crossopterxy febrifuga

crossopterxy febrifuga

Scientific Classification

  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Clade: Angiosperms
  • Order: Gentianales
  • Family: Rubiaceae
  • Genus: Crossopteryx
  • Species: C. febrifuga

Synonyms

  • Rondeletia febrifuga Afzel. ex G.Don
  • Tarenna mossambicensis Hiern
  • Chomelia angolensis (Hiern) Kuntze
  • Chomelia buchananii K.Schum.
  • Crossopteryx africana Baill.

Species ID: NMP-258;wfo-0000927185

Common Names: ordeal tree

Local Names:

Kasfiya (Hausa), Ayeye

(Yoruba), Ohiapele (Igala),

Nambisunsun (Nupe)

Description

Crossopteryx febrifuga is characterized by:

  • Growth Form: A shrub or small deciduous tree, typically reaching 4–5 meters in height, with a rounded crown and pendulous branchlets.
  • Bark: Pale grey to dark brown or reddish, scaly, and finely reticulate.
  • Leaves: Opposite, elliptic to ovate, measuring 1.5–13.5 cm in length and 1.2–7.5 cm in width; they can be glabrous to densely pubescent, with conspicuous net-veining on the underside.
  • Flowers: Small, creamy-white or pale yellow, sometimes tinged with pink, arranged in dense terminal heads; the corolla is densely pubescent on the outside.
  • Fruit: Globose, dark purple or black capsules, approximately 6–10 mm in diameter, containing thin, flat seeds measuring 3.2–5 mm in length.

Distribution and Habitat

Crossopteryx febrifuga is native to tropical Africa, with a distribution extending from Senegal and Gambia in the west to Ethiopia and Kenya in the east, and southward to South Africa and Namibia. In Nigeria, it is commonly found in the northern regions. The species thrives in deciduous woodland, wooded grassland, open Combretum scrub, and grasslands with scattered trees such as Combretum and Acacia. It often grows in rocky places, by lakes and streamsides, and on termite mounds, at elevations ranging from 120 to 1,380 meters.

Medicinal Properties

Crossopteryx febrifuga is traditionally utilized for its medicinal properties. Various parts of the plant, including the bark, leaves, and roots, are employed in traditional medicine to treat a range of ailments.

Antipyretic (Fever-Reducing): The bark is traditionally used as a febrifuge to reduce fevers. Decoctions of young leaves are also taken as antipyretics against fever attacks.

Antimalarial: Preparations of C. febrifuga have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria.

Analgesic (Pain-Relieving): The plant is used to alleviate pain, including headaches and abdominal pains.

Anti-inflammatory: It is employed in the treatment of inflammatory conditions.

Antidiarrheal and Antidysenteric: The plant is used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of dysentery and diarrhea.

Antitussive (Cough Suppressant): The plant is used to treat coughs.

Phytochemical Constituents:

Phytochemical analyses have identified several bioactive compounds in C. febrifuga, including:

Flavonoids: Compounds such as quercetin-3-arabinoside, quercetin-3-galactoside, and quercetin-3-glucoside have been isolated from leaf extracts.

Saponins: Two bisdesmosidic saponins have been isolated from the roots.

Triterpenes: A triterpene saponin with a ursadienedioic acid aglycone part has been isolated from the root bark.

Pharmacological Activities:

Antioxidant Activity: Studies have demonstrated significant free radical scavenging activity, indicating antioxidant properties.

Antiplasmodial Activity: The plant has shown significant antiplasmodial activity, supporting its traditional use in malaria treatment.

Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Effects: Experimental studies have confirmed the plant's analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Antipyretic Effects: The plant has demonstrated antipyretic activity in experimental models.

The specific epithet "febrifuga" indicates its traditional use in treating fevers. Various parts of the plant are utilized in traditional medicine for:

  • Antipyretic: Reducing fever.
  • Antimalarial: Treating malaria.
  • Analgesic: Alleviating pain.
  • Antimicrobial: Combating infections.

Known Toxicity

There are no widely reported toxic effects associated with Crossopteryx febrifuga. However, as with all medicinal plants, it is advisable to consult knowledgeable practitioners before use to ensure safety and appropriate application.

Additional Information

  • Ecological Role: Crossopteryx febrifuga is a component of deciduous woodlands and wooded grasslands, contributing to the biodiversity of these ecosystems.
  • Conservation Status: The species is not currently listed as threatened and is considered to have a stable population across its range.

References

  1. Plants of the World Online. (n.d.). Crossopteryx febrifuga (Afzel. ex G.Don) Benth. Retrieved from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:747858-1
  2. Useful Tropical Plants. (n.d.). Crossopteryx febrifuga. Retrieved from https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Crossopteryx+febrifuga
  3. Agroforestree Species Profile. (n.d.). Crossopteryx febrifuga. Retrieved from https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/speciesprofile.php?Spid=17989
  4. Flora of Zambia. (n.d.). Species information: Crossopteryx febrifuga. Retrieved from https://www.zambiaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=155140
  5. Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research. (2021). Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities of Crossopteryx febrifuga. Retrieved from https://tjnpr.org/index.php/home/article/download/1208/1964/1877

External Links

  1. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Crossopteryx+febrifuga
  2. https://www.gbif.org/species/2898652
  3. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:747858-1
  4. https://identify.plantnet.org/k-world-flora/species/Crossopteryx%20febrifuga%20(Afzel.%20ex%20G.Don)%20Benth./data
  5. https://www.tjnpr.org/index.php/home/article/view/1208
  6. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/340240-Crossopteryx-febrifuga


Compounds of crossopterxy febrifuga
References

Muluh, E. K., Adebayo, S. A., Terumon, A. T. A., & Abel, A. (2019). Isolation and characterization of spinasterol from Crossopterxy febrifuga stem bark. Prog Chem Biochem Res2, 68-73.