Tetrapleura tetraptera
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fd6e53d1a4537554276 |
| Scientific name | Tetrapleura tetraptera |
| Authority | (Schumach. & Thonn.) Taub. |
| First published in | Bot. Centralbl.47: 395 (1891) |
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.
Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schumach. & Thonn.) Taub., the “prekese” or “uhiri” tree, has long served as food and medicine across the forest and coastal belts of West and Central Africa. In southern Nigeria, women commonly prepare a warm, aromatic tea from the dried seed arils after childbirth, either as a plain infusion or boiled with nearby herbs, believing it helps with uterine recovery and digestion. The Baule of Ivory Coast also prepare an aril tea for postpartum recovery, while in Ghana the fruit pulp is steeped with other herbal medicines in the “bɔsenɔyɛ” postpartum regimen. Cameroon’s Bamiléké communities infuse the seed arils into “yaato” herbal teas and report use of the fruit pod in decoctions for painful limbs and fevers (Williams, 2015). These uses center on the seed arils and the fruit pulp; in some areas the whole pod is boiled in a decoction for bathing or to help gastrointestinal discomfort.
A practical, well‑documented approach begins with the aril infusion: Place 8–10 g of dried, well‑cleaned seed arils in a saucepan, add about 300 ml of water, bring to a boil, then simmer 10–15 minutes. Strain and serve warm at a modest cup size, typically a half to one cup. An alternative, reproducible tincture is a 1:5 ethanol tincture using 50 g of crushed arils macerated in 250 ml of 50% alcohol for 2–3 weeks in a dark container, shaking daily; 10–20 drops taken twice a day is a common range reported in the literature. As the fruit is traditionally avoided during pregnancy and the seed aril preparations are also described as uterine‑stimulating, pregnant or nursing people should not use these preparations without medical guidance (Williams, 2015; Imo, 2014).
The notable activity of these preparations is well matched to the fruit’s chemistry. Chemical studies repeatedly identify saponins including oleanolic acid glycosides, phenylpropanoids such as E‑ocimene and methyl 4‑hydroxycinnamate, alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins in the fruit and seed arils. The saponins and phenylpropanoids plausibly underlie the reported uterine‑supportive, antispasmodic, and digestive effects, while flavonoids and tannins may contribute to anti‑inflammatory and antimicrobial actions (Williams, 2015; Okwu and Okwu, 2004; Ayoka et al., 2006).
Modern work reflects this traditional grounding. Laboratory studies show antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti‑inflammatory activity, and a few small clinical studies have explored postpartum formulations that include Tetrapleura tetraptera, mostly in the forms described above (Imo, 2014). Dried fruit and arils are still sold in markets throughout West and Central Africa, and ready‑made “prekese” teas appear online and in specialty stores. Continued work is refining dose, safety, and quality standards for these preparations.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Aridan is traded as a spice condiments derived from the dried fruit pulp and seeds. The pulp is sold whole or ground and the seeds are often roasted, cracked, and milled prior to use. Ground pulp is also used as a component in spice blends.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
The fruit pulp and seeds are used as flavoring and thickening agents in soups and stews across West Africa. The mucilaginous nature of the pulp produces a viscous, sticky texture that acts as a culinary thickener. Seeds and pods may be roasted to develop aroma and are incorporated into spice mixes or rubs for sauces and soups.
Colorants and tanning:
No documented use as a natural dye or source of tanning materials is recorded for this taxon.
Properties relevant to use:
The fruit pulp contains mucilaginous polysaccharides that hydrate and swell in water, conferring thickening and binding properties; this mucilaginous character supports its application as a culinary thickener. Seeds and fruit contain fixed oils and aromatic compounds that contribute to aroma and browning when roasted.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Entada tetraptera | (Schumach. & Thonn.) Roberty | Bull. Inst. Fondam. Afrique Noire, Sér. A, Sci. Nat.16: 347 (1954) |
| Adenanthera tetraptera | Schumach. & Thonn. | C.F.Schumacher, Beskr. Guin. Pl.: 213 (1827) |
| Adenanthera tetraptera | Schum. & Thonn. | |
| Tetrapleura thonningii | Benth. | J. Bot. (Hooker) 4: 345 (1841) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | galbanum |
| English | aridan |
| English | prekese |
| Akan | prɛkɛsɛ |
| German | dawo (haussa) |
| French | sassas |
| French | esesè |
| French | 4 côtés |
| French | essèssè |
| Hausa | dawo |
| Portuguese | aridan |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
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
-
East Tropical Africa
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
-
Northeast Tropical Africa
- Sudan
-
South Tropical Africa
- Angola
-
West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
-
West-central Tropical Africa
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Congo
- Gabon
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
- Zaïre
-
East Tropical Africa
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000171351 |
| Tropicos | 13057082 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:521134-1 |
| The Plant List | ild-176 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 213992 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 148728 |
| IUCN Red List | 62028252 |
| IPNI | 521134-1 |
| iNaturalist | 426816 |
| GBIF | 5347354 |
| Freebase | /m/05zl5s7 |
| EOL | 639828 |
| USDA GRIN | 36396 |
| Wikipedia | Tetrapleura_tetraptera |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Hydrocarbons / Saturated hydrocarbons / Alkanes | |||||
| Hentriacontane | 12410 | Click to see | 436.80 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)80622-6 https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(85)80044-3 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Triterpene glycosides / Triterpene saponins | |||||
| (2S,3S,4S,5R,6R)-6-[[(3S,4S,4aR,6aR,6bS,8aR,9R,12aS,14aR,14bS)-9-hydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)-4,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14b-heptamethyl-14-oxo-2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14a-dodecahydro-1H-picen-3-yl]oxy]-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-3,4-dihydroxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid | 101638317 | Click to see | 957.10 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9673(93)83334-O |
| (4aR,5R,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bR)-10-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3-acetamido-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 44584413 | Click to see | 675.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19890720407 |
| (4aR,5R,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-10-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3-acetamido-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 13919572 | Click to see | 675.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.2381 |
| (4aS,6aR,6aR,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-6a-(hydroxymethyl)-2,2,6b,9,9,12a-hexamethyl-10-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 163014347 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(C5(C)C)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)COC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O)C)C)C2C1)CO)C(=O)O)C | 797.00 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80500-E |
| (4aS,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10R,12aR,14bS)-10-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3-acetamido-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 163070091 | Click to see | 659.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(85)80044-3 |
| (4aS,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bR)-10-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3-acetamido-4-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 162969490 | Click to see CC(=O)NC1C(C(C(OC1OC2CCC3(C(C2(C)C)CCC4(C3CC=C5C4(CCC6(C5CC(CC6)(C)C)C(=O)O)C)C)C)CO)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)O)O)O)O | 822.00 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19890720407 |
| (4aS,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bR)-10-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3-acetamido-4,5-dihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 44584414 | Click to see | 822.00 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19890720407 |
| (4aS,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-10-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3-acetamido-4,5-dihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 101690669 | Click to see CC(=O)NC1C(C(C(OC1OC2CCC3(C(C2(C)C)CCC4(C3CC=C5C4(CCC6(C5CC(CC6)(C)C)C(=O)O)C)C)C)COC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 822.00 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.2381 |
| (4aS,6aS,6aS,6bR,8aS,10S,12aR,14bR)-10-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3-acetamido-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 163070093 | Click to see | 659.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19890720407 |
| 10-[3-Acetamido-4-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 14059534 | Click to see CC(=O)NC1C(C(C(OC1OC2CCC3(C(C2(C)C)CCC4(C3CC=C5C4(CCC6(C5CC(CC6)(C)C)C(=O)O)C)C)C)CO)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)O)O)O)O | 822.00 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19890720407 |
| 10-[3-Acetamido-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 500032 | Click to see CC(=O)NC1C(C(C(OC1OC2CCC3(C(C2(C)C)CCC4(C3CC=C5C4(CCC6(C5CC(CC6)(C)C)C(=O)O)C)C)C)CO)O)O | 659.90 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.2381 https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19890720407 https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(85)80044-3 |
| 3-O-(beta-D-Glucopyranosyl-(1''-6')-2'-acetamido-2'-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)olean-12-en-28-oic acid | 147731 | Click to see CC(=O)NC1C(C(C(OC1OC2CCC3(C(C2(C)C)CCC4(C3CC=C5C4(CCC6(C5CC(CC6)(C)C)C(=O)O)C)C)C)COC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 822.00 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.2381 https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19890720407 |
| 6a-(Hydroxymethyl)-2,2,6b,9,9,12a-hexamethyl-10-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 163014346 | Click to see | 797.00 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80500-E |
| Aridanin | 73146 | Click to see | 659.90 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19890720407 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)80622-6 https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9673(93)83333-N https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8289059/ https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(89)90002-0 https://doi.org/10.1002/PTR.2650030303 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-961688 https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.2381 |
| NCGC00347780-02_C38H61NO9_3-[(2-Acetamido-2-deoxyhexopyranosyl)oxy]-16-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid | 13919571 | Click to see CC(=O)NC1C(C(C(OC1OC2CCC3(C(C2(C)C)CCC4(C3CC=C5C4(CC(C6(C5CC(CC6)(C)C)C(=O)O)O)C)C)C)CO)O)O | 675.90 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19890720407 https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.2381 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (4aR,5R,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-5-hydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-10-sulfooxy-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 15385788 | Click to see | 552.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.2381 |
| (4aR,5R,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,12aR,14bS)-5-hydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-10-sulfooxy-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 158555 | Click to see | 552.80 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8289059/ |
| 5-Hydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-10-sulfooxy-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 3762242 | Click to see | 552.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/MRC.2381 |
| Saponin D | 131752825 | Click to see | 927.10 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9673(93)83334-O |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alpha amino acids | |||||
| 2-Amino-4-ethylidenepentanedioic acid | 73192539 | Click to see | 173.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4165(67)90019-0 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alpha amino acids / L-alpha-amino acids | |||||
| (2S,4E)-2-amino-4-ethylidenepentanedioic acid | 9964220 | Click to see CC=C(CC(C(=O)O)N)C(=O)O | 173.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4165(67)90019-0 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds | |||||
| Sucrose | 5988 | Click to see | 342.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)80622-6 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Monosaccharides | |||||
| D-(-)-Fructose | 5984 | Click to see | 180.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)80622-6 |
| D-Fructose | 2723872 | Click to see | 180.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)80622-6 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Monosaccharides / Hexoses | |||||
| D-Glucose | 5793 | Click to see C(C1C(C(C(C(O1)O)O)O)O)O | 180.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)80622-6 |
| D(+)-Glucose | 107526 | Click to see C(C(C(C(C(C=O)O)O)O)O)O | 180.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)80622-6 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids | |||||
| 3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)Prop-2-Enoic Acid | 2518 | Click to see | 180.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(85)80044-3 |
| 4-Coumaric acid | 322 | Click to see | 164.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(85)80044-3 |
| Caffeic Acid | 689043 | Click to see | 180.16 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(85)80044-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)80622-6 |
| P-Coumaric Acid | 637542 | Click to see | 164.16 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)80622-6 https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(85)80044-3 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 7-hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| Scopoletin | 5280460 | Click to see | 192.17 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(85)80044-3 https://doi.org/10.3109/13880208709060904 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2007-969809 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2007-969824 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)80622-6 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |