/Scientific, Technical and Research
Commission.
- Kew Science. (n.d.). Commiphora
pedunculata Engl. Retrieved from http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org
External
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