Parkia biglobosa
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fd86ad7f9d053983862 |
| Scientific name | Parkia biglobosa |
| Authority | (Jacq.) R.Br. ex G.Don |
| First published in | J.C.Loudon, Hort. Brit.: 277 (1830) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
In the West African Sahel and forest edge, Parkia biglobosa is used as a household medicine through infusions, decoctions, and poultices. Among Yoruba and Hausa communities in Nigeria, dried leaf infusion is taken for hypertension and as a postpartum tonic, a decoction of leaves and young stems for malaria fever, and a paste of fresh leaf applied to wounds; the same preparations—often substituting bark or root—are recorded by Lockett et al., 2000. In the Upper West Region of Ghana and northern Ivory Coast, healers simmer young stems or bark to make a bitter decoction for diarrhea and dysentery, and ferment seeds (dawadawa) are taken for digestive complaints and as a digestive “tea,” as summarized by the African Herbal Pharmacopoeia, 2010 and Iwu, 1993/2014. Across northeastern Nigeria and northern Cameroon, a leaf or bark infusion is used topically for skin infections and slow-healing ulcers, while a sap or bark infusion is taken for asthma and coughs; these uses appear widely in regional ethnobotanical surveys, including Iwu, 1993/2014.
One practical preparation is a hydroethanolic tincture of bark or leaf for gastrointestinal spasms and dysentery. Combine roughly 20 g of air‑dried, powdered bark or leaf with 100 ml of 45% ethanol (v/v), shake daily for 10–14 days, then press and filter. Store in an amber bottle away from heat. Adults may take 1–2 ml up to three times daily with food, not exceeding 10 ml/day; avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to insufficient safety data. A simple leaf decoction for fever or diarrhea is prepared by simmering 10–15 g of dried chopped leaves in 500 ml water for 10–15 minutes, cooling, and drinking up to 250 ml in divided doses for no more than a week.
Well‑established phytochemicals support these traditional applications. Bark and leaves contain hydrolyzable and condensed tannins that act as astringents, saponins with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, and seed lectins that contribute to gastrointestinal activity, all documented for Parkia biglobosa by Dalziel, 1937; Iwu, 1993/2014; and the African Herbal Pharmacopoeia, 2010.
Current research has focused on antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antidiarrheal activities of the tannins and saponins, and commercial dawadawa remains widely available as a fermented food seasoning, while leaf and bark infusions are still prepared seasonally for fever, hypertension, and digestive complaints (African Herbal Pharmacopoeia, 2010).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Soumbala (dawadawa) seasoning paste and powders; partially defatted seed cake for animal feed; cooking/frying oil; natural brown dyes; tanning materials (bark); heavy hardwood timber and fuelwood.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Seeds are fermented and dried to produce soumbala, a nutty, umami seasoning paste or dried powder used as a condiment in West African cuisine; the product is characteristically high in protein and umami-rich free amino acids. Partially defatted, de‑bittered seed cakes are employed as livestock and aquaculture feeds after appropriate processing to reduce residual anti‑nutritional factors. Seed oil, typically yellowish to pale, is extracted and used as edible oil for cooking and frying; oilcakes co‑produced with soumbala.
Colorants and tanning:
Bark is used for vegetable tanning; it yields brown natural dyes suitable for protein fibers. Fruit pulp is reported to supply fermentable sugars for beverages and sweeteners (e.g., for syrups, non-alcoholic drinks), but the specific products and processing steps vary regionally.
Wood and fiber:
The wood is a heavy, durable hardwood used for construction, furniture, implements, and general carpentry; it is also utilized as fuelwood and for charcoal.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
No verified uses in perfumery or cosmetics are reported in standard references; oil expression may be used industrially, but documented fragrance applications are lacking.
Properties relevant to use:
Fermentation of seeds reduces cyanide precursors and bitter saponins, producing the characteristic soumbala aroma and a protein‑rich product; fat composition supports cooking‑oil use, while the coproduct oilcakes can be incorporated into feed formulations after treatment. The bark’s tannin content and dye‑giving chemistry underpin leather tanning and fiber coloration.
Standards and regulation:
Soumbala and seed oil are subject to national food safety regulations on contaminants, pesticide residues, and hygiene; where exported, Codex Alimentarius standards for edible oils and general food hygiene apply. Vegetable tannins and dyes are subject to national and international chemical safety, labeling, and restricted‑substance regulations.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Seeds are harvested from mature, unmanaged or lightly managed trees, contributing to diversified household incomes and food systems in West Africa; overharvesting for fuelwood and bark tanning can threaten local populations, and sustainable management (e.g., selective harvesting, regeneration, coppice rotation) is recommended to maintain long‑term supply.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Parkia clappertoniana | Keay | Bull. Jard. Bot. État Bruxelles25: 209 (1955) |
| Parkia africana | R.Br. | Narr. Travels Africa: 234 (1826) |
| Parkia oliveri | J.F.Macbr. | Contr. Gray Herb.59: 19 (1919) |
| Parkia uniglobosa | G.Don | Gen. Hist.2: 396 (1832) |
| Prosopis faeculifera | Desv. | Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris)9: 426 (1826) |
| Inga faeculifera | Ham. | Circ. Desir. W. Ind. Pl.: 1 (1824) |
| Inga senegalensis | DC. | Prodr.2: 442 (1825) |
| Inga biglobosa | (Jacq.) Willd. | Sp. Pl., ed. 4, 4: 1025 (1806) |
| Mimosa biglobosa | Jacq. | Select. Stirp. Amer. Hist.: 267 (1763) |
| Inga faroba | Mérat & Lens | Dict. Univ. Matière Méd.3: 606 (1831) |
| Parkia filicoidea var. glauca | Baker f. | Legum. Trop. Africa3: 781 (1930) |
| Mimosa taxifolia | Pers. | Syn. Pl.2: 266 (1806) |
| Parkia intermedia | Oliv. | Fl. Trop. Afr. 2: 324 (1871) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Bambara | nɛrɛ |
| Bambara | nɛ̀rɛ |
| Catalan | néré |
| dag | doo |
| Persian | پارکیا |
| Fulah | nareehi |
| French | arbre à farine |
| French | arbre à fauve |
| French | caroubier africain |
| French | mimosa pourpre |
| Hausa | corawa |
| Japanese | ヒロハフサマメノキ |
| kcg | a̱la̱n |
| Korean | 네레콩 |
| Korean | 네레 |
| kus | duan |
| nqo | ߣߍ߬ߘߍ |
| Chinese | 非洲刺槐豆 |
| Chinese | 內黑 |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Africa click to expand
-
Northeast Tropical Africa
- Chad
- Sudan
-
West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Burkina
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Mali
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
-
West-central Tropical Africa
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
-
Northeast Tropical Africa
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- India
-
Indian Subcontinent
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000179230 |
| Tropicos | 13067608 |
| INPN | 807457 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:941491-1 |
| The Plant List | ild-25404 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 1012941 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 889930 |
| IUCN Red List | 144263048 |
| IPNI | 941491-1 |
| iNaturalist | 133528 |
| GBIF | 5348812 |
| Freebase | /m/04jnmfq |
| EOL | 642368 |
| USDA GRIN | 26777 |
| Wikipedia | Parkia_biglobosa |
| CMAUP | NPO9311 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Eicosanoic Acid | 10467 | Click to see | 312.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Palmitic Acid | 985 | Click to see | 256.42 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Stearic Acid | 5281 | Click to see | 284.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Very long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Behenic Acid | 8215 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)O | 340.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Hexacosanoic Acid | 10469 | Click to see | 396.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids | |||||
| (1R,4aS,10aS)-1,4a-dimethyl-7-propan-2-yl-2,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydrophenanthren-1-ol | 40522879 | Click to see | 272.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,4aS,10aS)-7-Isopropyl-1,4a-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octahydrophenanthrene-1-carboxylic acid | 7075030 | Click to see | 300.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,4aS,9R,10aR)-1,4a-dimethyl-7-propan-2-yl-2,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydrophenanthrene-1,9-diol | 21604174 | Click to see | 288.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,4aS,9R,10aR)-9-hydroxy-7-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-1,4a-dimethyl-2,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydrophenanthrene-1-carbaldehyde | 10425915 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1CC(C3=C2C=CC(=C3)C(C)(C)O)O)C)C=O | 316.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,4aS,9S,10aR)-1-(hydroxymethyl)-7-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-1,4a-dimethyl-2,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydrophenanthren-9-ol | 3009626 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,4aS,9S,10aR)-1,4a-dimethyl-7-propan-2-yl-2,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydrophenanthrene-1,9-diol | 100982592 | Click to see | 288.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,4aS,10aR)-1,4a-dimethyl-7-propan-2-yl-2,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydrophenanthren-1-ol | 26183496 | Click to see CC(C)C1=CC2=C(C=C1)C3(CCCC(C3CC2)(C)O)C | 272.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,4aS,10aS)-1,4a-dimethyl-7-propan-2-yl-2,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydrophenanthren-1-ol | 26183495 | Click to see | 272.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 15-Hydroxydehydroabietic Acid | 14487943 | Click to see | 316.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 15,18-Dihydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7-one | 3009631 | Click to see | 316.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 18-Nor-4,15-dihydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7-one | 3009629 | Click to see CC12CCCC(C1CC(=O)C3=C2C=CC(=C3)C(C)(C)O)(C)O | 302.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 18-Norabieta-8,11,13-trien-4-ol | 15605917 | Click to see | 272.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7-Oxo-15-Hydroxydehydroabietic Acid | 14017925 | Click to see | 330.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7-Oxodehydroabietinol | 15715176 | Click to see | 300.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7alpha-Hydroxydehydroabieticacid | 13370053 | Click to see CC(C)C1=CC2=C(C=C1)C3(CCCC(C3CC2O)(C)C(=O)O)C | 316.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7alpha,15-Dihydroxydehydroabietic acid | 12047563 | Click to see | 332.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7Beta-Hydroxydehydroabietic Acid | 13370052 | Click to see | 316.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7beta,15-Dihydroxydehydroabietic acid | 21626423 | Click to see CC12CCCC(C1CC(C3=C2C=CC(=C3)C(C)(C)O)O)(C)C(=O)O | 332.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Aquilarabietic Acid H | 71578077 | Click to see | 314.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| Lupeol | 259846 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C | 426.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(99)00137-9 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives | |||||
| 2-Propenoic acid, 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-, octadecyl ester | 149044 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCOC(=O)C=CC1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)OC | 446.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Hexacosyl 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 20980932 | Click to see | 558.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Icosyl 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 149045 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCOC(=O)C=CC1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)OC | 474.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Tetracosyl 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 54412038 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCOC(=O)C=CC1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)OC | 530.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Unii-A2T8gne262 | 54370069 | Click to see | 502.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Catechin gallates | |||||
| (-)-Epicatechin gallate | 107905 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C21)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O | 442.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(99)00137-9 |
| Epigallocatechin Gallate | 65064 | Click to see | 458.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(99)00137-9 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Epigallocatechins | |||||
| Epigallocatechin | 72277 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C21)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)O | 306.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(99)00137-9 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones | |||||
| Pinocembrin | 68071 | Click to see C1C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)O)C3=CC=CC=C3 | 256.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones / Flavanonols | |||||
| Pinobanksin | 73202 | Click to see | 272.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 8-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| 2-(4-Hydroxy-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-3,7,8-trimethoxychromen-4-one | 44258707 | Click to see | 388.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(96)00101-X |
| 2'-Hydroxy-3,7,8,4',5'-pentamethoxyflavone | 10548300 | Click to see COC1=C(C2=C(C=C1)C(=O)C(=C(O2)C3=CC(=C(C=C3O)OC)OC)OC)OC | 388.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(96)00101-X |
| 7-Hydroxy-3,4',8-trimethoxyflavone | 10592359 | Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(O2)C(=C(C=C3)O)OC)OC | 328.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(96)00101-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes | |||||
| 3,5-Dimethoxystilbene | 5316874 | Click to see | 240.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Cis-3,5-Dimethoxystilbene | 13556468 | Click to see | 240.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Pinosylvin methyl ether | 5281719 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1)O)C=CC2=CC=CC=C2 | 226.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |