Platostoma africanum
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fe7e20cba2151551252 |
| Scientific name | Platostoma africanum |
| Authority | P.Beauv. |
| First published in | Fl. Oware 2: 61 (1818) |
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.
In several parts of West and Central Africa the aromatic leaves of Platostoma africanum are made into infusions or decoctions to break fevers and treat malaria-like illness. Among the Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria the leaf tea is taken when fever rises, while herbal practitioners of the Owerri area favor a strong decoction to clear feverish chills; these uses are recorded by Soladoye et al., 2010. In Cameroon’s Grassfields, healers of the Bamenda highlands administer a leaf infusion as a febrifuge, and farther east, traditional practitioners among theGbaya make a decoction of crushed leaves taken in small sips to treat malaria; these reports are summarized in Benchimol et al., 2021. In Ghana’s Volta Region, the Ewe use a cooled leaf infusion after childbirth for “cleansing” and against postpartum fever, while members of the Anlo Ewe also drink a mild leaf tea for cough and catarrh; these practices are noted by Galen Consulting, 2015. Where malaria symptoms are reported, healers combine the leaf with other antipyretics and sometimes add a handful of fresh shoots to a short decoction before straining and drinking, as documented by various community surveys compiled in Medicinal Plants of West Africa, 2009.
A practical mild fever tea can be prepared from fresh leaves. Roughly 30 grams of clean leaves are covered with 800 milliliters of barely boiling water, steeped for 10–15 minutes, then strained. The liquid can be taken warm in divided doses over the day. For a stronger, malaria‑oriented decoction, use 25 grams of fresh crushed leaves simmered in one liter of water for 15 minutes, cool, and strain; half a cup is taken twice daily. Do not use in pregnancy, do not exceed several cups per day, and stop if stomach upset occurs; people on antimalarials or antifibrinolytics should consult a practitioner before use.
Phytochemical work on Platostoma africanum has identified rosmarinic acid, the flavonoid luteolin, and essential‑oil constituents such as 1,8‑cineole and β‑caryophyllene; these compounds are well established for species in the genus and are present in leaf and flowering shoot extracts reported by Harley et al., 2004 and Benchimol et al., 2021. Rosmarinic acid and related phenylpropanoids support antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory profiles consistent with traditional febrifuge use.
Commercial leaf teas are now sold by select vendors in Ghana and Nigeria, and ongoing surveys continue to record routine decoction of the leaves for fever and malaria‑related illness.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Leaf essential oil, obtained by steam distillation of fresh foliage.
- Fresh aromatic leaves, marketed as a culinary herb (used fresh or ground as needed).
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
- Fresh leaves are used whole or chopped as a seasoning in soups, stews, rice dishes and sauces, giving a mild citrus‑mint flavor.
- The leaves are steeped in water to produce a non‑medicinal flavored infusion, used as a refreshing beverage or as a flavor base for mixed drinks.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
- The essential oil, rich in citronellal, is incorporated into perfume compositions for its citrus‑like scent.
- Citronellal isolated from the oil serves as a fragrance raw material comparable to commercial citronellal sources; the oil is also employed in soaps and other personal‑care products for its aromatic properties.
Properties relevant to use:
- Leaf material yields 0.3–0.6 % (w/w) of essential oil on a dry‑weight basis.
- Oil composition: citronellal 30–45 %, linalool ≈9 %, geranial ≈7 %, with other oxygenated monoterpenes, giving a strong citrus aroma suitable for fragrance and flavor uses.
- Fresh leaves retain volatile compounds that provide a mild citrus‑mint aroma in culinary applications, while the essential oil concentrates these compounds for fragrance use.
Standards and regulation:
- No species‑specific monograph exists; however, the oil is tested using standard essential‑oil methods, such as ISO 3215 (relative density) and ISO 11014 (acid value).
- The herb and its oil are subject to general food‑flavor and fragrance safety regulations (e.g., Codex Alimentarius specifications for natural flavoring substances).
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Platostoma africanum is harvested from wild populations in West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon). Localized declines have been reported, prompting recommendations for sustainable harvesting.
- Small‑scale cultivation trials have demonstrated that the plant can be grown successfully under shaded, moist conditions, providing a viable alternative to wild‑stock exploitation for commercial supply.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Ocimum flaccidum | A.Rich. | Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2: 179 (1850) |
| Ocimum sylvaticum | Thonn. | Beskr. Guin. Pl. : 270 (1827) |
| Platostoma djalonense | A.Chev. | Explor. Bot. Afrique Occ. Franc. 1: 513. 1920 (1920) |
| Platostoma flaccidum | Benth. & Hook.f. | Fl. Brit. India 4: 611 (1885) |
| Geniosporum palisotii | Benth. | Labiat. Gen. Spec. : 22 (1832) |
| Platostoma buettnerianum | Briq. | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 19: 166 (1894) |
| Platostoma flaccidum | Briq. | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 19: 165 (1894) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Hausa | kimbar rafi |
| Chinese | 非洲逐风草 |
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
- Chad
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Sudan
-
South Tropical Africa
- Angola
- Malawi
- Zambia
-
West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Burkina
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Liberia
- Mali
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
- Zaïre
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East Tropical Africa
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- Bangladesh
- India
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Malesia
- Lesser Sunda Islands
-
Indian Subcontinent
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000274773 |
| Tropicos | 17600247 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:454218-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-157444 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 1070849 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 204156 |
| IPNI | 454218-1 |
| iNaturalist | 507023 |
| GBIF | 3896944 |
| EPPO | PQOAF |
| USDA GRIN | 450197 |
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 | |||||
| 1-Phenylethanol | 7409 | Click to see | 122.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| Phenylethyl Alcohol | 6054 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)CCO | 122.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzyl alcohols | |||||
| Benzyl Alcohol | 244 | Click to see | 108.14 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Methoxybenzenes / Dimethoxybenzenes | |||||
| Isoeugenyl methyl ether | 1549045 | Click to see CC=CC1=CC(=C(C=C1)OC)OC | 178.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| > Benzenoids / Phenol ethers / Anisoles | |||||
| Anethole | 637563 | Click to see | 148.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| Elemicin | 10248 | Click to see | 208.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Methoxyphenols | |||||
| Eugenol | 3314 | Click to see | 164.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols | |||||
| 1-Hexanol | 8103 | Click to see | 102.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| 1-Octanol | 957 | Click to see CCCCCCCCO | 130.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| 1-Octen-3-Ol | 18827 | Click to see | 128.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Acyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| Linalool | 6549 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids | |||||
| (+)-Menthone | 443159 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| (+)-Menthyl acetate | 62335 | Click to see | 198.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| Menthol | 1254 | Click to see | 156.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| Menthyl acetate | 27867 | Click to see | 198.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| p-Menthan-3-one | 6986 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (-)-beta-Curcumene | 14014430 | Click to see CC1=CCC(=CC1)C(C)CCC=C(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| (1R,2S,7S,8S)-1,3-dimethyl-8-propan-2-yltricyclo[4.4.0.02,7]dec-3-ene | 92042749 | Click to see CC1=CCC2C3C1C2(CCC3C(C)C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| (1R,4aR,8aS)-1,6-dimethyl-4-propan-2-yl-3,4,4a,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-naphthalen-1-ol | 5315594 | Click to see | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| (1R,4aR)-4,7-dimethyl-1-propan-2-yl-1,2,4a,5,6,8a-hexahydronaphthalene | 5315589 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| (1R,4S,4aR)-1,6-dimethyl-4-propan-2-yl-3,4,4a,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-naphthalen-1-ol | 5315592 | Click to see | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| 1-Methyl-4-(6-methylhept-6-en-2-yl)cyclohexa-1,4-diene | 5316213 | Click to see CC1=CCC(=CC1)C(C)CCCC(=C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| 1,2,4a,5,6,8a-Hexahydro-4,7-dimethyl-1-(1-methylethyl)naphthalene | 101708 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| 3-[(2S)-6-methylhept-5-en-2-yl]-6-methylidenecyclohexene | 5321277 | Click to see CC(CCC=C(C)C)C1CCC(=C)C=C1 | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| 3,4-Dihydrocadalene | 528708 | Click to see CC1=CCC(C2=C1C=CC(=C2)C)C(C)C | 200.32 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| 3a-Methyl-6-methylidene-1-(propan-2-yl)decahydrocyclobuta(1,2-a:3,4-a')dicyclopentene | 324224 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| alpha-Cadinene, (+)- | 12306048 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| alpha-Cadinol | 10398656 | Click to see CC1=CC2C(CCC(C2CC1)(C)O)C(C)C | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| alpha-Calacorene | 12302243 | Click to see | 200.32 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| alpha-Muurolene | 12306047 | Click to see CC1=CC2C(CC1)C(=CCC2C(C)C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| beta-Bourbonene | 62566 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| beta-Cubebene | 93081 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| Beta-Sesquiphellandrene | 12315492 | Click to see CC(CCC=C(C)C)C1CCC(=C)C=C1 | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| Cadina-1(10),4-diene | 10223 | Click to see CC1=CC2C(CCC(=C2CC1)C)C(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| Caryophyllene | 5281515 | Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C2CC(C2CC1)(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| Copaene | 19725 | Click to see CC1=CCC2C3C1C2(CCC3C(C)C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| delta-Cadinene | 441005 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| delta-Cadinol | 3084311 | Click to see CC1=CC2C(CCC(C2CC1)(C)O)C(C)C | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| epi-alpha-Cadinol | 160799 | Click to see | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| gamma-Cadinene | 6432404 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| gamma-Cadinene | 15094 | Click to see CC1=CC2C(CC1)C(=C)CCC2C(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| Humulene | 5281520 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| Nerolidol | 5284507 | Click to see | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Aristolane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| 1H-Cyclopropa(a)naphthalene, 1a,2,3,5,6,7,7a,7b-octahydro-1,1,7,7a-tetramethyl-, (1aR-(1aalpha,7alpha,7aalpha,7balpha))- | 15560278 | Click to see CC1CCC=C2C1(C3C(C3(C)C)CC2)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| Calarene | 28481 | Click to see CC1CCC=C2C1(C3C(C3(C)C)CC2)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Elemane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| Beta-Elemene | 6918391 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Eudesmane, isoeudesmane or cycloeudesmane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| Beta-Selinene | 442393 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Germacrane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (S,1Z,6Z)-8-Isopropyl-1-methyl-5-methylenecyclodeca-1,6-diene | 91723653 | Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C=CC(CC1)C(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| Germacrene D | 5317570 | Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C=CC(CC1)C(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones / Enones | |||||
| (4E)-4-Octen-3-one | 5369061 | Click to see | 126.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| 4-Octen-3-one | 84216 | Click to see | 126.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Ketones | |||||
| 3-Octanone | 246728 | Click to see CCCCCC(=O)CC | 128.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Cinnamic acids | |||||
| Cinnamic acid | 444539 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)C=CC(=O)O | 148.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
| cis-Cinnamic acid | 5372954 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)C=CC(=O)O | 148.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962093 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |