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Internal ID UUID643fd5fc8a27d286105588
Scientific name Daniellia oliveri
Authority (Rolfe) Hutch. & Dalziel
First published in Fl. W. Trop. Afr.1: 341 (1928)

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.

Traditional uses of Daniellia oliveri center on two parts of the plant. In much of West Africa the resin is applied topically to sores and wounds and sometimes taken internally in water for leprosy. Davy and colleagues found resin from the species used externally on festering sores among the Mandinka and Peul of Mali; the same resin is used as a wound paste in Sierra Leone; and Dalziel records its use in the same way among people of Upper Nigeria. Alongside the resin, the bark has been used in infusions for coughs and colds: Irvine describes a leaf or bark infusion among the Hausa as a household remedy, and Keay reports a similar bark or leaf infusion for coughs in southern Nigeria.

A practical preparation that reflects these traditions is a resin tincture for topical wound care. Coarsely chop 20 g of clean Daniellia oliveri resin and macerate it in 100 mL of 60–70% ethanol (about 1:5 w/v) for four weeks in a warm place, shaking daily. Strain and store in the dark. Dab a small amount onto clean wounds or cloth dressings. Do not ingest tincture without professional guidance; there are no established dose limits for topical resin use, and ingestion should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

These preparations draw on a plant that is rich in gum and resin, which plausibly explain the traditional astringent and protective effects when applied to skin lesions.

Research into the resin’s antimicrobial and wound‑healing potential continues, and the plant is still gathered for resin and bark in rural markets across Nigeria and neighboring countries.

General Uses Top

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Common products:
- Wood (timber) – marketed as West African mahogany – obtained from the heartwood of mature trees. The heartwood exhibits a warm reddish‑brown hue that darkens with age.
- Bark – source of tannins and natural brown dye.

Industrial and craft applications:
- Timber is processed into furniture, interior joinery, flooring, cabinetry, decorative mouldings, and turnery, valued for its moderate hardness, good dimensional stability, and attractive grain.
- Bark tannins are employed in leather tanning for natural brown coloration and dye fixation.

Colorants and tanning:
- Bark extracts provide a brown dye for textiles and leather, derived from high tannin content.
- The tannin extract functions as a natural fixative in leather processing, enhancing color durability.

Wood and fiber:
- The species yields a medium‑density hardwood (~0.78 g cm⁻³) suitable for structural applications, joinery, carving, and turnery.

Properties relevant to use:
- Wood: moderate density, low shrinkage, good dimensional stability after seasoning, resistance to termite attack, moderate tensile strength, and a fine grain suitable for turning and carving.
- Bark: high tannin concentration enabling effective tanning and dye fixation.

Standards and regulation:
- Timber harvesting and trade follow national forestry regulations and internationally recognised timber grading standards (e.g., EN 384 for structural timber).
- Bark‑derived tanning agents must comply with leather industry safety and quality standards.

Sustainability and sourcing:
- Daniellia oliveri is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, with a wide distribution across West African forests. Sustainable management plans are advised to ensure continued supply of both timber and bark for tannin production. Regional forest management frameworks in several West African countries include quotas for sustainable extraction of timber and bark.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Paradaniellia oliveri Rolfe Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew1912: 96 (1912)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English african copaiba balsam tree
Bambara sana
dag nyoo
Fulah kayarlaahi
Hausa maje
Chinese 丹妮莉亚奥利韦里

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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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
    • East Tropical Africa
      • Uganda
    • 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
      • Zaïre

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000166281
USDA Plants DAOL
Tropicos 13051063
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:490996-1
The Plant List ild-1269
PFAF Daniellia oliveri
Open Tree Of Life 855341
NCBI Taxonomy 162735
IUCN Red List 144315321
IPNI 490996-1
iNaturalist 505835
GBIF 2948733
EPPO DAAOL
EOL 417459
USDA GRIN 313189
Wikipedia Daniellia_oliveri

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)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Comprehensive Review of Epidemiology and Treatment of Snakebite Envenomation in West Africa: Case of Benin Dossou AJ, Fandohan AB, Omara T, Chippaux JP J Trop Med 08-Apr-2024
PMCID:PMC11018376
doi:10.1155/2024/8357312
PMID:38623180
How do plant demographic and ecological traits combined with social dynamics and human traits affect woody plant selection for medicinal uses in Benin (West Africa)? Ahoyo CC, Houéhanou TD, Yaoitcha AS, Akpi BP, Natta A, Houinato MR J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 09-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10854095
doi:10.1186/s13002-024-00655-2
PMID:38336725
Polyherbal Combinations Used by Traditional Health Practitioners against Mental Illnesses in Bamako, Mali, West Africa Moussavi N, Mounkoro PP, Dembele SM, Ballo NN, Togola A, Diallo D, Sanogo R, Wangensteen H, Paulsen BS Plants (Basel) 04-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10857219
doi:10.3390/plants13030454
PMID:38337987
Evaluation of hepatoprotective and antidiarrheal activities of the hydromethanol crude extract and solvent fractions of Schinus molle L. (Anacardiaceae) leaf and fruit in mice Belayneh YM, Mengistu G, Hailay K Metabol Open 20-Jan-2024
PMCID:PMC10918422
doi:10.1016/j.metop.2024.100272
PMID:38455232
Soil seed bank dynamics of two invasive alien plants in Nigeria: implications for ecosystem restoration Akomolafe GF, Rosazlina R, Omomoh B AoB Plants 20-Jan-2024
PMCID:PMC10880880
doi:10.1093/aobpla/plae003
PMID:38384340
Indigenous medicinal plants used in folk medicine for malaria treatment in Kwara State, Nigeria: an ethnobotanical study Evbuomwan IO, Stephen Adeyemi O, Oluba OM BMC Complement Med Ther 16-Sep-2023
PMCID:PMC10504731
doi:10.1186/s12906-023-04131-4
PMID:37716985
A review of indigenous knowledge and ethnopharmacological significance of African Copaiba Balsam Tree, Daniellia oliveri (Fabaceae) Balogun FO, Ajao AA, Sabiu S Heliyon 15-Sep-2023
PMCID:PMC10559981
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20228
PMID:37810056
The Volatile Organic Compounds of Streptomyces spp.: An In-Depth Analysis of Their Antifungal Properties Cuervo L, Álvarez-García S, Salas JA, Méndez C, Olano C, Malmierca MG Microorganisms 16-Jul-2023
PMCID:PMC10384482
doi:10.3390/microorganisms11071820
PMID:37512992
Anthelmintic activity of Carica pubescens aqueous seed extract and its effects on rumen fermentation and methane reduction in Indonesian thin-tailed sheep: An in vitro study Baihaqi ZA, Widiyono I, Angeles AA, Suwignyo B, Nurcahyo W Vet World 09-Jul-2023
PMCID:PMC10446714
doi:10.14202/vetworld.2023.1421-1428
PMID:37621545
Ethnoveterinary survey of trypanocidal medicinal plants of the beninese pharmacopoeia in the management of bovine trypanosomosis in North Benin (West Africa) Iwaka C, Azando EV, Houehanou TD, Kora S, Idrissou Y, Olounlade PA, Hounzangbe-Adote SM Heliyon 01-Jul-2023
PMCID:PMC10366400
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17697
PMID:37496927
Phytochemicals: potential alternative strategy to fight Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium Almuzaini AM Front Vet Sci 16-May-2023
PMCID:PMC10228746
doi:10.3389/fvets.2023.1188752
PMID:37261108
Anthelmintic Agents from African Medicinal Plants: Review and Prospects Jato J, Orman E, Duah Boakye Y, Oppong Bekoe E, Oppong Bekoe S, Asare-Nkansah S, Spiegler V, Hensel A, Liebau E, Agyare C Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 31-Dec-2022
PMCID:PMC9825222
doi:10.1155/2022/8023866
PMID:36624864
Fractionation Coupled to Molecular Networking: Towards Identification of Anthelmintic Molecules in Terminalia leiocarpa (DC.) Baill Tchetan E, Ortiz S, Olounladé PA, Hughes K, Laurent P, Azando EV, Hounzangbe-Adote SM, Gbaguidi FA, Quetin-Leclercq J Molecules 22-Dec-2022
PMCID:PMC9822243
doi:10.3390/molecules28010076
PMID:36615275
Daniellia oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch and Dalziel: Antimicrobial Activities, Cytotoxicity Evaluation, and Phytochemical Identification by GC-MS Tittikpina NK, Kirsch G, Duval RE, Chaimbault P, Jacob C Antibiotics (Basel) 25-Nov-2022
PMCID:PMC9774647
doi:10.3390/antibiotics11121699
PMID:36551356
Neuroprotective Effects of the Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Crassocephalum crepidioides (Asteracaeae) on Diazepam-Induced Amnesia in Mice Galba Jean B, Alice Irène F, Albert Donatien A, Hervé-Hervé NA, Bertrand BM, Nanou Gael AD, Merline NY, Franklik ZG, Bertrand DA, Théophile D Adv Pharmacol Pharm Sci 28-Sep-2022
PMCID:PMC9534665
doi:10.1155/2022/1919469
PMID:36212180

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
> Benzenoids / Tetralins
Calacorene oxide 529622 Click to see 216.32 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids
(-)-Cyperene 12308843 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
(1R,2S,7S,8S)-1,3-dimethyl-8-propan-2-yltricyclo[4.4.0.02,7]dec-3-ene 92042749 Click to see CC1=CCC2C3C1C2(CCC3C(C)C)C 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
(1R,4S,4aR)-1,6-dimethyl-4-propan-2-yl-3,4,4a,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-naphthalen-1-ol 5315592 Click to see 222.37 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
(1S,5R,7S,10R)-4,10-dimethyl-7-propan-2-yltricyclo[4.4.0.01,5]dec-3-ene 134779875 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
1,2,4a,5,6,8a-Hexahydro-4,7-dimethyl-1-(1-methylethyl)naphthalene 101708 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
3,4-Dihydrocadalene 528708 Click to see CC1=CCC(C2=C1C=CC(=C2)C)C(C)C 200.32 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
3H-3a,7-Methanoazulene, 2,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-1,4,9,9-tetramethyl-, [3aR-(3aalpha,4beta,7alpha)]- 99856 Click to see CC1CCC2CC3=C(CCC13C2(C)C)C 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
alpha-Cadinol 10398656 Click to see CC1=CC2C(CCC(C2CC1)(C)O)C(C)C 222.37 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
alpha-Calacorene 12302243 Click to see 200.32 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
alpha-Cubebene 442359 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
alpha-Muurolene 12306047 Click to see CC1=CC2C(CC1)C(=CCC2C(C)C)C 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
alpha-Ylangene 101607926 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
beta-Calacorene 529621 Click to see 200.32 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
Cadina-1(10),4-diene 10223 Click to see CC1=CC2C(CCC(=C2CC1)C)C(C)C 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
Caryophyllene 5281515 Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C2CC(C2CC1)(C)C 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
Copaene 19725 Click to see CC1=CCC2C3C1C2(CCC3C(C)C)C 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
Cubenol 11770062 Click to see CC1CCC(C2C1(CCC(=C2)C)O)C(C)C 222.37 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
delta-Cadinene 441005 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
epi-alpha-Muurolol 3084331 Click to see 222.37 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
gamma-Cadinene 15094 Click to see CC1=CC2C(CC1)C(=C)CCC2C(C)C 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
gamma-Cadinene 6432404 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
gamma-Muurolene 12313020 Click to see CC1=CC2C(CC1)C(=C)CCC2C(C)C 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
Humulene 5281520 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Aromadendrane sesquiterpenoids / 5,10-cycloaromadendrane sesquiterpenoids
Alloaromadendren 91746537 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
beta-Gurjunene 6450812 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Bicyclogermacrane and isolepidozane sesquiterpenoids
(+)-Bicyclogermacrene 5315347 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
(1S,2E,10R)-3,7,11,11-tetramethylbicyclo[8.1.0]undeca-2,6-diene 44583886 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Elemane sesquiterpenoids
Beta-Elemene 6918391 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Eremophilane, 8,9-secoeremophilane and furoeremophilane sesquiterpenoids
4a,5-Dimethyl-3-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7-octahydronaphthalene 288227 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
Valencene 9855795 Click to see CC1CCC=C2C1(CC(CC2)C(=C)C)C 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Germacrane sesquiterpenoids
(S,1Z,6Z)-8-Isopropyl-1-methyl-5-methylenecyclodeca-1,6-diene 91723653 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
1-Hydroxy-1,7-dimethyl-4-isopropyl-2,7-cyclodecadiene 5367550 Click to see 222.37 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
Germacrene D 5317570 Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C=CC(CC1)C(C)C 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
germacrene D-4-ol 5352847 Click to see CC1=CCCC(C=CC(CC1)C(C)C)(C)O 222.37 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Tertiary alcohols
Pentacyclo[4.2.0.02,5.03,8.04,7]oct-2-en-1-ol 53436347 Click to see 118.13 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1994.9699362
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
5,7-Dihydroxy-2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(((2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-((((2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)methyl)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)-4H-chromen-4-one 5320020 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC3=C(OC4=CC(=CC(=C4C3=O)O)O)C5=CC(=C(C=C5)OC)O)O)O)O)O)O)O 624.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2004.01.019
Narcissin 5481663 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC3=C(OC4=CC(=CC(=C4C3=O)O)O)C5=CC(=C(C=C5)O)OC)O)O)O)O)O)O 624.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2004.01.019
Quercitrin 5280459 Click to see 448.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2004.01.019
Rutin 5280805 Click to see 610.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2004.01.019
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides
2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5-dihydroxy-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-7-yl hexopyranoside 5381351 Click to see 464.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2004.01.019
2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5-dihydroxy-7-[(2S,4S,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one 44259225 Click to see 464.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FITOTE.2004.01.019

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