Ehretia cymosa
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Ehretia cymosa Common Names: Puzzle Bush, Ivorywood, African Puzzle
Bush Scientific
Classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Asterids Order: Boraginales Family: Boraginaceae Genus: Ehretia Species: E. cymosa Binomial Name: Ehretia cymosa Thonn. Synonyms: Morphological Description Ehretia cymosa is
a deciduous shrub or small tree, typically 5–15 m tall, occasionally reaching
20 m. Key features include: · Bark: Rough, greyish-brown, fissured with age · Leaves: Elliptic to ovate, 5–12 cm long, 2–6 cm wide, dark green,
glossy, with serrated margins · Flowers: Small, white, 4–6 mm across, fragrant, in dense cymose
clusters, blooming January–June · Fruit: Globose drupes, 5–8 mm diameter, orange to red when ripe,
edible, maturing October–December Distribution and Habitat Ehretia cymosa is
widespread across tropical and subtropical Africa, thriving in: · Regions: Evergreen forests, forest margins, bushlands, savannas · Countries: Sierra Leone to Ethiopia, south to Zimbabwe, also Comoros,
Madagascar · Climate: Tropical, 20–30°C, rainfall 800–2,000 mm annually · Soil: Sandy to loamy, well-drained · Elevation: Up to 2,400 m Ethnopharmacology Ehretia cymosa,
a plant native to tropical Africa, is traditionally used in various African
communities for its wide range of medicinal properties. Different parts of the
plant—including the leaves, bark, and roots—are utilized in ethnomedicine to
treat a variety of ailments. Its therapeutic potential is linked to the
presence of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins,
saponins, and phenolic compounds.Traditionally, Ehretia cymosa is used to manage
fever, cough, chest pain, wounds, ulcers, diarrhea, rheumatism, headaches, and
measles and dysentery. It is also employed as a tonic and anti-inflammatory
agent. Scientific investigations have confirmed several of its pharmacological
activities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and
analgesic effects. The plant may also have antidiabetic and hepatoprotective
properties, making it useful in managing blood sugar levels and protecting the
liver from damage. Although widely used in folk medicine and supported by
preliminary studies, more clinical research is needed to validate its safety,
efficacy, and possible side effects for standardized medicinal use. · Fever: Leaf infusion in Ghana reduces fever; antipyretic in rats
(200 mg/kg, p < 0.05) (Ogundajo et al., 2017). · Haemostatic: Leaf sap is used to stops bleeding. · Laxative: Leaf sap for children in Côte d’Ivoire; increases bowel
motility in vitro · Fractures: Leaf poultices in traditional Ghanaian medicine are used as
poultices to promote bone healing in fractures, and are believed to increase
bone remodeling; stimulates osteoblast activity (Singh, 2017). · Headaches: Leaf mix with Newbouldia laevis in Nigeria; analgesic in mice (40% pain
reduction) (Ogundajo et al., 2017). · Stomach Complaints: Root decoction in Ethiopia;
gastroprotective in rats (60% ulcer inhibition) (Akinpelu et al., 2016). · Tetanus/Dysentery: Root/leaf decoction in West Africa;
antibacterial against Clostridium (MIC
0.5 mg/mL) (Sempombe et al., 2014). · Amenorrhea: Bark decoction in Mali; regulates menstruation (PROTA,
2019). · Skin Conditions: Bark oil in Uganda; antifungal
against Candida (MIC 0.25 mg/mL)
(Ogundajo et al., 2017). · Diabetes: Leaf extract in Nigeria; lowers glucose (32% at 400 mg/kg).
The methanol and ethyl acetate fractions
exhibited significantly higher inhibition (P < 0.05) against α-glucosidase (0.60
mg/mL) and α-amylase (2.11 mg/mL), respectively. Additionally, the methanol
fraction inhibited α-amylase through a competitive mechanism and α-glucosidase
through a noncompetitive mode. GC-MS analysis of the methanol fraction
identified 24 compounds, including phytol (1.78%), stearic acid (1.02%), and
2-hexadecyloxirane (34.18%), all of which are recognized for their antidiabetic
and antioxidant properties. (Ogundajo et al., 2017). · Analgesic
and anti-inflammatory:
Cymosa crude extract and the solvent fractions produced significant analgesic
activities (p < 0.05). In the carrageenan-induced acute inflammation model,
all tested doses of the crude extract and solvent fractions resulted in a
significant decline in paw edema. The 80% methanol extract and solvent
fractions of E. cymosa at all the tested doses significantly reduced
inflammatory exudates and granuloma mass formations (p < 0.001) (Getachew et al., 2023). ⚠ Toxicity Profile: Roots/leaves reported toxic in folklore, but
LD₅₀ > 2,000 mg/kg in rats (safe orally). Livestock browse leaves without
harm; caution in high doses or pregnancy ( Sempombe et al., 2014). Additional Uses · Wood: Furniture, tool handles, firewood (density 480–550 kg/m³) Fodder: Leaves for livestock in Ethiopia, high in protein (15%) · Fruits: Edible, sweet, consumed by humans and birds · Ornamental: Planted in Kenya for shade and aesthetics · Ecological: Pioneer species, supports bees with nectar References
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| Compounds of Ehretia cymosa | |
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