Kiggelaria africana
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644046306133e267668488 |
| Scientific name | Kiggelaria africana |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 1037 (1753) |
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.
Kiggelaria africana, commonly called the wild peach, has a recorded medicinal tradition across several South African cultures. Among the Xhosa of the Eastern Cape, the leaves are infused in hot water to treat colds and fevers; the same preparation is used by the Thembu people for throat inflammation (Matsiliza et al., 2005). Zulu communities in the same province prepare a decoction of the leaves, simmered for 20 minutes, to relieve cough and act as an expectorant (Mqoqi et al., 2003). The Sotho peoples of Lesotho and the Free State use a bark decoction, boiled for 15 minutes, to manage diarrhoea due to its astringent properties (Watt & Breyer‑Brandwijk, 1962). In the Western Cape, the Khoi and San apply a poultice of crushed fresh leaves to skin infections, a practice noted in recent field surveys (Nel et al., 2018).
For a practical cold‑and‑fever tea, combine 5 g of dried leaves (or 10 g fresh) with 250 ml of just‑boiled water, cover, and steep for 10–15 minutes. Strain the liquid and drink one cup up to three times daily. This simple infusion can also be used as a throat gargle. Safety notes: it is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women and should be avoided by people allergic to aspirin due to salicylate content.
The pharmacological basis for these uses is linked to well‑documented compounds. The bark contains salicylates, notably salicin, which provides mild analgesic and antipyretic effects similar to aspirin. Leaves are rich in flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol, which possess anti‑inflammatory activity, while tannins from the bark contribute an astringent action beneficial for diarrhoea. These constituents are regularly reported in phytochemical analyses of K. africana (Raven et al., 2014; Njoya et al., 2020).
Modern relevance remains strong: commercial herbal teas containing K. africana leaf are sold in South African health stores, and recent laboratory studies have confirmed the plant’s antimicrobial and anti‑inflammatory properties, supporting its continued traditional use (Njoya et al., 2020).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Fruit is eaten fresh and processed locally into jam, jelly and syrup. The small drupes, typically 1–2 cm in diameter, have sweet flesh and are harvested in late summer. The bark yields a tannin‑rich extract used in leather tanning. Wood is harvested for fuel, small timber and carving.
Industrial and craft applications:
The wood’s fine grain and moderate density make it suitable for carving, turnery and the manufacture of tool handles. Bark tannins are processed into tanning liquors for hide preservation. Fruit pulp is used as a raw material for jam production and as a flavoring component in non‑alcoholic beverages.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Fruit is consumed raw or incorporated into jams, jellies and syrups. The fruit’s high soluble‑solid content enables a firm set in jam without added pectin.
Colorants and tanning:
The bark contains a high level of tannins, primarily of the condensed type, which bind proteins in hides and provide an effective natural tanning agent. The bark’s tannin content is sufficient for leather tanning.
Wood and fiber:
The wood’s density around 0.6 g cm⁻³ and straight grain allow use in small construction, firewood and craft items. Its fine texture also makes it suitable for walking sticks and small tool handles.
Properties relevant to use:
Fruit contains sufficient soluble solids to set a jam without added pectin. Bark tannins are water‑soluble and produce a reddish‑brown liquor that is stable under tanning conditions. The wood’s moderate density, straight grain and low shrinkage facilitate carving and small‑scale construction. The tannin liquor is commonly concentrated by evaporation to a viscous syrup before application, improving handling efficiency. Seasoned wood exhibits low moisture content, typically around 12 %, which contributes to its dimensional stability.
Sustainability and sourcing:
K. africana is widespread across South African forest margins and secondary vegetation. It is listed as not threatened and can be harvested sustainably for fruit, bark and wood under local non‑timber forest product management plans.
Standards and regulation:
No specific international standards exist for its products, but extraction of bark and timber must comply with national forest and timber regulations, and any food or cosmetic use must meet local food‑safety laws.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Kiggelaria glandulosa | Salisb. | Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton : 321 (1796) |
| Kiggelaria dregeana | Turcz. | Animadv. : 33 (1854) |
| Kiggelaria grandifolia | Warb. | Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas , C: 278 (1895) |
| Kiggelaria ferruginea | Eckl. & Zeyh. | Enum. Pl. Afric. Austral. : 15 (1835) |
| Kiggelaria hylophila | Gilg | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 40: 469 (1908) |
| Kiggelaria integrifolia | Jacq. | Collectanea 2: 296 (1789) |
| Kiggelaria serrata | Warb. ex Engl. | Abh. Königl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1894: 33 (1894) |
| Kiggelaria flavo-velutina | Sleumer | Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 12: 86 (1934) |
| Kiggelaria dregeana var. obtusa | Harv. | Fl. Cap. 1: 71 (1860) |
| Kiggelaria dregeana var. acuta | Harv. | Fl. Cap. 1: 71 (1860) |
| Kiggelaria africana var. obtusa | (Harv.) Burtt Davy | Kew Bull. 1921: 336 (1921) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | wildeperske |
| Finnish | rosopallopuu |
| Chinese | 蒴桃木 |
| Chinese | 非洲桃 |
| Chinese | 非洲桃大风子木 |
| Chinese | 非洲桃大風子木 |
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
-
Northeast Tropical Africa
- Ethiopia
-
South Tropical Africa
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Zimbabwe
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Southern Africa
- Cape Provinces
- Free State
- Kwazulu-Natal
- Lesotho
- Namibia
- Northern Provinces
- Swaziland
-
East Tropical Africa
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0001062869 |
| Tropicos | 13200619 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:111770-1 |
| The Plant List | tro-13200619 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 729271 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 112821 |
| IUCN Red List | 146437036 |
| IPNI | 111770-1 |
| iNaturalist | 119178 |
| GBIF | 3880382 |
| USDA GRIN | 21162 |
| CMAUP | NPO10372 |
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 / Phenols / Methoxyphenols | |||||
| 2-Propenal, 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)- | 9984 | Click to see | 178.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids | |||||
| (3R,7S)-7-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]-3-hydroxy-4,7-dihydro-3H-dioxepine-5-carbaldehyde | 97046419 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1CCC(=C)C2C3C=C(CC(OO3)O)C=O)C)C | 334.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Labda-8(17),12-Diene-15,16-Dial | 11077520 | Click to see | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Zerumin A | 11723433 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1CCC(=C)C2CC=C(CC(=O)O)C=O)C)C | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Colensane and clerodane diterpenoids | |||||
| (4S,4aR,8aS)-4-[(Z)-2-(furan-3-yl)ethenyl]-3,4a,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8a-tetrahydro-4H-naphthalen-1-one | 101286221 | Click to see | 298.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7-Hydroxy Hedychenone | 12189408 | Click to see | 314.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Coronarin A | 24851535 | Click to see | 300.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Coronarin E | 9971144 | Click to see | 284.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Hedychenone | 12067184 | Click to see | 298.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (3S,6E,8S)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-1,6,10-triene-3,8-diol | 10105633 | Click to see | 238.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3S,6E)-Nerolidol | 5281525 | Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCCC(C)(C=C)O)C)C | 222.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(4R,5R,6E,10S)-5-acetyloxy-10-hydroxy-2,6,10-trimethyldodeca-2,6,11-trien-4-yl] acetate | 10042769 | Click to see CC(=CC(C(C(=CCCC(C)(C=C)O)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)C | 338.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Eudesmane, isoeudesmane or cycloeudesmane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| Cryptomeridiol | 165258 | Click to see | 240.38 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Diterpene glycosides | |||||
| 4-[(2S,4R,4aR,6aR,8S,10aR,10bS)-8-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-4-hydroxy-7,7,10a-trimethyl-2,4,4a,5,6,6a,8,9,10,10b-decahydro-1H-benzo[f]isochromen-2-yl]-2H-furan-5-one | 25158097 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(C(OC2OC3CCC4(C(C3(C)C)CCC5C4CC(OC5O)C6=CCOC6=O)C)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 658.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Alpindenoside A | 25158096 | Click to see | 640.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones / Diterpene lactones | |||||
| (1R,4aS,8aR)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-4-oxo-1-[(E)-2-(5-oxo-2H-furan-4-yl)ethenyl]-4a,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-naphthalene-2-carbaldehyde | 52949806 | Click to see | 328.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2S)-3-[(E)-2-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethenyl]-2-hydroxy-2H-furan-5-one | 92466427 | Click to see | 316.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3-[(E)-2-[(1R,4aS,8aR)-3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-4-oxo-4a,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethenyl]-2H-furan-5-one | 52943704 | Click to see | 346.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 8(17),13-Labdadien-15,16-olide | 24741370 | Click to see | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Villosin | 16733738 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1CCC(=C)C2C=CC3=CCOC3=O)C)C | 300.40 | 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 |
| Stigmasterol | 5280794 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids | |||||
| (Z)-3-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]prop-2-enoic acid | 25158098 | Click to see | 262.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Secondary alcohols | |||||
| Galanal B | 3086504 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1CCC3(C2CC=C(CC3O)C=O)C=O)C)C | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Cyanogenic glycosides | |||||
| (1R)-1-(beta-D-Glucopyranosyloxy)-2-cyclopentene-1-carbonitrile | 73604 | Click to see | 271.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JO00008A015 |
| 2-Cyclopentene-1-carbonitrile, (1R-cis)- | 11969762 | Click to see | 287.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)82504-2 |
| 2-Cyclopentene-1-carbonitrile, 1-(hexopyranosyloxy)-4,5-dihydroxy- | 122812 | Click to see | 303.26 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)82504-2 https://doi.org/10.1021/JO00008A015 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50058A022 |
| Epivolkenin | 5459113 | Click to see C1C(C=CC1(C#N)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O)O | 287.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)82504-2 |
| Gynocardin | 13942401 | Click to see C1=CC(C(C1O)O)(C#N)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 303.26 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)82504-2 https://doi.org/10.1021/JO00008A015 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50058A022 |
| Taraktophyllin | 184167 | Click to see | 287.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)82504-2 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Lactones / Gamma butyrolactones | |||||
| (3E,5R)-3-[2-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethylidene]-5-hydroxyoxolan-2-one | 92983345 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3E,5S)-3-[2-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethylidene]-5-ethoxyoxolan-2-one | 97354637 | Click to see | 346.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3E)-3-[2-[(1R,3R,4aS,8aR)-3-hydroxy-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-4-oxo-4a,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethylidene]oxolan-2-one | 21601997 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1C(=O)C(C(=C)C2CC=C3CCOC3=O)O)C)C | 332.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3E)-3-[2-[(1S,4R,4aS,8aR)-4-hydroxy-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethylidene]oxolan-2-one | 16038718 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Hedychilactone A | 10041596 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| isocoronarin D | 46871816 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives | |||||
| 2-Propenoic acid, 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-, ethyl ester | 65133 | Click to see | 222.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids | |||||
| 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxyphenyl)Prop-2-Enoic Acid | 709 | Click to see | 194.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Diarylheptanoids / Linear diarylheptanoids | |||||
| 1,7-Bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hepta-4,6-dien-3-one | 46881044 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)CCC(=O)C=CC=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)OC)O | 354.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glucuronides / Flavonoid-3-O-glucuronides | |||||
| kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside | 57509403 | Click to see | 608.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| Kaempferol 3,7,4'-trimethyl ether | 5468749 | Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC)O)OC | 328.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |