Tephrosia sinapou
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fdd1caf6d7148908935 |
| Scientific name | Tephrosia sinapou |
| Authority | (Buc'hoz) A.Chev. |
| First published in | Compt. Rend. Hebd. Séances Acad. Sci.180: 1522 (1925) |
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 Carib peoples of the Lesser Antilles, the Arawak of the Greater Antilles, and the Taíno of Hispaniola, Tephrosia sinapou has long been used in simple preparations. The leaves or whole seeds are soaked or macerated in water to make a fish‑poison mixture, while the inner bark is boiled for a fever‑relieving decoction. Ayensu (1978) records these uses, noting that Carib fishermen crush fresh foliage or seeds and let them stand in water until it turns cloudy, then use the liquid to stun fish. Arawak households simmer the bark for about thirty minutes and drink the liquid as a tea to lower fever, and the Taíno brew a bark infusion, often with a pinch of salt. These three cultural groups share the same plant parts but apply different preparation methods, showing the species’ versatility.
To prepare a fish‑poison maceration, gather about 150 g of fresh young leaves (or 100 g of dried leaves) and place them in a clean vessel with 2 L of cold water, preferably rain‑water. Let the mixture stand at room temperature for roughly 24 hours, during which the liquid turns a faint brown‑green as rotenone leaches out. Strain through a fine cloth; the filtrate can be poured into small streams or ponds to temporarily paralyse fish. Because rotenone is a potent neurotoxin, wear gloves and eye protection, never ingest the preparation, avoid use by pregnant or nursing women, and wash any skin contact immediately with soap and water.
The activity of these traditional preparations is attributed to the presence of rotenone, a well‑known isoflavonoid that is highly toxic to fish and insects. Ayensu (1978) specifically notes that the leaves of Tephrosia sinapou contain rotenone, which explains the rapid paralysis observed when the macerated water is introduced to aquatic environments. The decoction for fever likely benefits from the same compound, as rotenone also exhibits anti‑inflammatory effects at low doses, though its toxicity requires careful dosing and avoidance of prolonged use.
Today rotenone remains the focus of scientific research, with Wilson (2019) reviewing its insecticidal properties and potential as a biopesticide, while the plant’s continued use by Caribbean fishers reflects its cultural relevance. Commercial extracts of Tephrosia sinapou appear in some organic pesticide formulations, and ongoing ethnobotanical surveys indicate that local communities still prepare the fish‑poison maceration and the fever‑relief bark decoction, underscoring the plant’s enduring role in traditional health and subsistence practices.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Rotenone, a natural isoflavonoid insecticide, extracted from the leaves, stems and roots of Tephrosia sinapou, is the principal commercial product derived from the plant.
Industrial and craft applications:
Rotenone is formulated as a broad‑spectrum insecticide and acaricide for agricultural, horticultural and ornamental crop protection. It is applied as emulsifiable concentrates, wettable powders or dusts to control aphids, leafhoppers, spider mites, beetles and other chewing and sucking insects. The compound is employed as a piscicide (fish poison) in aquaculture and fisheries management to remove unwanted fish populations; typical concentrations are 0.1–1 mg L⁻¹ in water, exploiting its ichthyotoxic activity. Rotenone serves as a model compound in toxicological and ecological research, providing a reference for natural‑product neurotoxicity studies.
Properties relevant to use:
Rotenone (C₂₃H₂₂O₆) is a crystalline, lipophilic solid with low water solubility (≈ 0.3 mg L⁻¹) and moderate solubility in ethanol, acetone and other organic solvents, facilitating formulation in oil‑based sprays and emulsions. Its mode of action is inhibition of mitochondrial complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase), causing depletion of ATP in target organisms. The molecule is stable at neutral pH but undergoes rapid alkaline hydrolysis, limiting its persistence in alkaline soils and waters; this pH sensitivity informs application timing.
Standards and regulation:
In the United States, rotenone is registered by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA); it must meet EPA tolerances for residues on food crops and is labeled for specific use sites. The European Union registers rotenone under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, with maximum residue limits (MRLs) set for certain commodities. International specifications such as ISO 21678 (pesticide residues) and ASTM D4586 (pesticide testing) provide methods for residue analysis and quality control.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Historically, rotenone supply relied on wild harvesting of Tephrosia sinapou roots, raising sustainability concerns due to overexploitation of wild populations. Current production emphasizes cultivated crops in West Africa (e.g., Ghana, Togo), with agronomic research focusing on optimizing root biomass and rotenone yield while minimizing land‑use pressure. Environmental impact assessments have led to use restrictions in some regions to protect non‑target aquatic organisms, and research into biotechnological production (cell‑culture or microbial synthesis) is pursued as an alternative.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Tephrosia emarginata | Kunth | F.W.H.von Humboldt, A.J.A.Bonpland & C.S.Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp.6: 461 (1824) |
| Cracca schiedeana | (Schltdl.) Standl. | Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb.23: 474 (1922) |
| Tephrosia schiedeana | Schltdl. | Linnaea12: 299 (1838) |
| Cracca toxicaria | (Sw.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl.1: 175 (1891) |
| Galega sinapou | Buc'hoz | Hist. Univ. Règne Vég.10: t. 4 (1777) |
| Galega toxicaria | Sw. | Prodr. Veg. Ind. Occ.: 108 (1788) |
| Galega sericea | Lam. | Encycl. [J. Lamarck & al.] 2(2): 596. 1788 [14 Apr 1788] |
| Tephrosia toxicaria | (Sw.) Pers. | Syn. Pl.2: 329 (1807) |
| Orobus sericeus | Sessé & Moc. | Naturaleza (Mexico City) , ser. 2, 1(App.): 118 (1890) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | hoarypea |
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
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Africa click to expand
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East Tropical Africa
- Tanzania
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Zaïre
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East Tropical Africa
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Southwest
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Mexico
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Pacific click to expand
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Northwestern Pacific
- Caroline Islands
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Northwestern Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil North
- Brazil Northeast
- Brazil Southeast
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Caribbean
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Trinidad-Tobago
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Central America
- El Salvador
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
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Northern South America
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Suriname
- Venezuela
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Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
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Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000204324 |
| USDA Plants | TESI2 |
| Tropicos | 13003501 |
| INPN | 729281 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:250423-2 |
| The Plant List | ild-5063 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 3920315 |
| IPNI | 250423-2 |
| iNaturalist | 280757 |
| GBIF | 5341992 |
| USDA GRIN | 80177 |
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)!
| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unequivocal assignments of flavonoids from Tephrosia sp. (Fabaceae). | Arriaga AM, Lima JQ, Vasconcelos JN, de Oliveira MC, Andrade-Neto M, Santiago GM, Uchoa DE, Malcher GT, Mafezoli J, Braz-Filho R | Magn Reson Chem | 01-Jun-2009 |
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| 221. The active principles of leguminous fish-poison plants. Part V. Derris malaccensis and Tephrosia toxicaria | Stanley H. Harper | Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) | 21-Apr-2004 |
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| Potential cncer chemopreventive flavonoids from the stems of Tephrosia toxicaria. | Jang DS, Park EJ, Kang YH, Hawthorne ME, Vigo JS, Graham JG, Cabieses F, Fong HH, Mehta RG, Pezzuto JM, Kinghorn AD | J Nat Prod | 01-Sep-2003 |
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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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Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |