Myrianthus arboreus

Myrianthus arboreus

Scientific Classification

  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Clade: Tracheophytes
  • Clade: Angiosperms
  • Clade: Eudicots
  • Clade: Rosids
  • Order: Rosales
  • Family: Urticaceae
  • Genus: Myrianthus
  • Species: M. arboreus

Synonyms

Species ID: NMP-231;NCBI_Taxonomy ID: 1781621;wfo-0000374730

Common Names:

Cameroons: bokeku (Duala), bokukulende (Koosi), bokere (Kpe). Ghana: nfohwe (Adangme), nyankom (Akan), kokua-adua ba (Akan-Asante), nyankoma-bere (Fante), enyangama (Sehwi), nyankomaa (Wasa), anyankamaa (Twi), nyangama (Nzema), nyangama (Anyi). Guinea: ba (Kono), gbalue (Loma). Ivory Coast: atolahie (Abure), atorae (Abure), wunian (Abe), arbre a pain indigene (Abe), gboa (Dan), kenu-ikun (Adyukru), kumaniangama (Anyi), niankoma (Akan-Asante), doba (Kweni), tebo (Kru-Guere), taratu (Guere (Wobe)), tikiritisu (Nekedie), agama (Baule), anianahia (Kyama). Nigeria: echimbuk (Ejagham), echimbuk (Ejagham (Keaka)), ebakan (Ekajuk), ujụjụ (Igbo), apulu (Igala), ihieghe (Edo), kekeku (Bokyi), oseghe (Yekhee), ereturuni (Olulumo-Okuni), igbebere (Nkem), betak-inok (Mungaka), ibisere (Yoruba), ndisok (Efik), tsakpaci (Nupe). Sierra Leone: fofɔ (Loko), khambu-na (Susu-Dyalonke), fenkai (Susu), g-ba (Vai), wakawaka (Manding-Mandinka), wagale (Maninka (Koranko)), fofɔ (Mende), a-waka (Temne), kaamba (Kono), g-bando (Kissi). Togo: avogalo (Gbe-Vhe).

Description

Myrianthus arboreus is a shrub or small tree that typically reaches up to 10 meters in height, though it can occasionally grow taller. The bark is greyish to green, with a white slash. Leaves are arranged spirally and are often palmately compound, with long stipules (3–5 cm) commonly covered in hairs. Leaflets are lanceolate with serrate to dentate margins, measuring up to 65 cm long and 22 cm wide. The infructescences can be up to 15 cm in diameter, with drupe-like fruits that are yellow to orange-red in color. The endocarp measures up to 1.7 cm long and 0.8 cm wide.

Distribution and Habitat

This species is native to tropical Africa, ranging from Guinea eastwards to Sudan and southwards to Tanzania. It is commonly found in lowland forest environments, including secondary vegetation, open areas in rainforests, damp forest locations, forest galleries, clearings, and along streams or lagoons. In Tanzania, it occurs at elevations from 700 to 1,200 meters.

Medicinal Properties

Various parts of Myrianthus arboreus are utilized in traditional medicine:

  • Bark: Used as an antidysenteric, cholagogue, and taenifuge; also applied in the treatment of chest complaints.
  • Leaves: Employed in managing heart troubles, pregnancy complications, dysmenorrhea, and incipient hernia; also used in the treatment of dysentery, diarrhea, vomiting, fever in children, boils, toothache, bronchitis, laryngitis, sore throat, muscular pains, and hemorrhoids.
  • Roots: The sap is consumed as an antitussive, antidiarrheal, and remedy for hematuria and blennorrhea; vapor baths made from diced roots are used to treat headaches.
  • Fruits: Boiled in sap or palm wine to serve as an emeto-purgative.

Known Toxicity

There are no widely reported toxic effects associated with Myrianthus arboreus. However, as with all medicinal plants, it is advisable to consult with knowledgeable practitioners before any medicinal use.

Additional Information

Beyond its medicinal applications, Myrianthus arboreus is valued for its edible parts:

  • Leaves: Young leaves are cooked and commonly eaten in vegetable soups; they are also used as livestock feed.
  • Fruits: The sweet or acidulous pulp surrounding the seeds is generally well-liked and commonly eaten.
  • Seeds: Contain about 45% oil, with linoleic acid comprising about 93% of the whole; also contain about 19% sugars and 30% proteins, with the protein being unusually rich in cystine.

The tree is also considered a multipurpose species, providing a range of foods, medicines, and other commodities for local people. The leaves form a good ground cover, retaining moisture and decomposing to form a thick humus. Additionally, lye can be extracted from the ash of the wood for soap making, and extracts have been shown to deter termites.

References

  1. de Ruiter, G. (1976). Revision of the Genera Myrianthus and Musanga (Moraceae). Bulletin du Jardin botanique national de Belgique / Bulletin van de National Plantentuin van België, 46(3/4), 471–510.
  2. Ngounou, F. N., Lontsi, D., & Sondengam, B. L. (1988). A pentacyclic triterpene diacid from Myrianthus arboreus. Phytochemistry, 27(1), 279–281.
  3. García-Pérez, M.-E., Kasangana, P.-B., & Stevanovic, T. (2023). Bioactive Molecules from Myrianthus arboreus, Acer rubrum, and Picea mariana Forest Resources. Molecules, 28(5), 2222.
  4. Harley, B. K., Dickson, R. A., Amponsah, I. K., Ben, I. O., & Adongo, D. W. (2020). Flavanols and triterpenoids from Myrianthus arboreus ameliorate hyperglycaemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats possibly via glucose uptake enhancement and α-amylase inhibition. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 132, 110874.
  5. Awounfack, C. F., Ateba, S. B., Zingue, S., Mouchili, O. R., & Njamen, D. (2016). Safety evaluation (acute and sub-acute studies) of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Myrianthus arboreus P

External Links

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrianthus_arboreus
  2. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Myrianthus+arboreus
  3. https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Myrianthus_arboreus.PDF
  4. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/983621-Myrianthus-arboreus
  5. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:854739-1
  6. https://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000374730
  7. https://www.gbif.org/species/176781962

More Pictures
Compounds of Myrianthus arboreus
References

Ojinnaka, C. M., & Kenne, L. (1985). Studies on Nigerian medicinal plants: components of the stems of Myrianthus arboreus. Journal of Natural Products, 48(6), 1002-1003.