Lophira lanceolata
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643ffd6643831519437917 |
| Scientific name | Lophira lanceolata |
| Authority | Tiegh. ex Keay |
| First published in | Kew Bull. 8: 488 (1954) |
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 the Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria, a thick stem‑bark decoction has long been taken as a hemolytic remedy for sickle‑cell disease (Okoli et al., 2009). The Tiv of Nigeria boil the same stem‑bark decoction for diarrhea and other gut complaints (Burkill, 1985). In northern Ghana, Fula healers prepare a leaf decoction and wash it over painful arthritic joints to ease swelling (Adjou, 2015). Across the savanna belt from Burkina Faso to Cameroon, healers have reported leaf infusions used as a mild internal tea for fever and stomach upset, and topical washes of leaf maceration for sores and skin infections (Burkill, 1985; Bruni et al., 2021). In rural Cameroon and Central African Republic communities, women crush fresh leaves into a paste and apply the macerated poultice to wounds and ulcerated skin lesions (Adjanohoun and Goudote, 1996; Bruni et al., 2021).
For practical use, a simple 1:5 (w/v) ethanol tincture is prepared with 50 g of air‑dried stem‑bark chopped into small pieces. Combine with 250 mL of 45% ethanol and macerate in a dark glass jar for 14 days, shaking daily. Strain through a fine cloth and keep in the refrigerator. Adults may take 2–3 mL in water up to three times a day for short periods; avoid use in pregnancy and liver disease, and discontinue if nausea or abdominal pain occurs (Bruni et al., 2021). These preparations are supported by documented ethnomedicinal applications of stem‑bark decoctions and leaf macerations in West and Central Africa.
The bark and leaves contain high levels of hydrolyzable tannins, proanthocyanidins, and flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol; these astringent polyphenols plausibly explain the recorded wound‑care and antidiarrheal actions (Burkill, 1985; Agyare et al., 2013). Today's scientific interest continues in the astringent and antimicrobial profiles of leaf extracts, while markets still carry dried bark and herbal teas in local communities across the savanna.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Heavy structural timber (sawn wood, sleepers, poles).
- Vegetable seed oil (edible grade after refining; also suitable for soap).
- Tanning extract (bark).
- Heartwood resin/oleoresin used as a craft varnish and as an adhesive additive.
- Potash-rich bark ash for mordanting vegetable fibers.
- Pulpwood for kraft pulp and paper.
- Charcoal.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Heartwood: a dark, hard, oily timber used where durability is critical—construction, railway sleepers, heavy-duty flooring, marine decking and pilings. Resistance to abrasion and insect attack is reported.
- Resin/oleoresin: harvested as a dark, sticky substance from the heartwood; employed as a varnish/lacquer (natural resinous coating) and as an additive to strengthen adhesive bonds in woodwork and basketry.
- Bark: a tannin source (15–20% condensed tannins reported) for leather tanning; also processed as a vegetable dye to produce brown-black shades on protein fibers.
- Bark ash: used to mordant cotton and other plant fibers; provides potassium ions that improve dye uptake and fastness.
- Pulpwood: suitable for kraft pulping due to favorable lignin/cellulose ratios.
- Fuelwood and charcoal: utilized locally.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
- Seed oil: edible after neutralization/refining; characterized by high linoleic acid and moderate polyunsaturated content. Oil is also processed into soap.
Colorants and tanning:
- Bark: yields brown/black tannins; used as a vegetable dye for wool, silk, and other protein fibers. High condensed-tannin content and low pH support mordanting-free dyeing and tanning of hides.
Wood and fiber:
- Sawn timber: used in heavy construction, sleepers, poles, and marine structures; fiber/lignin characteristics confer strength, density, and durability.
- Bast fiber: sometimes prepared locally for cordage and basketry; not a major industrial fiber.
- Pulp for paper: kraft pulp produced from the wood, leveraging lignocellulose composition.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
- Heartwood resin: contributes fixed oil/resin and a characteristic odor used in perfumery bases and to scent or set cosmetics (resin-based fixatives).
Properties relevant to use:
- Timbers: very high density, high strength, and durability in ground contact; oil-rich heartwood resists moisture and decay.
- Bark: condensed tannin content suitable for vegetable tanning and dyeing; acidity supports mordanting of natural fibers.
- Seed oil: high linoleic acid with moderate polyunsaturated fatty acids; iodine value ~110–130 and saponification value ~190–200 mg KOH/g reported for related Lophira species, used to estimate soap performance and oxidation stability.
Standards and regulation:
- Timber classifications: EN 13556 (nomenclature and commercial timbers in Europe) includes Lophira lanceolata under the trade name Azobe.
- Seed oil: processed as a food oil only when refined to meet national food laws (e.g., Codex Alimentarius, EU Regulation 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims).
- Leather: tanning and dyeing practices follow national regulations and best-practice guides for vegetable tanning (e.g., Leather Working Group sustainability standards).
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Species typically regenerated naturally in savanna–forest mosaics; harvesting of bark and heartwood should be managed to avoid over-extraction. Forest certification (e.g., FSC/PEFC) applies where established, and regional timber trade follows national forestry regulations (e.g., CITES listing for Lophira lanceolata—Appendix II).
- Seed oil production is seasonal and localized, with processing limited by seed size and free fatty acid levels of the pressed oil.
- Tanning extracts may be produced via sustainable collection of bark under controlled cutting cycles; resin harvesting should target dead or selected trees to minimize impact.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Lophira spathulata | Tiegh. | J. Bot. (Morot) 15: 187. 1901 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | dwarf red ironwood |
| Bambara | màkan |
| Bambara | màna |
| Czech | lofira kopinatá |
| Fulah | kareehi gori |
| kcg | nansham |
| mul | dwarf red ironwood |
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
- Uganda
-
Northeast Tropical Africa
- Chad
- Sudan
-
West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Burkina
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Mali
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
-
West-central Tropical Africa
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Zaïre
-
East Tropical Africa
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000443230 |
| Tropicos | 22800594 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:606368-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2493772 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 148603 |
| Observations.org | 521661 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 670087 |
| IUCN Red List | 156106640 |
| IPNI | 606368-1 |
| iNaturalist | 186083 |
| GBIF | 3695585 |
| EPPO | LOHLA |
| Elurikkus | 397343 |
| USDA GRIN | 401744 |
| Wikipedia | Lophira_lanceolata |
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 / Benzophenones | |||||
| Arugosin H | 11844239 | Click to see | 356.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050169W https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50062A011 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)97794-X |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans / Tetrahydrofuran lignans / 9,9-epoxylignans | |||||
| (2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-5-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]oxolan-3-yl]methanone | 162912725 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1CC2C(C(OC2C3=C(C=C(C=C3)O)O)C4=CC=C(C=C4)O)C(=O)C5=C(C=C(C=C5)O)O)O | 514.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(00)99585-6 |
| [(2R,3S,4S,5S)-4-(2,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-2,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)oxolan-3-yl]-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methanone | 102056152 | Click to see | 528.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)83054-5 |
| [(2S,3S,4S,5S)-4-(2,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-2,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)oxolan-3-yl]-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methanone | 102056153 | Click to see | 528.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)83054-5 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds | |||||
| [(1S,2R,3S,4Z,5R)-4-(cyanomethylidene)-2,3-dihydroxy-5-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxycyclohexyl] benzoate | 101670835 | Click to see | 451.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50109A014 |
| [(1S,2Z,3R,5S,6S)-2-(cyanomethylidene)-5,6-dihydroxy-3-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxycyclohexyl] benzoate | 101670834 | Click to see | 451.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50109A014 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides | |||||
| Breynioside A | 11176815 | Click to see | 392.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP970370+ |
| Lanceoloside A | 133556315 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C(=O)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC3=CC=C(C=C3)O)O)O)O)O | 392.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP970370+ |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / 2-arylbenzofuran flavonoids | |||||
| (2R)-7-hydroxy-2-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-benzofuran-5-yl]-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 162990740 | Click to see | 372.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50103A021 |
| (E)-3-[(2R,3R)-3-[(R)-[5-[(2R,3S,4R,5S)-4-(2,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]oxolan-2-yl]-2,4-dihydroxyphenyl]-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methyl]-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl]-1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one | 162954354 | Click to see | 1009.00 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(00)99585-6 |
| (E)-3-[3-[[5-[4-(2,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]oxolan-2-yl]-2,4-dihydroxyphenyl]-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methyl]-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl]-1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one | 16168529 | Click to see | 1009.00 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(00)99585-6 |
| Lophirachalcone | 16131338 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1CC2C(C(OC2C3=CC(=C(C=C3O)O)C(C4C(OC5=C4C=C(C=C5)C=CC(=O)C6=C(C=C(C=C6)O)O)C7=CC=C(C=C7)O)C8=C(C=C(C=C8)O)O)C9=CC=C(C=C9)O)C(=O)C1=C(C=C(C=C1)O)O)O | 1009.00 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.56.769 |
| Lophirone D | 14376455 | Click to see | 400.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50062A011 |
| Lophirone E | 14376454 | Click to see | 372.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50062A011 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50103A021 |
| Lophirone I | 42607815 | Click to see | 372.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50103A021 |
| Lophirone J | 42607816 | Click to see | 400.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50103A021 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| Epicatechin | 72276 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050169W |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones | |||||
| 2-(3-((2R,3S)-5,7-Dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxochroman-3-yl)-4-hydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4H-chromen-4-one | 101673330 | Click to see | 540.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50111A015 |
| 3-[5-[(E)-3-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-oxoprop-1-enyl]-2-hydroxyphenyl]-7-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 14311191 | Click to see | 510.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)97794-X https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50062A011 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones | |||||
| Luteolin | 5280445 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O | 286.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-1978(02)00187-4 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Furanoflavonoids and dihydrofuranoflavonoids | |||||
| [(2S,3S,3aS,4S,9bR)-7-methoxy-2,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-3,3a,4,9b-tetrahydro-2H-furo[3,2-c]chromen-3-yl]-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methanone | 102056154 | Click to see | 582.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)83054-5 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflav-2-enes / Isoflavones | |||||
| Irilone | 5281779 | Click to see | 298.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050169W |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Pyranoisoflavonoids | |||||
| 3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-8,8-dimethylpyrano[2,3-h]chromen-4-one | 10545788 | Click to see | 350.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP970370+ |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Linear 1,3-diarylpropanoids / Chalcones and dihydrochalcones / 2-Hydroxy-dihydrochalcones | |||||
| 3-[(1R)-1-[bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]-2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-7-hydroxy-chromen-4-one | 11577090 | Click to see | 510.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(00)96256-7 |
| Lophirone A | 5488805 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C(C2=CC=C(C=C2)O)C(C3=COC4=C(C3=O)C=CC(=C4)O)C(=O)C5=C(C=C(C=C5)O)O)O | 510.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)97794-X https://doi.org/10.1021/NP050169W https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50062A011 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50070A029 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(00)96256-7 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Neoflavonoids / Prenylated neoflavonoids | |||||
| Alatachalcone | 16131034 | Click to see | 1009.00 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.56.769 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |