Baphia nitida
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fdea7d4899164639146 |
| Scientific name | Baphia nitida |
| Authority | G.Lodd. |
| First published in | Bot. Cab.4: t. 367 (1820) |
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.
Among the Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria and Benin, a bark infusion is taken for diarrhea and stomach complaints (Burkill, 1985), and sometimes a bitter decoction of the same part is used for fevers. In the Cameroun highlands among the Bamenda Grassfield peoples, root bark is prepared as a decoction for stomach pain, diarrhea, and urinary infections (Tsabang et al., 2016). Across West Africa’s forested zone, leaf poultices are applied to headaches, rheumatic joints, wounds, and scabies (Hutchinson and Dalziel, 1936). In the Congo basin, the Igbo and Kongo peoples decoct the bark to “purge the blood” in skin infections, sores, and chronic ulcers (Gottlieb, 1973; Iwu, 2014). In coastal Ghana, among the Anlo-Ewe, the bark is macerated for several days in local spirits and the liquid taken in small sips for malaria and fevers (Burkill, 1985).
For those working with Baphia nitida on a small scale, a common traditional decoction is prepared from dried bark. Combine 1 part chopped bark with 20 parts water, bring to a boil, then simmer 15 minutes, cool, and filter. The dose is typically 30–60 ml taken twice daily for acute diarrhea or fever until symptoms ease. Safety notes are appropriate: coumarins can accumulate with prolonged use, and the medicine should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding; start with the smaller dose and discontinue if nausea or unusual bleeding occurs.
The pharmacology of camwood is supported by well-documented constituents. The bark is rich in isoflavonoids, including baphiin and biochanin A, and in chalcones such as isoliquiritigenin; modest amounts of coumarins are also present (Iwu, 2014). These compounds are astringent and antimicrobial, fitting its uses for diarrhea, wounds, and skin complaints. While clinical trials remain limited, research over the past decade has validated antioxidant and antibacterial activities of bark extracts in vitro.
Today, research on camwood continues, and small, locally sourced quantities are still traded by herbalists in West and Central Africa. You may also find it available online as a bark powder or cut-and-sifted material.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Sawn timber from the heartwood for small specialty items (e.g., decorative turnery, carving, fine cabinetwork, tool handles), marketed as “camwood.”
- Red colorants (camwood dye) produced from heartwood chips or powder for wood finishing and textile dyeing.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Architectural detailing and inlay work requiring a deep red, fine-textured hardwood.
- Tool handles and sporting goods where hardness and durability are valued.
- Craft turning and carving stock for small decorative objects.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
- None documented.
Colorants and tanning:
- Heartwood chips or ground material yield a red bathochromic dye historically used in West Africa for textiles and wood staining; modern use is primarily in fine wood finishing, restoration, and artistic dyeing of protein fibers.
- Extractable red naphthoquinone constituents (e.g., baphiin) provide the colorant; stability and depth of hue are associated with the presence of these quinonoid compounds.
- Small-scale tannin extraction for leather dyeing has been reported historically; finished leathers acquire brown tones with good lightfastness compared with iron-mordanted reds.
Wood and fiber:
- Heartwood is heavy, hard, durable, and resistant to fungi and borers; grain is typically straight to interlocked, texture fine to medium.
- Timber air-dries slowly with risk of surface checking and end splits; joints and fixings should allow movement.
- Very easy to saw and machine; finishes well to a high luster; acceptable gluing properties; limited planing may cause tear-out where grain is interlocked.
- Sawdust may cause mild irritation; dust extraction and PPE are advisable during processing.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
- None documented.
Properties relevant to use:
- High density and hardness confer durability and resistance to abrasion for tool handles and turnery.
- Naphthoquinone-rich heartwood provides intense red dye extractibles suitable for coloring wood varnishes, stains, and artistic textiles.
- Natural durability attributes enable exterior joinery and carving use without preservative treatment.
Standards and regulation:
- None specific to camwood noted in international standards; general timber quality and wood-based panel standards (e.g., ISO/ASTM; EN standards for wood products) apply to grading, grading rules, and occupational exposure limits for wood dust.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Slow-growing species; volumes are limited, and trees often found in farm hedges and secondary forest; supplies fluctuate.
- Current production is primarily small-scale local harvesting and processing; larger international trade is sporadic and usually associated with regional artisanal markets.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Baphia pyrifolia | (Desv.) Baill. | Bull. Mens. Soc. Linn. Paris1: 445 (1883) |
| Delaria pyrifolia | Desv. | Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris)9: 406 (1826) |
| Podalyria haematoxylon | Thonn. | C.F.Schumacher, Beskr. Guin. Pl.: 202 (1827) |
| Carpolobia versicolor | G.Don | Gen. Hist. 1: 370. 1831 [early Aug 1831] |
| Baphia haematoxylon | Hochst. ex Hook. | Niger Fl.: 321 (1849) |
| Baphia barombiensis | Taub. | Bot. Jahrb. Syst.23: 177 (1897) |
| Baphia nitida var. pubescens | A.Chev. | Explor. Bot. Afrique Occ. Franç.1: 217 (1920) |
| Dalhousiea haematoxylon | Benth. | Ann. Wiener Mus. Naturgesch.2: 69 (1838) |
| Dalhousiea pyrifolia | (Desv.) Benth. | Ann. Wiener Mus. Naturgesch.2: 69 (1838) |
| Baphia angolensis | sensu Lest.-Garl. |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | camwood |
| English | category:baphia nitida |
| Bulgarian | анголско дърво |
| French | bois rouge |
| Armenian | Ներկածառ |
| Norwegian Bokmål | angolatre |
| Russian | Ангольское дерево |
| Russian | габановое дерево |
| Russian | камвуд |
| Russian | ангольское дерево |
| Chinese | 剑木豆 |
| Chinese | 鸡血檀 |
| Chinese | 光亮杂色豆 |
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
-
West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Ivory Coast
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
-
West-central Tropical Africa
- Cameroon
- Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
-
West Tropical Africa
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- Sri Lanka
-
Malesia
- Malaya
-
Indian Subcontinent
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000212016 |
| UNII | I473Y9U489 |
| USDA Plants | BANI3 |
| Tropicos | 13048033 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:480895-1 |
| The Plant List | ild-7095 |
| PFAF | Baphia nitida |
| Open Tree Of Life | 351634 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 162666 |
| IUCN Red List | 19891986 |
| IPNI | 480895-1 |
| iNaturalist | 139566 |
| GBIF | 5352599 |
| Freebase | /m/05c7s2 |
| EPPO | BAHNI |
| EOL | 702823 |
| USDA GRIN | 310986 |
| Wikipedia | Baphia_nitida |
| CMAUP | NPO21005 |
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 | |||||
| Himeic Acid A | 11774903 | Click to see | 435.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| himeic acid B | 21579676 | Click to see | 321.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| himeic acid C | 21777983 | Click to see | 434.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty amides / N-acyl amines | |||||
| Hexadecanoic Acid Propylamide | 10379895 | Click to see | 297.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids | |||||
| Alloxanthin | 6443740 | Click to see | 564.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Tetraterpenoids / Carotenoids / Carotenes | |||||
| Beta-Carotene | 5280489 | Click to see | 536.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (1R)-3,5,5-trimethyl-4-[(3E,5E,7E,9E,11E,13E,15E,17E)-3,7,12,16-tetramethyl-18-[(1R)-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl]octadeca-3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17-octaen-1-ynyl]cyclohex-3-en-1-ol | 101289802 | Click to see CC1=C(C(CC(C1)O)(C)C)C#CC(=CC=CC(=CC=CC=C(C)C=CC=C(C)C=CC2C(=CCCC2(C)C)C)C)C | 550.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2Z,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16E)-3-Hydroxy-19-((4R)-4-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-1-((1R,4S)-4-hydroxy-1,2,2-trimethylcyclopentyl)-4,8,13,17-tetramethyl-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16-nonadecaoctaen-18-yn-1-one | 11365423 | Click to see | 598.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 19'-Hexanoyloxyisomytiloxanthin | 16061209 | Click to see | 713.00 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Amarouciaxanthin B | 16061221 | Click to see | 596.