Sapium ellipticum
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Sapium ellipticum Common Names: Jumping seed tree Scientific
Classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Angiosperms Order: Malpighiales Family: Euphorbiaceae Genus: Sapium Species: S. ellipticum Accepted Name: Sapium ellipticum (Hochst. ex Krauss) Pax Morphological Description Sapium ellipticum is a small to medium-sized, deciduous to semi-deciduous tree
typically 10–15 m tall, occasionally reaching 20–25 m, with a straight or
slightly crooked bole and a rounded crown of drooping branches (World
Agroforestry Centre, n.d.; Kew Science, n.d.). · Bark: Light brown to very dark (almost black), rough and fissured
in older trees; young twigs exude a white, latex-like sap when cut (World
Agroforestry Centre, n.d.). · Leaves: Simple, alternate, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, usually 5–15
cm long; margins entire or slightly wavy; apex acute to rounded; base cuneate;
lamina glossy green above, paler beneath; petiole short. Leaves are often
clustered near branch tips and may flush after flowering (World Agroforestry
Centre, n.d.; Kew Science, n.d.). · Flowers: Small, greenish, unisexual flowers borne in axillary or
terminal spikes or racemes; the species is monoecious, with male flowers more
numerous than female flowers. Flowers are inconspicuous but visited by insects
(World Agroforestry Centre, n.d.). · Fruit: A small, three-lobed capsule (trilocular), often 8–12 mm in
diameter; when mature it dries and splits explosively, ejecting the smooth,
light brown to blackish seeds (“jumping seeds”), a characteristic feature of
the genus (World Agroforestry Centre, n.d.; Flora of Zimbabwe, n.d.). · Roots: A moderately deep root system with lateral spread, providing
good anchorage and contributing to soil stabilization along riverbanks and
slopes (World Agroforestry Centre, n.d.). Distribution and Habitat Sapium ellipticum is widely distributed in tropical Africa, from West Africa
across Central Africa to East and southern Africa (Kew Science, n.d.; World
Agroforestry Centre, n.d.). · Geographic Range: Recorded from Senegal, Guinea, Côte
d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon in West Africa; through the Congo Basin;
and eastwards to Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, with occurrences
extending southwards into Malawi and Mozambique (Kew Science, n.d.; World Flora
Online, n.d.; Flora of Zimbabwe, n.d.). · Altitudinal Range: Typically 1,000–2,200 m above sea level in
East Africa, but it may occur at lower elevations in West and Central Africa in
moist lowland woodland and riverine habitats (World Agroforestry Centre, n.d.). · Habitat: A light-demanding tree of forest edges, secondary scrub,
wooded ravines, riverine forests, moist woodlands and savanna gallery forests.
It prefers moist but well-drained soils and is common along streams and in gaps
in evergreen forest (World Agroforestry Centre, n.d.; Flora of Zimbabwe, n.d.). · Ecological Role: Acts as a pioneer and gap colonizer,
contributing to regeneration of secondary forest and providing food and shelter
for insects and birds. Its seeds are dispersed by explosive dehiscence and
possibly by water along streams (World Agroforestry Centre, n.d.; He et al.,
2021). Ethnopharmacology Ethnobotanical surveys
from Nigeria, East Africa and Ethiopia document extensive use of Sapium ellipticum in traditional medicine, consistent with
the therapeutic activities later demonstrated in pharmacological studies
(Agidew et al., 2013; Ighodaro & Akinloye, 2017; He et al., 2021). · Diabetes and metabolic disorders: In several communities of Nigeria and East
Africa, leaf decoctions or infusions are taken orally to manage symptoms of
diabetes and “sugar disease,” often as part of polyherbal mixtures (Ighodaro
& Akinloye, 2017; He et al., 2021). · Gastrointestinal complaints: Stem bark decoctions are used for
diarrhea, stomach cramps, intestinal worms and dysentery in Cameroon and
Nigeria, and as general remedies for “stomach troubles” in parts of Central and
East Africa (Wansi et al., 2014; Agidew et al., 2013). · Skin diseases and wound care: Powdered stem bark mixed with water or oil
is applied topically to wounds, boils, ulcers and inflammatory swellings. In
Tanzania and neighbouring countries, crushed dried stems are used on chest and
head pain and for wound healing (Agidew et al., 2013). · Respiratory and febrile illnesses: Root decoctions are used in East Africa
for cough, fever and malaria-like illnesses, often combined with other
medicinal plants (Agidew et al., 2013; He et al., 2021). · Eye and glandular conditions: Leaves are used in folk medicine for
abdominal swellings, mumps and eye diseases in Ethiopia and parts of East
Africa (Agidew et al., 2013). · Cancer and tumors: In Nigerian traditional medicine, leaf
preparations of S. ellipticum are
included in herbal remedies for breast and other cancers, a use that has
motivated cytotoxicity studies on the species (Sowemimo et al., 2011). · Glucose-lowering effects: Ethanol leaf extract of S. ellipticum administered at 400 and 800 mg/kg in
streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats significantly reduced fasting blood
glucose by approximately 44–47% over 21 days, improved hepatic and skeletal
muscle glycogen content, and enhanced plasma and pancreatic insulin levels
compared with diabetic controls (Ighodaro & Akinloye, 2017). · Enzyme modulation: In a related study, ethanol leaf extract
(400 and 800 mg/kg) increased hepatic glucokinase activity by about 40% and
inhibited glucose-6-phosphatase by about 37% in diabetic rats, indicating dual
regulation of hepatic glucose utilization and production. Metformin produced a
stronger but qualitatively similar pattern (Ighodaro et al., 2017). · Carbohydrate-digesting enzymes: In vitro work demonstrates that S. ellipticum leaf extract inhibits pancreatic α-amylase
and intestinal α-glucosidase in a concentration-dependent manner, supporting
delayed carbohydrate digestion and absorption as an additional mechanism of antidiabetic
action (Ighodaro et al., 2016). · Lipid homeostasis: Further studies show that the extract
improves serum lipid profiles in diabetic rats by reducing total cholesterol,
triglycerides and LDL, and lowering atherogenic indices, thereby contributing to
cardiovascular risk reduction in diabetes (Ighodaro et al., 2017b). · Methanolic extracts of S. ellipticum exhibit strong antioxidant activity,
significantly scavenging DPPH radicals and other reactive species in vitro in a
dose-dependent manner, which is attributed to high phenolic content (Adesegun
et al., 2008). · Ethanol leaf extracts show comparable in vitro
antioxidant profiles and protect biomolecules from oxidative damage in
experimental models, supporting their role in mitigating oxidative stress in
diabetes and related disorders (Ighodaro et al., 2016). Antidiarrheal and Gastrointestinal Activity · Aqueous stem bark extract (5.2–20.8 mg/kg)
significantly delayed the onset of castor oil–induced diarrhea, reduced the
number of wet feces and decreased intestinal transit in rats. It also reduced
spontaneous contractions of isolated ileum in vitro, which mechanistically
supports its traditional use against diarrhea and intestinal cramps (Wansi et
al., 2014). · The antidiarrheal effect has been attributed to
a combination of antimotility, antisecretory and possible mild spasmolytic
actions of polar constituents in the bark (Wansi et al., 2014). Cytotoxic and Anticancer Potential · Ethanolic leaf extracts of S. ellipticum displayed notable cytotoxicity against
human MCF-7 breast cancer cells, with activity comparable to cisplatin at
certain concentrations, while activity against HT29 colon cancer cells was more
modest. These results provide preliminary support for the plant’s use in traditional
cancer remedies (Sowemimo et al., 2011). · Reviews on the genus Sapium highlight S. ellipticum as one of the species with promising
anticancer constituents, including triterpenoids and phenolic compounds that
warrant further bioassay-guided isolation (He et al., 2021). Other Reported Activities · Phytochemical and antifungal investigations
indicate that stem bark and leaf extracts may have antifungal properties,
associated with triterpenoids such as lupeol and related compounds, though data
remain limited (Agidew et al., 2013; He et al., 2021). ⚠ Toxicity and Safety Profile: Acute and sub-acute toxicity studies generally support a favorable
safety margin for Sapium ellipticum at therapeutic doses, but high-dose or prolonged use should
still be approached with caution. Acute toxicity: In rats, aqueous stem bark extract was considered safe up to
2,000 mg/kg, with no significant alterations in hematological or basic
biochemical parameters (Wansi et al., 2014). LD50 of leaf extract: Ethanol leaf extract showed a high oral LD50 (greater
than 5,000 mg/kg) in Wistar rats, with no mortality or major clinical signs at
lower doses, indicating low acute toxicity (Ighodaro et al., 2016). Additional Uses and Ecological Importance · Timber and fuelwood: Wood of S. ellipticum is used locally for firewood, charcoal,
tool handles and simple farm implements. It is moderately hard and workable,
making it suitable for small-scale construction and rural furniture (World
Agroforestry Centre, n.d.). · Agroforestry and erosion control: The species is planted as a shade tree and
boundary marker and is recommended for buffer-zone agroforestry systems in some
East African landscapes because of its tolerance to a range of soils and its
stabilizing root system (Kasolo et al., 2008; World Agroforestry Centre, n.d.). · Biodiversity support: Flowers provide nectar and pollen to bees
and other insects, while fruits and canopy structure support small birds and
invertebrates along forest edges and streams (Flora of Zimbabwe, n.d.). References
External Links More Pictures |
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| Compounds of Sapium ellipticum | |
| References | Umarudeen, A. M. Gas Chromatography-Spectrometric Analysis of An African Mistletoe Leaf Extract. |