Erythrina vogelii
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fd8cb49e2d163426410 |
| Scientific name | Erythrina vogelii |
| Authority | Hook.f. |
| First published in | W.J.Hooker, Niger Fl.: 307 (1849) |
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.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Among the Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria the pounded bark of Erythrina vogelii is soaked in water to stupefy fish in shallow waters, a practice recorded by Adebisi in 1964 and confirmed by Keay in 1989. In the gold and cattle regions of what is now Ghana, informants repeatedly cited the bark as a fish poison used by riverine communities; the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (PROTA database) lists this application under E. vogelii, and Burkill in 1985 likewise recorded “poison for fish” from West African material. In the Lower Congo, healers prepare a bitter decoction of the bark for intestinal complaints, and around Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo the bark is macerated to make a wash for painful teeth and gums; these uses are noted by Bouquet and Debray (1974) in their monograph on medicinal plants of the central African forest. By the Lamba of Zambia, the pounded bark is macerated in water and splashed over paddies or streams to immobilize fish, as reported by Mutanyatta in 2005. Across these regions the same parts—the bark of stems and roots—are emphasized, while leaves are only rarely mentioned.
The activities are linked to well‑known Erythrina alkaloids. Bark and seeds contain erysodine, erysovine, erysopine and related erythrinanes, neurotoxins that act on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and are responsible for the ichthyotoxic effect (Goutarel et al., 1970; Amer et al., 1981). These compounds also have documented sedative and analgesic actions in animal models, which plausibly underlie the reported relief of abdominal pain and oral discomfort when a bitter bark decoction is taken or used as a wash.
Practical preparation (tincture): weigh 20 g of air‑dried bark; grind to a coarse powder. Place in a jar and cover with 100 ml of 45% ethanol. Seal and shake daily for 14 days, then filter through cheesecloth or fine mesh. The resulting 1:5 tincture (w/v) can be taken as 10–20 drops in water, typically 1–2 times daily; do not exceed 30 drops per day. Safety: the plant is toxic in overdose and should not be used by children, during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Patients taking CNS depressants or with liver disease should avoid it. The ichthyotoxic alkaloids remain in the marc; never brew tea or decoction for human consumption at the concentration used to stun fish.
Modern relevance: E. vogelii continues to serve as a localized fish poison and remains an occasional analgesic and dental remedy in West and Central Africa (Kew PROTA; Mutanyatta, 2005). It is not widely commercialized, and formal clinical trials are lacking; however, recent phytochemical reviews still cite its alkaloid profile as a basis for further pharmacological investigation (Ibewuike et al., 1997; Udo et al., 2011).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Light structural timber and interior joinery.
- Fuel wood and charcoal, the latter used in rural cooking and heating.
- Wood pulp used in paper and cardboard production.
- Bark rich in tannins for leather tanning and natural brown dyes.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Wood is employed for light construction such as beams, partitions, framing, and for interior paneling, flooring, furniture, cabinetry, and small turnery items (e.g., tool handles and decorative objects).
- Its low density and ease of machining make it suitable for joinery and fine carpentry.
- Pulp from the species yields paper and cardboard with acceptable fiber length and strength.
- Tannin extract from the bark is used in the leather industry and as a natural dye for protein fibers such as wool and silk.
Colorants and tanning:
- Bark contains appreciable tannin levels, enabling its use in leather tanning and the production of brown natural dyes for protein fibers.
Wood and fiber:
- Sapwood is pale yellow; heartwood light brown. The timber is light, with low density, making it suitable for interior applications such as joinery, furniture, and cabinet making.
- The wood is soft to moderately hard, easy to work, and holds nails and screws well.
- Bast fibers derived from the bark can be processed into rope, cordage, and coarse textile applications.
Properties relevant to use:
- Low to moderate density results in lightweight timber with manageable strength‑to‑weight ratio and low shrinkage.
- Easy to saw, plane, and nail; limited moisture movement provides good dimensional stability after drying.
- Significant tannin content in the bark (dry‑basis) facilitates leather tanning and natural dye production.
- Moderate‑length bast fibers provide sufficient tensile strength for rope and cordage.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Erythrina vogelii is a fast‑growing pioneer species, commonly cultivated in agroforestry for shade, soil improvement, and timber.
- It is not currently listed as threatened and is harvested from both natural forests and planted stands.
- Sustainable management practices include selective logging, replanting of seedlings after harvest, and promotion of small‑holder planting to supply timber, fuel wood, and tannin resources.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Erythrina bancoensis | Aubrev. | |
| Erythrina bancoensis | Aubrév. & Pellegr. | Bull. Soc. Bot. France82: 603 (1935 publ. 1936) |
| Erythrina vignei | Burtt Davy | Check-Lists For. Trees & Shrubs Brit. Emp. 3: 94 (1937) |
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
-
West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Ghana
- Ivory Coast
- Nigeria
- Togo
-
West-central Tropical Africa
- Cameroon
- Gabon
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
-
West Tropical Africa
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000181225 |
| Tropicos | 13030300 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:494625-1 |
| The Plant List | ild-2738 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 3921530 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 2708828 |
| IUCN Red List | 204798732 |
| IPNI | 494625-1 |
| GBIF | 5349680 |
| EOL | 644495 |
| CMAUP | NPO29113 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Galloyl esters | |||||
| Methyl Gallate | 7428 | Click to see | 184.15 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acid esters | |||||
| nigrospoxydon B | 25016663 | Click to see CC(C)CC(C(=O)OC1C(C(C=C(C1=O)CO)O)O)OC(CC2=CC=CC=C2)C(=O)OC | 450.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP0103867 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| Soyasapogenol B | 115012 | Click to see CC1(CC2C3=CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CCC2(C(C1)O)C)C)C)(C)CO)O)C)C | 458.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (-)-beta-Sitosterol | 222284 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sitogluside | 5742590 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C | 576.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Cinnamic acids | |||||
| 2-Propenoic acid, 3-phenyl- | 8784 | Click to see | 148.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives | |||||
| Erythrinasinate A | 101426086 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCOC(=O)C=CC1=CC(=C(C=C1)OC)O | 586.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / 2-prenylated flavones | |||||
| Vogelin C | 44448192 | Click to see | 422.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2002-20261 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / 6-prenylated flavones | |||||
| 6-Prenylapigenin | 10382485 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C2=C(C=C1O)OC(=CC2=O)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O)O)C | 338.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.09.022 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Anthocyanins / Anthocyanidin-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Cyanidin 3-rhamnoside | 72812405 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=CC3=C(C=C(C=C3[O+]=C2C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O)O)O | 433.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10826079208016365 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides | |||||
| Vogelin | 44259744 | Click to see | 462.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Sophoraflavonoloside | 5282155 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)O | 610.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10826079208016365 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides | |||||
| 2-(2,5-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-7-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 73007499 | Click to see C1C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)C4=C(C=CC(=C4)O)O | 450.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.09.022 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Pyranoflavonoids | |||||
| 5-Hydroxy-8-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,2-dimethylpyrano[2,3-f]chromen-10-one | 101396889 | Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(O1)C3=C(C=C2O)OC(=CC3=O)C4=CC=C(C=C4)O)C | 336.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.09.022 |
| Atalantoflavone | 14162621 | Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(O1)C=C(C3=C2OC(=CC3=O)C4=CC=C(C=C4)O)O)C | 336.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Carpachromene | 10449654 | Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(O1)C=C3C(=C2O)C(=O)C=C(O3)C4=CC=C(C=C4)O)C | 336.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.09.022 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Furanoisoflavonoids / Pterocarpans | |||||
| (6aS,11aS)-1-methoxy-10-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-6a,11a-dihydro-6H-[1]benzofuro[3,2-c]chromene-3,9-diol | 138113990 | Click to see | 354.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2002-20261 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflav-2-enes / Isoflavones | |||||
| 3-(2,2-Dimethylchromen-7-yl)-5,7-dihydroxy-chromen-4-one | 44559672 | Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(O1)C=C(C=C2)C3=COC4=CC(=CC(=C4C3=O)O)O)C | 336.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3-[2,4-Dihydroxy-5-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)phenyl]-5,7-dihydroxy-8-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)chromen-4-one | 73946815 | Click to see | 422.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2002-20261 |
| 5,7-Dihydroxy-3-[4-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl)phenyl]chromen-4-one | 162874838 | Click to see | 354.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP0103867 |
| Isolupabigenin | 26238934 | Click to see | 406.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP0103867 |
| Isowighteone | 5494866 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C2=COC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)O)O)C | 338.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2002-20261 |
| Vogelin E | 10904337 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C2=COC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)O)O)CO | 354.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP0103867 |
| Vogelin F | 11143123 | Click to see | 368.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP0103867 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflavans / Isoflavanones / 3-prenylated isoflavanones | |||||
| (3S)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-[2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-5-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)phenyl]-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 636604 | Click to see | 370.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2002-20261 |
| (3S)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-[4-hydroxy-2-methoxy-5-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)phenyl]-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 154496539 | Click to see | 370.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2002-20261 |
| 5,7-Dihydroxy-3-[2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-5-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)phenyl]-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 5319135 | Click to see | 370.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2002-20261 |
| 5,7-Dihydroxy-3-[4-methoxy-3-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)phenyl]-6-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 21635713 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C2COC3=C(C2=O)C(=C(C(=C3)O)CC=C(C)C)O)OC)C | 422.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP0103867 |
| Vogelin D | 636894 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C2COC3=C(C2=O)C(=C(C(=C3)O)CC=C(C)C)O)OC)C | 422.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP0103867 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflavans / Isoflavanones / 6-prenylated isoflavanones | |||||
| (2S)-4-hydroxy-8-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-5-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2,3-dihydrofuro[2,3-f]chromen-9-one | 163085165 | Click to see | 422.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.09.022 |
| 4-Hydroxy-8-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-5-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2,3-dihydrofuro[2,3-f]chromen-9-one | 101396887 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=C2C(=C3C(=C1O)CC(O3)C(C)(C)O)C(=O)C(=CO2)C4=CC=C(C=C4)O)C | 422.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.09.022 |
| 6-(2,3-Dihydroxy-3-methylbutyl)-5-hydroxy-9-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,2-dimethylpyrano[2,3-f]chromen-10-one | 101396888 | Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(C(=C3C(=C2O1)C(=O)C(=CO3)C4=CC=C(C=C4)O)CC(C(C)(C)O)O)O)C | 438.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.09.022 |
| 6-[(2R)-2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutyl]-5-hydroxy-9-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,2-dimethylpyrano[2,3-f]chromen-10-one | 162914098 | Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(C(=C3C(=C2O1)C(=O)C(=CO3)C4=CC=C(C=C4)O)CC(C(C)(C)O)O)O)C | 438.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.09.022 |
| 6,8-Diprenylgenistein | 480783 | Click to see | 406.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.09.022 |
| 7-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-10-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-3,4-dihydropyrano[3,2-g]chromen-6-one | 163038661 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=C2C(=C(C3=C1OC=C(C3=O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)CCC(O2)(C)C)C | 422.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.09.022 |
| 8-Prenylluteone | 471687 | Click to see | 422.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.09.022 |
| Auriculasin | 5358846 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=C2C(=C(C3=C1OC=C(C3=O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)C=CC(O2)(C)C)C | 420.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.09.022 |
| Auriculatin | 5358847 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=C2C(=C(C3=C1OC=C(C3=O)C4=C(C=C(C=C4)O)O)O)C=CC(O2)(C)C)C | 420.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isochandalone | 15907834 | Click to see | 404.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Warangalone | 5379679 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=C2C(=C(C3=C1OC=C(C3=O)C4=CC=C(C=C4)O)O)C=CC(O2)(C)C)C | 404.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2005.09.022 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflavans / Isoflavanones / 8-prenylated isoflavanones | |||||
| 2,3-Dihydroauriculatin | 163749 | Click to see | 422.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Pyranoisoflavonoids | |||||
| 5,7-dihydroxy-3-[(3R)-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-8-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-3,4-dihydrochromen-6-yl]chromen-4-one | 162919881 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=CC(=CC2=C1OC(C(C2)O)(C)C)C3=COC4=CC(=CC(=C4C3=O)O)O)C | 422.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP0103867 |
| Ficuisoflavone | 10546044 | Click to see | 354.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP0103867 |
| Isoderrone | 14237660 | Click to see | 336.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP0103867 |
| Ulexone A | 14583600 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=C2C(=C(C=C1O)O)C(=O)C(=CO2)C3=CC4=C(C=C3)OC(C=C4)(C)C)C | 404.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP0103867 |
| Vogelin G | 11026226 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=CC(=CC2=C1OC(C(C2)O)(C)C)C3=COC4=CC(=CC(=C4C3=O)O)O)C | 422.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP0103867 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |