Dalbergia saxatilis
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Dalbergia saxatilis Common Names: Flat Bean, West African Rosewood Scientific
Classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Rosids Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Faboideae Genus: Dalbergia Species: D. saxatilis Binomial Name: Dalbergia saxatilis Hook.f. Synonyms: Dalbergia capixaba Harms, Dalbergia oliveri Gamble, Dalbergia rupestris Benth. Morphological Description Dalbergia saxatilis is a deciduous shrub or small tree, typically 4–15 m tall,
occasionally reaching 20 m in favorable conditions. Key features include: · Trunk: Slender, 20–50 cm diameter, with grey-brown, smooth to
slightly fissured bark · Leaves: Pinnate, 10–20 cm long, with 5–9 ovate to elliptic leaflets
(3–7 cm long, 2–4 cm wide), dark green, glossy · Flowers: Small, white to pale yellow, 5–8 mm long, in terminal or
axillary panicles, blooming in rainy seasons · Fruit: Flat, oblong pods, 5–10 cm long, 1–2 cm wide, brown,
containing 1–3 seeds The wood is dark
reddish-brown, dense, and finely grained, prized for its durability (Burkill,
1995). Distribution and Habitat Dalbergia saxatilis is native to West Africa, ranging from Senegal to Nigeria,
with significant populations in Ghana and Togo. It thrives in: · Regions: Savanna woodlands, rocky hillsides, forest margins · Climate: Tropical, 25–35°C, rainfall 800–1,500 mm annually · Soil: Well-drained, sandy to rocky, pH 5.5–7.0 · Elevation: 100–1,200 m Ethnopharmacology Dalbergia saxatilis is widely used in West African traditional medicine, with
studies validating its applications: · Anti-inflammatory: Leaf decoctions in Nigeria reduce
swelling; methanol extracts inhibit paw edema in rats (47% at 500 mg/kg)
(Hassan et al., 2015). · Anti-rheumatic: Bark infusions in Ghana for joint pain;
root extracts show cyclooxygenase inhibition in mice (Yemitan & Adeyemi,
2017). · Analgesic: Roots in Togo relieve toothache; extracts reduce writhing in
mice (33% at 200 mg/kg) (Yemitan & Adeyemi, 2017). · Antipyretic: Leaves in Senegal lower fever; extracts reduce
lipopolysaccharide-induced pyrexia in Mice (p < 0.05) (Hassan et al., 2015). · Antimicrobial: Bark has Antimicrobial properties and is used to treats
infections. Phytochemistry Bioactivity is
attributed to key compounds: · Flavonoids: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory (Hassan et al., 2015) · Saponins: Antimicrobial, analgesic (Yemitan & Adeyemi, 2017) · Phenolic Tannins: Antipyretic, astringent (Okwute &
Igoli, 2017) · Glycosides: Anti-rheumatic, cyclooxygenase inhibition (Yemitan &
Adeyemi, 2017) · Alkaloids: Analgesic effects (Hassan et al., 2015) ⚠ Toxicity Profile: No acute toxicity at therapeutic doses; LD₅₀
> 5,000 mg/kg in rats (safe orally). High doses may cause mild GI upset due
to tannins (Hassan et al., 2015, Umar, M et al., 2019). Additional Uses · Wood: Durable, used for furniture, carvings, not musical
instruments (unlike D. nigra) · Conservation: Not globally endangered, but locally overharvested in
Nigeria · Fuel: Branches used as firewood in rural areas References
External Links More Pictures
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| Compounds of Dalbergia saxatilis | |
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