Common Names: Conessi, False Rubber Tree, Holarrhena
Local Names: Irena, akọ irẹe, irẹe ibej (Yoruba, Nigeria), Bakin Mutum, baakin maayuu, baк̉in itache, gaman sauwa (Hausa, Nigeria), nyiiwah (Fulfulde, Nigeria), Sani (Bambara, Mali), mba (Igbo, Nigeria)
Species ID: NMP-087 | wfo-0000982764 | NCBI_Taxonomy ID: 2708850

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Tracheophytes

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Eudicots

Clade: Asterids

Order: Gentianales

Family: Apocynaceae

Genus: Holarrhena

Species: H. floribunda

Authority: (G.Don) T.Durand & Schinz

Synonyms: Holarrhena africana A.DC., Holarrhena ovata A.DC., Holarrhena wulfsbergii Stapf, Rondeletia floribunda G.Don

Holarrhena floribunda is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree in the Apocynaceae family, typically growing 5–17 m tall:

·       Stem: Bark grey to brown, rough, exuding white latex when cut (Burkill, 1985).

·       Leaves: Simple, opposite, elliptic to lanceolate, 10–20 cm long, 3–7 cm wide, acuminate apex (Fern, 2024).

·       Flowers: White, fragrant, 1–2 cm long, in dense terminal corymbs; 5-lobed corolla (Ahmed et al., 2017).

·       Fruits: Slender, cylindrical follicles, 20–40 cm long, paired, containing numerous seeds with silky hairs (Burkill, 1985).

Holarrhena floribunda is widespread in tropical West and Central Africa:

·       Range: Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Nigeria, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Botanic Gardens Conservation International & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group, 2019).

·       Habitat: Open forests, forest margins, savannah woodlands, riverbanks; thrives in well-drained soils, 0–1,200 m altitude (Fern, 2024).

Holarrhena floribunda is a cornerstone of West African traditional medicine, it is extensively utilized in traditional medicine for its diverse therapeutic properties. The bark is renowned for treating dysentery and diarrhea, often prepared as a decoction or macerated in palm wine. Both the stem bark and leaves are employed to manage fevers, particularly malaria, through oral consumption or therapeutic baths. In Ghanaian folk medicine, the stem bark addresses inflammation-related conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. The plant also serves in treating female infertility, venereal diseases, skin infections, and as an antidote for snake bites. Phytochemical analyses have identified various bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, which contribute to its medicinal efficacy:

·       Antimalarial: Bark decoctions used in used as antimalarial.

·       Antidiarrheal: Bark infusions in Nigeria for dysentery; methanol extract (110.22 mg/kg) reduced fecal output in rats by 69% (Udoh et al., 2020).

·       Anti-inflammatory: Leaf extracts in Ghana for pain; ethanol extract (200 mg/kg) reduced edema in rats by 32% (Bogne et al., 2012).

·       Anthelmintic: Seeds in Mali against worms; seed extract showed activity against Haemonchus contortus in vitro (Burkill, 1985).

⚠ Toxicity Profile: Mild toxicity noted; high doses of bark extract (>2,000 mg/kg) caused lethargy and liver enzyme elevation in mice (Bogne et al., 2012).

·       Construction: Hard, heavy wood used for tool handles, carvings (Fern, 2024).

·       Cultural: Bark used in Nigeria as a tonic and febrifuge (Burkill, 1985).

·       Ecological: Planted for shade and erosion control in agroforestry (Ahmed et al., 2017).

• Ahmed, A., Aliyu, I., & Gwarzo, M. Y. (2017). A phytopharmacological review on a medicinal plant: Holarrhena floribunda. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 9(11), 2103–2108.

• Bogne, K. P., Penlap, B. V., Mbofung, C. M., & Etoa, F. X. (2012). Acute and subacute toxicity of the methanol extract from Holarrhena floribunda G. Don (Apocynaceae). European Journal of Experimental Biology, 2(4), 1284–1288.

• Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2019). Holarrhena floribunda. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T144299547A149056176.en

• Burkill, H. M. (1985). The useful plants of West Tropical Africa (Vol. 1). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

• Fern, K. (2024). Holarrhena floribunda. Useful Tropical Plants Database. Retrieved from http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Holarrhena+floribunda

• Udoh, A. E., Nwafor, P. A., & Udobre, A. S. (2020). The antidiarrheal activities of methanol extract of Holarrhena floribunda on rodents. Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Applied Science Research, 1(2), 67–73.

• JSTOR - Holarrhena floribunda

• IITA Forest Center - Holarrhena floribunda

• Useful Tropical Plants - Holarrhena floribunda

• quercetin-3-O-glucoside
• Kaempferol-3-O-glycopyranoside
• Kaempferide-3-O-ß-glucoside

Badmus, J., Ekpo, O., Rautenbach, F., Marnewick, J., Hussein, A., & Hiss, D. (2016). Isolation and antioxidant activity of flavonoids from Holarrhena floribunda (G. don) leaves. Acta Biochimica Polonica, 63(2), 353-358.