Piliostigma thonningii
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fd6c430dc2463172368 |
| Scientific name | Piliostigma thonningii |
| Authority | (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. |
| First published in | Hooker's Icon. Pl.35: t. 3460 (1947) |
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.
Piliostigma thonningii, a small savanna tree of the legume family, is recorded in West and East African traditional medicine as a source of several simple preparations. In Ghana the leaves are commonly infused into a light tea that is taken to calm a cough or to soothe a sore throat (Burkill, 1995). Across Nigeria the bark is boiled in water to make a stronger decoction used for the relief of fever and malaria‑like symptoms, and the same decoction is also given to children with diarrhoea (Burkill, 1995). In Kenya the fresh leaves are pounded into a moist paste and applied as a poultice to cuts, sores or inflammatory skin lesions, a practice that is noted among the Maasai of the Rift Valley (Kokwaro, 1976). All three reports describe the plant parts exactly – leaves for infusions or poultices, bark for decoctions – and each cites the same species name, confirming that the therapeutic traditions refer to Piliostigma thonningii and not a related plant (Ayodele and Aderogba, 2021).
For a practical, mild preparation, a simple leaf tea can be made by steeping one tablespoon of dried, roughly crushed leaves in 250 ml of freshly boiled water for five to ten minutes, then straining. The resulting infusion is usually drunk warm, up to two cups a day. The same amount of dried bark can be simmered in 500 ml of water for fifteen minutes to produce a decoction that is taken in small doses (about 100 ml) three times daily for fever. While the preparations are generally considered safe for healthy adults, they should be avoided by pregnant or nursing women because reliable safety data for these uses are lacking, and anyone with a known allergy to legumes should discontinue use if any irritation occurs.
Phytochemical studies of the leaves and bark have consistently identified flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol, condensed and hydrolyzable tannins, saponins, and triterpenoids including lupeol and betulinic acid. These classes of compounds are well‑documented in the species and provide a plausible biochemical basis for the observed antimicrobial, anti‑inflammatory and antipyretic actions reported in traditional preparations.
Recent laboratory work has shown that extracts of Piliostigma thonningii inhibit the growth of several bacterial strains and display modest antiplasmodial activity in vitro, encouraging further pharmacological investigation. In rural markets the dried bark and leaf material are still sold for home‑made teas and poultices, and a few small‑scale herbal enterprises are beginning to package standardized leaf extracts for sale, indicating that the traditional uses continue to find a place alongside modern research.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Heartwood and sapwood used as timber for construction, furniture, tool handles, poles, and for fuel wood and charcoal.
- Bark harvested for tannin extraction, providing a natural leather‑tanning agent.
- Bark yields a red‑brown natural dye used in textile coloration, especially on protein fibers.
- Gum exuded from the bark is collected for use as a natural adhesive.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Timber is processed into structural members, flooring and furniture components for local and regional markets.
- Bark tannins are employed in industrial leather tanning, improving durability and water resistance of leather.
- The bark dye is applied in textile dyeing of wool, silk and cotton, giving a stable brown hue.
- Gum is incorporated into small‑scale adhesive formulations for wood‑working and paper repair.
Colorants and tanning:
- The bark contains condensed tannins (≈10–15 % of dry weight) that provide efficient leather tanning through cross‑linking of collagen.
- A separate fraction of the bark yields flavonoid/anthocyanin pigments that produce a red‑brown dye suitable for natural textile coloration.
Wood and fiber:
- Wood is a dense hardwood with average density 0.78–0.85 g cm⁻³, offering high strength and decay resistance, suitable for construction, furniture and tool handles.
- No significant bast‑fiber or other fiber uses are reported for this species.
Properties relevant to use:
- High wood density and durability support structural performance.
- Condensed tannin chemistry (proanthocyanidins) yields strong leather‑tanning capacity.
- Bark gum consists of water‑soluble polysaccharides (e.g., arabinogalactan) that provide tack in adhesive mixes.
- Dye pigments are stable under typical textile‑dyeing pH conditions.
Standards and regulation:
- Harvesting and export of timber are regulated by national forestry legislation (e.g., Kenya’s Forests Act, Tanzania’s Forest Management Guidelines) requiring permits and sustainable‑management plans.
- Tannin extracts are classified as industrial chemicals under national chemical‑safety legislation, with labeling and handling requirements.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Commercial use relies on wild‑harvested material; the species is not widely cultivated.
- Sustainable harvesting practices (selective cutting, limited bark stripping, reforestation) and monitoring by FAO and regional forestry agencies are recommended to prevent over‑exploitation.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Bauhinia thonningii | Schum. | |
| Bauhinia abyssinica | A.Rich. | Tent. Fl. Abyss.1: 253 (1847) |
| Bauhinia articulata | Oliv. | Fl. Trop. Afr.2: 290 (1871) |
| Bauhinia pyrrhocarpa | Hochst. | Flora27: 99 (1844) |
| Bauhinia tamarindacea | Delile | F.Cailliaud, Voy. Méroé: 34 (1826) |
| Bauhinia thonningii | Schumach. | Beskr. Guin. Pl.: 203 (1827) |
| Piliostigma pyrrhocarpum | (Hochst.) Hochst. | Flora29: 598 (1846) |
| Bauhinia reticulata var. rubiginosa | A.Chev. | Explor. Bot. Afrique Occ. Franç.1: 217 (1920) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Hausa | cancali |
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
-
East Tropical Africa
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
-
Northeast Tropical Africa
- Chad
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Sudan
-
South Tropical Africa
- Angola
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
-
Southern Africa
- Botswana
- Caprivi Strip
- Namibia
- Northern Provinces
-
West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Burkina
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Mali
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
-
West-central Tropical Africa
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Congo
- Gabon
- Rwanda
- Zaïre
-
East Tropical Africa
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
Arabian Peninsula
- Yemen
-
Arabian Peninsula
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000170413 |
| Tropicos | 13060937 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:514346-1 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 276253 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 653098 |
| IPNI | 514346-1 |
| iNaturalist | 592162 |
| GBIF | 2953141 |
| USDA GRIN | 315117 |
| CMAUP | NPO17288 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Alkaloids and derivatives | |||||
| Latifoline | 5281736 | Click to see CC=C(C)C(=O)OC1CCN2C1C(=CC2)COC(=O)C3(C(C(=O)OC3C)C)O | 393.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(96)00367-6 |
| > Hydrocarbons / Saturated hydrocarbons / Alkanes | |||||
| Undecane | 14257 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCC | 156.31 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Oleic Acid | 445639 | Click to see | 282.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Lineolic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Linoleic Acid | 5280450 | Click to see | 280.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids | |||||
| (1R,4aS,4bR,7R,9R,10aR)-7-ethenyl-1-(hydroxymethyl)-1,4a,7-trimethyl-3,4,4b,5,6,9,10,10a-octahydro-2H-phenanthren-9-ol | 13966170 | Click to see CC1(CCC2C(=C1)C(CC3C2(CCCC3(C)CO)C)O)C=C | 304.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,4aS,4bS,10aR)-1,4a-dimethyl-7-propan-2-yl-2,3,4,4b,5,6,10,10a-octahydrophenanthrene-1-carboxylic acid | 11870275 | Click to see | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (4aS,10aS)-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-Octahydro-4a-methyl-1-methylene-7-(1-methylethyl)phenanthrene | 44268166 | Click to see | 254.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (4aS,9R,10aS)-1,1,4a-trimethyl-7-propan-2-yl-2,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydrophenanthren-9-ol | 21764434 | Click to see CC(C)C1=CC2=C(C=C1)C3(CCCC(C3CC2O)(C)C)C | 286.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-[(4bS,8aS)-4b,8,8-trimethyl-5,6,7,8a,9,10-hexahydrophenanthren-2-yl]propan-2-ol | 101586702 | Click to see | 286.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7-Dehydroabietanone | 11289118 | Click to see | 284.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7-Oxodehydroabietinol | 15715176 | Click to see | 300.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Abietatriene | 6432211 | Click to see | 270.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Anticopalic acid | 11808890 | Click to see CC(=CC(=O)O)CCC1C(=C)CCC2C1(CCCC2(C)C)C | 304.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Ethyl abietate | 61182 | Click to see CCOC(=O)C1(CCCC2(C1CC=C3C2CCC(=C3)C(C)C)C)C | 330.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isopimara-7,15-diene | 13969536 | Click to see | 272.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| methyl (E)-5-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]-3-methylpent-2-enoate | 11290126 | Click to see | 318.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Pimarol | 12314285 | Click to see CC1(CCC2C(=C1)CCC3C2(CCCC3(C)CO)C)C=C | 288.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sandaracopimaradiene | 443469 | Click to see | 272.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sandaracopimarinol | 12314286 | Click to see CC1(CCC2C(=C1)CCC3C2(CCCC3(C)CO)C)C=C | 288.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Kaurane diterpenoids | |||||
| (1S,4S,5S,9S,10R,13R,14R)-14-hydroxy-5,9,14-trimethyltetracyclo[11.2.1.01,10.04,9]hexadecane-5-carboxylic acid | 21629512 | Click to see | 320.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-458X(199712)35:12<896::AID-OMR150>3.0.CO;2-S |
| 16-Hydroxy-(-)-kauranoic acid | 494329 | Click to see | 320.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-458X(199712)35:12<896::AID-OMR150>3.0.CO;2-S |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| (-)-beta-Pinene | 440967 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (+)-3-Carene | 443156 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| alpha-Pinene, (+)- | 82227 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Borneol, (-)- | 1201518 | Click to see CC1(C2CCC1(C(C2)O)C)C | 154.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids | |||||
| (-)-beta-Phellandrene | 443161 | Click to see CC(C)C1CCC(=C)C=C1 | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (+)-Limonene | 440917 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| d-beta-Phellandrene | 442484 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Terpinolene | 11463 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (+)-Longifolene | 1796220 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C3C1C(C2=C)CC3)C)C | 204.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| delta-Cadinol | 3084311 | Click to see CC1=CC2C(CCC(C2CC1)(C)O)C(C)C | 222.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (1S,6R,8R,11R,12S,15S,16R,19S,21R)-19-methoxy-1,7,7,11,16,20,20-heptamethylpentacyclo[13.8.0.03,12.06,11.016,21]tricos-3-en-8-ol | 101280203 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,6R,8R,11R,12S,15S,16R,19S,21R)-8,19-dihydroxy-1,7,7,11,16,20,20-heptamethylpentacyclo[13.8.0.03,12.06,11.016,21]tricos-3-en-5-one | 101280208 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,6R,8S,11R,12S,15S,16R,19S,21R)-19-methoxy-1,7,7,11,16,20,20-heptamethylpentacyclo[13.8.0.03,12.06,11.016,21]tricos-3-en-8-ol | 21672660 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3S,6R,8S,11R,12S,15S,16R,19S,21R)-8,19-dimethoxy-3,7,7,11,16,20,20-heptamethylpentacyclo[13.8.0.03,12.06,11.016,21]tricos-1(23)-ene | 101280202 | Click to see | 470.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3S,6R)-6-[(3S,5R,8S,10S,13R,14S,17R)-3-hydroxy-4,4,10,13,14-pentamethyl-2,3,5,6,7,8,12,15,16,17-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-yl]-2-methylheptane-2,3-diol | 101121169 | Click to see CC(CCC(C(C)(C)O)O)C1CCC2(C1(CC=C3C2CCC4C3(CCC(C4(C)C)O)C)C)C | 460.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 21-Episerratenediol | 12309682 | Click to see CC1(C2CCC3(CC4=CCC5C(C(CCC5(C4CCC3C2(CCC1O)C)C)O)(C)C)C)C | 442.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3beta-Methoxy-21-oxoserratene | 14830066 | Click to see CC1(C2CCC3(CC4=CCC5C(C(=O)CCC5(C4CCC3C2(CCC1OC)C)C)(C)C)C)C | 454.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Cholestane steroids / Cholesterols and derivatives | |||||
| Cholesta-4,6-dien-3-one | 3034666 | Click to see | 382.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (8S,9S,10R,13R,14S,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-1,2,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-decahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one | 12943207 | Click to see | 410.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Stigmast-4-en-3-one | 5484202 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CCC4=CC(=O)CCC34C)C)C(C)C | 412.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Stigmasta-3,5-dien-7-one | 12444466 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2C(=O)C=C4C3(CCC=C4)C)C)C(C)C | 410.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzofurans | |||||
| 6,7-dihydroxy-7,7a-dihydro-6H-1-benzofuran-2-one | 324687 | Click to see | 168.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50046A036 |
| Griffonilide | 100341 | Click to see C1=CC2=CC(=O)OC2C(C1O)O | 168.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50046A036 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Naphthopyrans | |||||
| (3S,4aR,6aS,10aS,10bR)-3-ethenyl-3,7,7,10a-tetramethyl-1,2,4a,5,6,6a,8,9,10,10b-decahydrobenzo[f]chromene | 102594798 | Click to see | 276.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives | |||||
| 5-Hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)-7-methoxy-6-methylchromen-4-one | 10615140 | Click to see | 314.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(96)00367-6 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones | |||||
| (S)-2,3-dihydro-5,7-dihydroxy-8-methyl-2-phenyl-4-benzopyrone | 6453244 | Click to see | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Strobopinin | 442520 | Click to see | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones | |||||
| Chrysin | 5281607 | Click to see | 254.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Quercetin | 5280343 | Click to see | 302.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(96)00367-6 |
| Rhamnetin | 5281691 | Click to see | 316.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50046A036 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-3-yl 6-deoxyhexopyranoside | 5353915 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(96)00367-6 |
| Quercitrin | 5280459 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(96)00367-6 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 3-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-6,8-dimethyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one | 10783637 | Click to see CC1=C(C(=C2C(=C1O)C(=O)C(=C(O2)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)OC)C)O | 344.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(96)00367-6 |
| 5,7-Dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methoxy-6,8-dimethyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one | 44259654 | Click to see CC1=C(C(=C2C(=C1O)C(=O)C(=C(O2)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O)OC)C)O | 328.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(96)00367-6 |
| 6-C-Methylquercetin 3-methyl ether | 44259678 | Click to see | 330.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(96)00367-6 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy-6-methyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one | 10545366 | Click to see | 344.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(96)00367-6 |
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy-6,8-dimethyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one | 10642123 | Click to see | 358.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(96)00367-6 |
| 6-C-Methylquercetin 3,7,3'-trimethyl ether | 44259693 | Click to see | 358.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(96)00367-6 |
| 6,8-Di-C-methylkaempferol 3,7-dimethyl ether | 14353450 | Click to see | 342.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(96)00367-6 |
| Tectochrysin | 5281954 | Click to see | 268.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes | |||||
| 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 |