Details Top

Internal ID UUID644036d19a95f396947530
Scientific name Croton megalocarpus
Authority Hutch.
First published in Fl. Trop. Afr. 6(1): 760 (1912)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
- Seed oil is extracted from the nuts and processed into biodiesel (FAME). Industrial quantities are documented in East Africa. Seed cake is produced as a residual meal; it is documented as a soil ameliorant/compost input where smallholders are engaged in seed collection.

Industrial and craft applications:
- Seed oil is the primary industrial product; it is converted to biodiesel and used for on-farm machinery and power generation. Soap-making uses the oil where unsaponifiable components are accounted for in formulation. Reports of oil being used in varnishes are present in grey literature but are not widely supported by peer-reviewed sources.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
- No verified edible uses for the oil, kernels, or derived ingredients are reported.

Colorants and tanning:
- No verified dye, ink, or tannin products are documented for this taxon.

Wood and fiber:
- Timber is used for general construction, furniture, and flooring; the wood is moderately hard and durable. Bark fibers are not documented in industrial sources; timber is the main ligneous product.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
- No fragrance/essential oil, aromatic extracts, or cosmetic applications are documented.

Properties relevant to use:
- Seed oil is a triacylglycerol-rich, non-drying oil characterized by low to moderate iodine value (approximately 120–130 g I2/100 g), saponification value near 190–200 mg KOH/g, and high linoleic and oleic acid content. Oil yields of around 35–45% are reported. These characteristics are consistent with biodiesel transesterification and industrial soapstocks.

Standards and regulation:
- Biodiesel from this feedstock is treated as conventional biodiesel for regulatory compliance, meeting established specifications such as ASTM D6751 (U.S.), EN 14214 (EU), and applicable national standards for diesel fuels.

Sustainability and sourcing:
- Seeds are wild-harvested from semi-arid woodlands; cultivated plantings remain limited. Seed collection provides cash income for smallholders. Regeneration occurs by natural seed fall; stands require protection from excessive harvesting to maintain local supply and biodiversity. Supply is seasonal, with nuts maturing in the dry season.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Croton elliotianus Pax Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 33: 289 (1903)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
Japanese クロトン・メガロカルパス
Swahili msenefu
Chinese 大果巴豆

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Africa
    • East Tropical Africa
      • Kenya
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
    • Northeast Tropical Africa
      • Somalia
    • South Tropical Africa
      • Malawi
      • Mozambique
      • Zambia
    • West-central Tropical Africa
      • Burundi
      • Rwanda
      • Zaïre

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000931666
Tropicos 12806129
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:342969-1
The Plant List kew-50526
Open Tree Of Life 3913620
NCBI Taxonomy 1704625
IUCN Red List 62003321
IPNI 342969-1
iNaturalist 133588
GBIF 3059962
EOL 1146905
USDA GRIN 12418
Wikipedia Croton_megalocarpus

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)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the people of Mosop, Nandi County in Kenya Maiyo ZC, Njeru SN, Toroitich FJ, Indieka SA, Obonyo MA Front Pharmacol 19-Jan-2024
PMCID:PMC10834697
doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1328903
PMID:38313073
Role of diosgenin extracted from Helicteres isora L in suppression of HIV-1 replication: An in vitro preclinical study Rakshit S, More A, Gaikwad S, Seniya C, Gade A, Muley VY, Mukherjee A, Kamble K Heliyon 11-Jan-2024
PMCID:PMC10823083
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24350
PMID:38288021
Above-ground carbon stocks and its functional relationship with tree species diversity: the case of Kakamega and North Nandi Forests, Kenya Obonyo OA, Agevi H, Tsingalia MH Sci Rep 27-Nov-2023
PMCID:PMC10684878
doi:10.1038/s41598-023-47871-6
PMID:38017012
Chimpanzees select comfortable nesting tree species Lacroux C, Krief S, Douady S, Cornette R, Durand S, Aleeje A, Asalu E, Pouydebat E Sci Rep 07-Oct-2023
PMCID:PMC10560204
doi:10.1038/s41598-023-44192-6
PMID:37805595
Enhancing Performance and Emission Characteristics of Biodiesel-Operated Compression Ignition Engines through Low Heat Rejection Mode and Antioxidant Additives: A Review Rajendran S, Venkatesan EP, Dhairiyasamy R, Jaganathan S, Muniyappan G, Hasan N ACS Omega 14-Sep-2023
PMCID:PMC10534917
doi:10.1021/acsomega.3c03252
PMID:37779972
Development of Optimized Feed for Lipid Gain in Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Larvae Goo TW, Hwang D, Lee KS, Lee SH, Yun EY Animals (Basel) 12-Jun-2023
PMCID:PMC10295072
doi:10.3390/ani13121958
PMID:37370468
The soil microbiomes of forest ecosystems in Kenya: their diversity and environmental drivers Onyango LA, Ngonga FA, Karanja EN, Kuja JO, Boga HI, Cowan DA, Mwangi KW, Maghenda MW, Marinho Lebre PB, Kambura AK Sci Rep 02-May-2023
PMCID:PMC10154314
doi:10.1038/s41598-023-33993-4
PMID:37130890
Contrasting warming responses of photosynthesis in early- and late-successional tropical trees Mujawamariya M, Wittemann M, Dusenge ME, Manishimwe A, Ntirugulirwa B, Zibera E, Nsabimana D, Wallin G, Uddling J Tree Physiol 27-Mar-2023
PMCID:PMC10335848
doi:10.1093/treephys/tpad035
PMID:36971469
Important Medicinal and Food Taxa (Orders and Families) in Kenya, Based on Three Quantitative Approaches Mutie FM, Mbuni YM, Rono PC, Mkala EM, Nzei JM, Phumthum M, Hu GW, Wang QF Plants (Basel) 02-Mar-2023
PMCID:PMC10005506
doi:10.3390/plants12051145
PMID:36904005
The impact of puff frequency on respirable particulate matter in mainstream cigarette smoke Maiyo AK, Korir BK, Kibet JK Clin Respir J 31-Jan-2023
PMCID:PMC10113281
doi:10.1111/crj.13592
PMID:36721214
Amalgamation and Optimization of FAEE Biodiesel Fuel from Croton macrostachyus hochst. ex Delile Seed oil Utilizing Solid Calcium Oxide-Chicken Eggshell Squander as a Heterogeneous Catalyst Solomon Y, Girma E, Ramayya AV Int J Anal Chem 10-Dec-2022
PMCID:PMC9759387
doi:10.1155/2022/7984077
PMID:36536619
Anti-HIV Ermiasolides from Croton megalocarpus Terefe EM, Okalebo FA, Derese S, Langat MK, Mas-Claret E, Qureshi KA, Jaremko M, Muriuki J Molecules 19-Oct-2022
PMCID:PMC9610617
doi:10.3390/molecules27207040
PMID:36296633
Rheological and Physicochemical Analysis of Nonedible Oils Used for Biodiesel Production Zakaria F, Lujaji F, Kivevele T ACS Omega 13-Oct-2022
PMCID:PMC9607889
doi:10.1021/acsomega.2c02960
PMID:36312339
Repellent activity against Anopheles gambiae of the leaves of nesting trees in the Sebitoli chimpanzee community of Kibale National Park, Uganda Lacroux C, Pouydebat E, Rossignol M, Durand S, Aleeje A, Asalu E, Chandre F, Krief S Malar J 27-Sep-2022
PMCID:PMC9513939
doi:10.1186/s12936-022-04291-7
PMID:36163024
A Complete Review of Mexican Plants with Teratogenic Effects Chamorro-Cevallos G, Mojica-Villegas MA, García-Martínez Y, Pérez-Gutiérrez S, Madrigal-Santillán E, Vargas-Mendoza N, Morales-González JA, Cristóbal-Luna JM Plants (Basel) 24-Jun-2022
PMCID:PMC9268836
doi:10.3390/plants11131675
PMID:35807626

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
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Colensane and clerodane diterpenoids
Epoxy-chiromodine 6712084 Click to see 360.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
methyl (1aR,3aR,4R,5R,7aR,7bS)-4-[2-(furan-3-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-4,7a,7b-trimethyl-2,3,3a,5,6,7-hexahydro-1aH-naphtho[1,2-b]oxirene-5-carboxylate 90662082 Click to see CC12CCC(C(C1CCC3C2(O3)C)(C)CC(=O)C4=COC=C4)C(=O)OC 360.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
methyl (1R,2R,4aR,5R,6R,8aR)-1-[2-(furan-3-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-5,6-dihydroxy-1,4a,5-trimethyl-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-naphthalene-2-carboxylate 101630470 Click to see 378.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98083-X
https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80393-S
methyl 1-[2-(furan-3-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-5,6-dihydroxy-1,4a,5-trimethyl-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-naphthalene-2-carboxylate 14396800 Click to see 378.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
methyl 4-[2-(furan-3-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-4,7a,7b-trimethyl-2,3,3a,5,6,7-hexahydro-1aH-naphtho[1,2-b]oxirene-5-carboxylate 4270838 Click to see CC12CCC(C(C1CCC3C2(O3)C)(C)CC(=O)C4=COC=C4)C(=O)OC 360.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesterterpenoids / Scalarane sesterterpenoids
(4aR,6aS,6bS,8aS,10S,12aS,14aS,14bS)-10-acetyloxy-2,2,6b,9,9,12a,14a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid 641666 Click to see 498.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
[(3S,4aR,6aR,6aS,8aS,14bR)-8a-acetyloxy-4,4,6a,6a,11,11,14b-heptamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl] acetate 163004531 Click to see 512.80 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
3-Acetylaleuritolic Acid 161616 Click to see 498.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
Acetylaleuritolic acid 429885 Click to see CC(=O)OC1CCC2(C(C1(C)C)CCC3(C2CCC4(C3=CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C)C(=O)O)C)C)C 498.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(3a,5a,5b,8,8,11a-Hexamethyl-1-prop-1-en-2-yl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,7a,9,10,11,11b,12,13,13a,13b-hexadecahydrocyclopenta[a]chrysen-9-yl) 3-oxobutanoate 163071794 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)OC(=O)CC(=O)C)C)C 510.80 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
[(1R,3aR,5aR,5bR,7aR,9S,11aR,11bR,13aR,13bR)-3a,5a,5b,8,8,11a-hexamethyl-1-prop-1-en-2-yl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,7a,9,10,11,11b,12,13,13a,13b-hexadecahydrocyclopenta[a]chrysen-9-yl] 3-oxobutanoate 101630471 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)OC(=O)CC(=O)C)C)C 510.80 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
Betulin 72326 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)CO 442.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98083-X
Lup-20(29)-en-3-ol, (3beta)- 521518 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98083-X
Lup-20(29)-ene-3beta,28-diol 221023 Click to see 442.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98083-X
Lupeol 259846 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98083-X
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
(-)-beta-Sitosterol 222284 Click to see 414.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98083-X
17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol 86821 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C 414.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98083-X
Stigmast-5-en-3-ol 22012 Click to see 414.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)98083-X
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds
Sucrose 5988 Click to see 342.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Heteroaromatic compounds
3-Methylfuran 13587 Click to see CC1=COC=C1 82.10 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(99)00460-9
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives
2-Propenoic acid, 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-, octacosyl ester, (E)-; Erythrinasinate B 20981236 Click to see 586.90 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
Hexacosyl (E)-ferulate 5318033 Click to see 558.90 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
Hexacosyl 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 20980932 Click to see 558.90 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
Octacosyl ferulate 5743442 Click to see 586.90 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
Tetracosyl 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 54412038 Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCOC(=O)C=CC1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)OC 530.80 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
Tetracosyl ferulate 14238617 Click to see 530.80 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids
Ferulic Acid 445858 Click to see 194.18 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)80362-I

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