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Anhydroamarouciaxanthin B | 23428237 | Click to see | 578.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| cis-(4R,5R)-4-hydroxy-4-[(3E,5E,7E,9E,11E,13E,15E)-18-[(4R)-4-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl]-3,7,12,16-tetramethyl-2-oxooctadeca-3,5,7,9,11,13,15-heptaen-17-ynyl]-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexan-1-one | 23428074 | Click to see | 598.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Halocynthiaxanthin | 11966451 | Click to see | 598.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| NV766Twa77 | 102146782 | Click to see | 600.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Pectenol A/(Pectenol) | 16061215 | Click to see CC1=C(C(CC(C1)O)(C)C)C#CC(=CC=CC(=CC=CC=C(C)C=CC=C(C)C=CC2=C(C(C(CC2(C)C)O)O)C)C)C | 582.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Cholestane steroids / Cholesterols and derivatives | |||||
| 17-(5,6-dihydroxy-7,7-dimethyloxepan-3-yl)-4,4,10,13-tetramethyl-2,5,6,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one | 162919394 | Click to see | 458.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)85178-3 |
| 7-Dehydrocholesterol | 439423 | Click to see | 384.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Ergostane steroids / Ergosterols and derivatives | |||||
| Brassicasterol | 5281327 | Click to see CC(C)C(C)C=CC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C | 398.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Ergosterol | 444679 | Click to see CC(C)C(C)C=CC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2=CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C | 396.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives | |||||
| Notoamide J | 25180709 | Click to see CC(C)(C=C)C1(C2=C(C=C(C=C2)O)NC1=O)CC3C(=O)N4CCCC4C(=O)N3 | 383.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alpha amino acids | |||||
| Betaine | 247 | Click to see | 117.15 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| N,N,N-trimethylglycinium | 248 | Click to see | 118.15 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > 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 | |||||
| L-Arginine | 6322 | Click to see | 174.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Tyrosine and derivatives | |||||
| 3,3'-Methylenebis(tyrosine) | 3082144 | Click to see | 374.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Amino acids and derivatives / Kainoids | |||||
| CID 17753955 | 17753955 | Click to see CC(C=CC=C(C)C1CNC(C1CC(=O)O)C(=O)O)C(=O)O | 311.33 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Domoic acid C5'-diastereomer | 5311075 | Click to see | 311.33 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isodomoic acid F | 101790920 | Click to see CC(C=CC=C(C)C1CNC(C1CC(=O)O)C(=O)O)C(=O)O | 311.33 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Organic sulfonic acids and derivatives / Organosulfonic acids and derivatives / Organosulfonic acids | |||||
| Taurine | 1123 | Click to see | 125.15 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic nitrogen compounds / Organonitrogen compounds / Amines / Alkanolamines / 1,2-aminoalcohols / N-acylethanolamines | |||||
| Anandamide | 5281969 | Click to see | 347.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Ketones / Beta-hydroxy ketones | |||||
| Aspermytin A | 9993091 | Click to see | 266.38 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Azaspirodecane derivatives | |||||
| CID 101396440 | 101396440 | Click to see CC1CC2C3C(CC4(O3)C(CC(CN4)C)C)OC(C1)(O2)CC(=C)C5C(CC(C(O5)(C(C6CC7C(O6)CC(C8(O7)CCC9(O8)C=CCC(O9)C=CCCC(=O)O)C)O)O)C)C | 842.10 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzodiazepines / 1,4-benzodiazepines | |||||
| (3R,3'R)-3'-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methylspiro[1H-1,4-benzodiazepine-3,2'-oxirane]-2,5-dione | 92278353 | Click to see CN1C(=O)C2=CC=CC=C2NC(=O)C13C(O3)C4=CC(=CC=C4)O | 310.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 1-benzopyrans / 2,2-dimethyl-1-benzopyrans | |||||
| (3S,8aS)-3-[[(3R)-7,7-dimethyl-3-(2-methylbut-3-en-2-yl)-2-oxo-1H-pyrano[2,3-g]indol-3-yl]methyl]-2,3,6,7,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione | 16127840 | Click to see | 449.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide A | 16128040 | Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(O1)C=CC3=C2N(C(=O)C34CC56C(C4(C)C)CC7(CCCN7C5=O)C(=O)N6)O)C | 463.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide B | 16127923 | Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(O1)C=CC3=C2NC(=O)C34CC56C(C4(C)C)CC7(CCCN7C5=O)C(=O)N6)C | 447.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide H | 25180895 | Click to see | 479.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide O | 102043608 | Click to see | 479.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide Q | 46919487 | Click to see | 479.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sclerotiamide | 10647785 | Click to see | 463.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indoles and derivatives / Pyrroloindoles | |||||
| Notoamide D | 16127841 | Click to see | 449.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide K | 25180896 | Click to see | 465.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide P | 46919486 | Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C3C(=CC(=C2O1)Br)C4(CC5(C(=O)N6CCCC6C(=O)N5C4(N3)C(C)(C)C=C)O)O)C | 544.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Phenylquinolines | |||||
| Viridicatol | 115033 | Click to see C1=CC=C2C(=C1)C(=C(C(=O)N2)O)C3=CC(=CC=C3)O | 253.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Pyrroloquinolines | |||||
| (+)-Stephacidin A | 16127922 | Click to see | 431.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide F | 25180710 | Click to see | 461.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide G | 25180707 | Click to see | 477.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide I | 25180708 | Click to see | 445.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Notoamide R | 46919488 | Click to see | 447.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides | |||||
| [(2S,3S,4S,5R,6S)-6-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-2-[5-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxo-7-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxychromen-3-yl]oxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-3-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl] (Z)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 163193111 | Click to see | 1181.10 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOL.2009.12.002 |
| [6-[4,5-Dihydroxy-2-[5-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxo-7-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxychromen-3-yl]oxy-6-[[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-3-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-3-yl] 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 162844592 | Click to see | 1181.10 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOL.2009.12.002 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Furanoisoflavonoids / Pterocarpans | |||||
| Medicarpin | 336327 | Click to see COC1=CC2=C(C=C1)C3COC4=C(C3O2)C=CC(=C4)O | 270.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80205-S |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / O-methylated isoflavonoids / 4-O-methylated isoflavonoids | |||||
| 3-(2-hydroxy-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2H-chromene-6,7-diol | 162938506 | Click to see | 316.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)85178-3 |
| 3-(2,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-7-ol | 596401 | Click to see | 286.32 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80205-S |
| Sativan | 170570 | Click to see | 286.32 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80205-S |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Macrolactams | |||||
| 4,7-Dimethyl-18-propan-2-yl-6-oxa-13,20-dithia-3,10,17,22,23,24-hexazatetracyclo[17.2.1.15,8.112,15]tetracosa-1(21),5(24),7,12(23),14,19(22)-hexaene-2,9,16-trione | 3594871 | Click to see | 474.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(81)85178-3 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Saxitoxins, gonyautoxins, and derivatives | |||||
| [(3aS,4R,10aS)-2,6-diamino-9,9,10,10-tetrahydroxy-3,3a,4,8-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-c]purin-4-yl]methoxycarbonylsulfamic acid | 102411283 | Click to see | 411.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(3aS,4R,9S,10aS)-2,6-diamino-9,10,10-trihydroxy-3a,4,8,9-tetrahydro-3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]purin-4-yl]methoxycarbonylsulfamic acid | 44587284 | Click to see | 395.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 11,11-Dihydroxysaxitoxin | 102411284 | Click to see | 331.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 11beta-Hydroxysaxitoxin | 60135304 | Click to see C1C(C(C23N1C(=NC(C2N=C(N3)N)COC(=O)N)N)(O)O)O | 315.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |