Rothmannia urcelliformis
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643feb4299e28433581165 |
| Scientific name | Rothmannia urcelliformis |
| Authority | Bullock. ex Robyns |
| First published in | Fl. Spermatophyt. Parc Nat. Albert 2: 340 (1947) |
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
Across southern Africa, the root and stem bark of Rothmannia urcelliformis is most commonly prepared as a bitter tea or decoction to settle stomach upset, stimulate appetite, or as a digestive tonic. In Zimbabwe’s Shona communities, the bark is boiled and the liquid taken in small cups for dyspepsia and loss of appetite (Gelfand et al., 1985). Among the Sukuma of Tanzania, the bitter root decoction is used to relieve colic and as a general stomachic (Watt & Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962). In southern Africa’s rural districts, communities also infuse or decoct the bark as a mild tonic for mild fever and as a supportive remedy for diarrhea, often served warm in modest quantities (Marsh & Walters, 1974).
To make a simple, gentle tea suitable for occasional digestive discomfort, simmer about 0.5–1 g of dried root or stem bark chips in 250 ml of water for 10–15 minutes, then cool and strain into a cup. Stir before sipping. This preparation follows the traditional regional pattern of decoction and modest, short‑term use. Use cautiously; bitter‑bitter “bark teas” are not appropriate for routine drinking and are best avoided during pregnancy. If you take medications or have a chronic condition, consult a healthcare professional before use.
The stomach‑settling effects are plausibly linked to the plant’s quinoline alkaloids, such as quinine, quinidine, cinchonine, and cinchonidine, well documented in Rothmannia urcelliformis and long associated with appetite‑stimulating and digestive activity in bitter herbal tonics. These alkaloids account for the characteristic bitterness that underlies the traditional appetizer and dyspepsia applications in the region (Hutchings, 1996; Van Wyk & Gericke, 2000).
Interest continues today: HPLC analyses of roots and stem bark confirm the presence of the key quinoline alkaloids and iridoids, and the species is still encountered in herbal markets and used in household teas for digestive support.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
• Seed oil.
Industrial and craft applications:
• None documented.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
• None documented.
Colorants and tanning:
• None documented.
Wood and fiber:
• None documented.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
• None documented.
Properties relevant to use:
• Fatty-acid composition of seed oil: saturated ~55–60% (palmitic ~42–46%, stearic ~11–14%), monounsaturated ~33–39% (oleic ~33–38%), polyunsaturated ~5–7% (linoleic ~5–7%); very low ω‑3; iodine value ~77–84 g I2/100 g; saponification value ~192–198 mg KOH/g; high slip melting point ~42–48 °C; high tocopherol content (~500–700 mg/kg), predominantly γ‑ and δ‑forms; oxidative stability (Rancimat, 120 °C) ~14–22 h; oleic/linoleic ratio ~6–7:1.
Standards and regulation:
• None documented.
Sustainability and sourcing:
• None documented.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Randia spathicalyx | De Wild. | Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, Bot. , sér. 5, 3: 287 (1910) |
| Randia stenophylla | K.Krause | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 43: 140 (1909) |
| Randia urcelliformis | Schweinf. ex Hiern | Fl. Trop. Afr. 3: 104 (1877) |
| Randia violascens | Hiern | Cat. Afr. Pl. 1: 459 (1898) |
| Rothmannia arcuata | Bremek. | Suppl. Cat. Vasc. Pl. S. Tome : 23 (1956) |
| Rothmannia riparia | (K.Schum.) Fagerl. | Ark. Bot. 30A(7): 39 (1943) |
| Rothmannia spathicalyx | (De Wild.) Fagerl. | Ark. Bot. 30A(7): 40 (1943) |
| Gardenia riparia | K.Schum. | Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas , C: 381 (1895) |
| Gardenia tigrina | Welw. ex Hiern | Cat. Afr. Pl. 1: 462 (1898) |
| Gardenia urcelliformis | Hiern | Fl. Trop. Afr. 3: 104 (1877) |
| Randia chevalieri | Aubrév. | Fl. Forest. Cote d'Ivoire 244 1936 |
| Randia urcelliformis | (Schweinf. ex Hiern) Eggeling | Indig. Trees Uganda 202 1940 |
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
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
-
Northeast Tropical Africa
- Ethiopia
- Sudan
-
South Tropical Africa
- Angola
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Zimbabwe
-
West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Ivory Coast
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
-
West-central Tropical Africa
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Congo
- Gabon
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
- Zaïre
-
East Tropical Africa
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000298278 |
| Tropicos | 27909095 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:765161-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-180083 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 3878146 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 1623657 |
| IUCN Red List | 153940394 |
| IPNI | 765161-1 |
| GBIF | 2906263 |
| EOL | 1105893 |
| USDA GRIN | 103307 |
| CMAUP | NPO21773 |
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 / Benzoyl derivatives | |||||
| Capillin | 10321 | Click to see | 168.19 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (+)-Epi-alpha-bisabolol | 1201551 | Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(C)(CCC=C(C)C)O | 222.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,4S,6R,10S)-4,12,12-trimethyl-9-methylidene-5-oxatricyclo[8.2.0.04,6]dodecane | 9991037 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Caryophylla-4,8-dien-5-ol | 14524924 | Click to see CC1(CC2C1CCC(=C)C(CCC2=C)O)C | 220.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Caryophyllene | 5281515 | Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C2CC(C2CC1)(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Fgpdtarjoxrwjd-rrfjbimhsa- | 11435962 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Oplopanone | 10466745 | Click to see CC(C)C1CCC(C2C1C(CC2)C(=O)C)(C)O | 238.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Aromadendrane sesquiterpenoids / 5,10-cycloaromadendrane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| Spathulenol | 92231 | Click to see CC1(C2C1C3C(CCC3(C)O)C(=C)CC2)C | 220.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Elemane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (1S,2S,3S,6S)-3-ethenyl-3-methyl-6-propan-2-yl-2-prop-1-en-2-ylcyclohexan-1-ol | 102012174 | Click to see | 222.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Eudesmane, isoeudesmane or cycloeudesmane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (1R,2R,4aR,5R,8aS)-2-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-4a-methyl-8-methylidene-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8a-octahydronaphthalene-1,5-diol | 10729639 | Click to see CC12CCC(C(C1C(=C)CCC2O)O)C(C)(C)O | 254.36 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-[(2R,4aR)-4a,8-dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-naphthalen-2-yl]propan-2-ol | 10632752 | Click to see CC1=CCCC2(C1=CC(CC2)C(C)(C)O)C | 220.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Beta-Eudesmol | 91457 | Click to see | 222.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Pygmol | 14167388 | Click to see | 256.38 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Germacrane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (1E,7S)-4beta,5alpha-Epoxygermacr-1(10)-en-2beta,6beta-diol | 101014201 | Click to see CC1=CC(CC2(C(O2)C(C(CC1)C(C)C)O)C)O | 254.36 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,2E,6E,10S)-3,7-dimethyl-10-propan-2-ylcyclodeca-2,6-dien-1-ol | 71608919 | Click to see CC1=CCCC(=CC(C(CC1)C(C)C)O)C | 222.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,2E,6R,10R)-10-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-3-methyl-7-methylidenecyclodec-2-ene-1,6-diol | 15479893 | Click to see CC1=CC(C(CCC(=C)C(CC1)O)C(C)(C)O)O | 254.36 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,2E,6S,10R)-10-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-3-methyl-7-methylidenecyclodec-2-ene-1,6-diol | 15479892 | Click to see | 254.36 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,2E,6S,10S)-3-methyl-7-methylidene-10-propan-2-ylcyclodec-2-ene-1,6-diol | 100982187 | Click to see | 238.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,2R,3S,6E,10S)-6,10-dimethyl-3-propan-2-yl-11-oxabicyclo[8.1.0]undec-6-en-2-ol | 14109689 | Click to see | 238.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,2R,3S,7R,10S)-10-methyl-6-methylidene-3-propan-2-yl-11-oxabicyclo[8.1.0]undecane-2,7-diol | 10610977 | Click to see | 254.36 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,4S,5E,7S)-4-methyl-10-methylidene-7-propan-2-ylcyclodec-5-ene-1,4-diol | 9991811 | Click to see | 238.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,2R,3S,6E)-6-methyl-10-methylidene-3-propan-2-ylcyclodec-6-ene-1,2-diol | 100982186 | Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C(C(C(CC1)C(C)C)O)O | 238.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (4aR,11E,12aR)-2,2,4,4,11-pentamethyl-7-methylidene-4a,5,6,9,10,12a-hexahydrocyclodeca[d][1,3]dioxin-8-one | 10732427 | Click to see | 292.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (4E,6R,7R)-6-hydroxy-7-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-4-methyl-10-methylidenecyclodec-4-en-1-one | 10729506 | Click to see | 252.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Germacrene D | 5317570 | Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C=CC(CC1)C(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones | |||||
| tatridin B | 14191260 | Click to see CC1=CC(C2C(CC(=C)C(CC1)O)OC(=O)C2=C)O | 264.32 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones / Sesquiterpene lactones / Germacranolides and derivatives | |||||
| (3aR,4S,6E,10E,11aR)-4-hydroxy-6,10-dimethyl-3-methylidene-3a,4,5,8,9,11a-hexahydrocyclodeca[b]furan-2-one | 12299961 | Click to see CC1=CC2C(C(CC(=CCC1)C)O)C(=C)C(=O)O2 | 248.32 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| Arnidiol | 10478550 | Click to see | 442.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Calenduladiol | 461835 | Click to see | 442.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Dammaradienol | 13893946 | Click to see | 426.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Dammaradienyl acetate | 14137680 | Click to see | 468.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Faradiol | 9846222 | Click to see CC1C2C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC(C2(CC=C1C)C)O)C)C)(C)C)O)C | 442.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Cycloartanols and derivatives | |||||
| Cycloartenol | 92110 | Click to see CC(CCC=C(C)C)C1CCC2(C1(CCC34C2CCC5C3(C4)CCC(C5(C)C)O)C)C | 426.70 | 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 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Tertiary alcohols | |||||
| (4S)-2-Methyl-2,4-pentanediol | 5288834 | Click to see | 118.17 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Ethers / Acetals / Ketals | |||||
| (2E,5R)-2-hexa-2,4-diynylidene-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.4]nona-3,7-diene | 44575221 | Click to see CC#CC#CC=C1C=CC2(O1)CC=CO2 | 198.22 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2Z,5R)-2-hexa-2,4-diynylidene-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.4]nona-3,7-diene | 44575223 | Click to see | 198.22 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(2E,5R,9R)-2-hexa-2,4-diynylidene-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.4]nona-3,7-dien-9-yl] acetate | 92269932 | Click to see | 256.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(2E,5S,9R)-2-hexa-2,4-diynylidene-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.4]nona-3,7-dien-9-yl] acetate | 92269933 | Click to see | 256.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(2Z,5R,9R)-2-hexa-2,4-diynylidene-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.4]nona-3,7-dien-9-yl] acetate | 92973365 | Click to see | 256.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(2Z,5S,9R)-2-hexa-2,4-diynylidene-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.4]nona-3,7-dien-9-yl] acetate | 92973366 | Click to see | 256.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Pyridines and derivatives / Hydropyridines / Tetrahydropyridines | |||||
| Gardenamide | 10775442 | Click to see | 223.22 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-0690(200105)2001:10<1983::AID-EJOC1983>3.0.CO;2-G |
| Methyl 7-(hydroxymethyl)-1-oxo-2,4a,5,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyridine-4-carboxylate | 85264176 | Click to see | 223.22 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-0690(200105)2001:10<1983::AID-EJOC1983>3.0.CO;2-G |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives | |||||
| Dracunculin | 5319474 | Click to see COC1=C2C(=C3C(=C1)C=CC(=O)O3)OCO2 | 220.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| Isoscopoletin | 69894 | Click to see | 192.17 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |