Morinda lucida
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fe3a3e7804860870764 |
| Scientific name | Morinda lucida |
| Authority | Benth. |
| First published in | Niger Fl. : 406 (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.
Among Yoruba herbalists in Nigeria, leaf and twig infusions are prepared to “sweep the body clean,” a broad antiplasmodial and gastrointestinal remedy (Iwu, 1993). In Ghana’s coastal Akan regions, leaf or bark decoctions are taken for malaria and related fevers (World Health Organization, 1994). In Sierra Leone and adjacent Mande communities, dried leaf infusions and macerations are used for internal parasite control and as a bitter tonic, while bark decoctions serve as a malaria and dysentery wash (Iwu, 1993). Against gastrointestinal complaints, Hausa practitioners of northern Nigeria prepare a decoction of leaves or a bark infusion (Agyare et al., 2016). Beyond West Africa, Dambatta people in northern Nigeria also use leaf or root decoctions and infusions for malaria and digestive ailments (Iwu, 1993). These references consistently record the use of infusions, decoctions, macerations, and occasionally tinctures or poultices, with leaves, twigs, and bark as the principal plant parts.
Practical recipe – mild leaf infusion for malaria and GI use. Combine 5 g of dried Morinda lucida leaves with 250 mL of freshly boiled water, cover, and steep 10–15 minutes. Strain and drink one small cup (120–150 mL) twice daily for up to 5 days. This dose reflects historical Ghanaian and Yoruba practice where 5–10 g leaves are steeped for “a few minutes” (World Health Organization, 1994; Iwu, 1993). Safety note: Morinda lucida is a strong antimalarial and bitter stimulant; use caution in children, during pregnancy and lactation, and if taking warfarin, other anticoagulants, or antihypertensives. Discontinue if vomiting, dizziness, or unusual bleeding occurs and seek medical care for severe symptoms.
Active constituents reported for this species include the anthraquinones morindone, rubiadin, and alizarin; iridoids such as asperuloside and deacetylasperulosidic acid; phenolic acids (caffeic, ferulic); flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin derivatives); tannins; and sterols like β-sitosterol. These classes are established phytochemicals of Morinda lucida and plausibly underpin its documented antimalarial, antiparasitic, and gastrointestinal activities (Iwu, 1993; Agyare et al., 2016).
Modern relevance – research continues to validate in vitro and in vivo antimalarial and antimicrobial activity, especially using leaf extracts and anthraquinone‑rich fractions, and bitter tonics containing Morinda remain available in local markets and compounded antimalarial blends across West Africa.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Timber (heartwood)
- Firewood/charcoal
- Dye extracted from bark
- Tannin material from bark
Industrial and craft applications:
- Construction timber for beams, flooring and small‑scale carpentry.
- Woodcraft items such as tool handles, turned objects and small utensils.
- Natural reddish‑brown dye for cotton, wool and other protein fibers; used in textile dyeing processes.
- Tannin extract employed in vegetable‑tanned leather production.
Colorants and tanning:
- Bark contains anthraquinone pigments (e.g., rubiadin, lucidin) that yield a reddish‑brown hue stable on protein fibers.
- The same bark material provides tannins suitable for vegetable leather tanning.
Wood and fiber:
- Heartwood is dense (≈0.8 g cm⁻³) and durable, used for structural components, flooring and decorative woodwork.
- The wood’s fine grain makes it appropriate for turned items and small craft pieces.
Properties relevant to use:
- Anthraquinone pigments give the bark its natural reddish‑brown colour and provide good lightfastness when applied to fibers.
- High tannin content in the bark enables effective leather tanning without synthetic additives.
- Moderate wood density and low shrinkage contribute to dimensional stability in construction applications.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Morinda lucida is assessed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN, but removal of bark for dye and tannin can be unsustainable if unmanaged; selective cutting and allowing regeneration are recommended.
- Plantation cultivation is being explored in parts of West Africa to supply timber and raw material while reducing pressure on wild populations.
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
- Tanzania
- Uganda
-
Northeast Tropical Africa
- Sudan
-
South Tropical Africa
- Angola
-
West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Cabinda
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Congo
- Gabon
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
- Zaïre
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East Tropical Africa
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000246015 |
| Tropicos | 27907959 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:756419-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-129862 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 336207 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 339305 |
| IUCN Red List | 156109487 |
| IPNI | 756419-1 |
| GBIF | 5339834 |
| EOL | 1110319 |
| USDA GRIN | 417533 |
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 / Anthracenes | |||||
| 8-Hydroxy-9,10-dimethoxyanthracene-2-carbaldehyde | 163029200 | Click to see COC1=C2C=CC(=CC2=C(C3=C1C=CC=C3O)OC)C=O | 282.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-4020(73)80244-3 |
| 9,10-Dimethoxyanthracene-2-carbaldehyde | 85793408 | Click to see COC1=C2C=CC(=CC2=C(C3=CC=CC=C31)OC)C=O | 266.29 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1039/C39720000405 https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-4020(73)80244-3 |
| > Benzenoids / Anthracenes / Anthracenecarboxylic acids and derivatives / Anthracenecarboxylic acids | |||||
| 2-Anthracenecarboxylic acid, 9,10-dihydro-1,3-dihydroxy-9,10-dioxo-, methyl ester | 149791 | Click to see COC(=O)C1=C(C=C2C(=C1O)C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3C2=O)O | 298.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1981-0925 |
| > Benzenoids / Anthracenes / Anthraquinones | |||||
| 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-6-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxyanthracene-9,10-dione | 23786435 | Click to see CC1=C(C2=C(C=C1)C(=O)C3=C(C2=O)C=CC(=C3)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)COC5C(C(C(CO5)O)O)O)O)O)O)O | 548.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1981-0925 |
| 1-Hydroxy-2-methyl-6-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxyanthracene-9,10-dione | 74184160 | Click to see CC1=C(C2=C(C=C1)C(=O)C3=C(C2=O)C=CC(=C3)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)COC5C(C(C(CO5)O)O)O)O)O)O)O | 548.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1981-0925 |
| 1-Hydroxy-2-methylanthraquinone | 160817 | Click to see | 238.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209509055208 |
| 2-Methylanthraquinone | 6773 | Click to see CC1=CC2=C(C=C1)C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3C2=O | 222.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209509055208 |
| Lucidin 3-primeveroside | 21917783 | Click to see | 564.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1981-0925 |
| Lucidin primeveroside | 160180 | Click to see C1C(C(C(C(O1)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC3=C(C(=C4C(=C3)C(=O)C5=CC=CC=C5C4=O)O)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O | 564.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1981-0925 |
| > Benzenoids / Anthracenes / Anthraquinones / Hydroxyanthraquinones | |||||
| 1-Methyl-2,3-dihydroxyanthraquinone | 11391150 | Click to see | 254.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209509055208 |
| 1,6-Dihydroxy-5-methoxy-2-methylanthracene-9,10-dione | 482558 | Click to see CC1=C(C2=C(C=C1)C(=O)C3=C(C2=O)C=CC(=C3OC)O)O | 284.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1981-0925 |
| 2-Hydroxy-3-(Hydroxymethyl)Anthraquinone | 44445519 | Click to see | 254.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-960473 |
| 3-Hydroxy-9,10-dioxo-anthracene-2-carbaldehyde | 10198899 | Click to see | 252.22 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-960473 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1981-0925 |
| 6-Hydroxy-1-methoxy-2-methylanthracene-9,10-dione | 44715573 | Click to see | 268.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-960473 |
| 9,10-Anthracenedione, 3-hydroxy-1-methoxy-2-(methoxymethyl)- | 5319467 | Click to see | 298.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1981-0925 |
| Alizarin 1-methyl ether | 80309 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC2=C1C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3C2=O)O | 254.24 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-4020(73)80244-3 https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209509055208 https://doi.org/10.1039/C39720000405 |
| Damnacanthal | 2948 | Click to see COC1=C2C(=CC(=C1C=O)O)C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3C2=O | 282.25 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209509055208 https://doi.org/10.1039/C39720000405 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-961543 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-960473 |
| Damnacanthol | 160474 | Click to see | 284.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209509055208 |
| Digitolutein | 160475 | Click to see CC1=CC2=C(C(=C1O)OC)C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3C2=O | 268.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-961543 |
| Ibericin | 28578 | Click to see | 298.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-960473 |
| Morindone | 442756 | Click to see CC1=C(C2=C(C=C1)C(=O)C3=C(C2=O)C=CC(=C3O)O)O | 270.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209509055208 |
| Nordamnacanthal | 160712 | Click to see | 268.22 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-960473 https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209509055208 |
| Rubiadin 1-methyl ether | 96191 | Click to see CC1=C(C=C2C(=C1OC)C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3C2=O)O | 268.26 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-960473 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-961543 https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209509055208 https://doi.org/10.1039/C39720000405 |
| Soranjidiol | 124063 | Click to see | 254.24 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-4020(73)80244-3 https://doi.org/10.1039/C39720000405 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-960473 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones | |||||
| methyl (1R,4R,8R,10R,11E,14S)-11-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methylidene]-12-oxo-7,9,13-trioxatetracyclo[6.5.1.01,10.04,14]tetradeca-2,5-diene-5-carboxylate | 163083638 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C=C2C3C4(C=CC5C4C(O3)OC=C5C(=O)OC)OC2=O)O | 398.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)90940-3 |
| methyl (1R,4R,8R,11E,14S)-11-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methylidene]-12-oxo-7,9,13-trioxatetracyclo[6.5.1.01,10.04,14]tetradeca-2,5-diene-5-carboxylate | 163189484 | Click to see | 398.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)90940-3 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Phenylketones / Alkyl-phenylketones | |||||
| 2-Carboxy-gamma-oxobenzenebutanoic acid | 955 | Click to see | 222.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391279 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |