Searsia pyroides
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID6440061b256b3445577143 |
| Scientific name | Searsia pyroides |
| Authority | (Burch.) Moffett |
| First published in | Bothalia 37: 171 (2007) |
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.
Across the eastern and southern African landscape, the resinous shrub Searsia pyroides has long been a household remedy. In the Eastern Cape, Xhosa women steep a handful of fresh young leaves in hot water to make a fragrant tea that eases coughs and mild fever (South African National Biodiversity Institute PlantzAfrica, 2022). The Zulu of KwaZulu‑Natal prepare a decoction by simmering a few pieces of bark for twenty minutes to treat stomach cramps and dysentery (South African National Biodiversity Institute PlantzAfrica, 2022). San healers of the Kalahari mash the young roots with a little water and apply the moist paste as a poultice to reduce swelling and accelerate healing of minor wounds (South African National Biodiversity Institute PlantzAfrica, 2022). These three independent observations – leaf tea, bark decoction, and root poultice – are all documented in the same ethnobotanical record, confirming that different plant parts are employed for distinct therapeutic goals.
A simple preparation that mirrors the Xhosa practice can be made at home. Place 1–2 g (approximately one heaped teaspoon) of dried leaves in a clean cup, pour 250 mL of just‑boiled water over them, cover and steep for 5–7 minutes. Strain and drink the warm infusion while it is still aromatic. The same material can be reused for a second cup if the desired strength is not reached. Use no more than three cups per day and avoid consumption during pregnancy, as safety data for this preparation in that condition remain limited.
The pharmacological backdrop for these uses is well documented. Analyses of the leaves and bark have repeatedly shown high levels of hydrolyzable tannins, especially gallotannins, and a suite of flavonoid glycosides such as quercetin‑3‑O‑rhamnoside; the essential oil from the bark is dominated by the monoterpenes α‑pinene and β‑caryophyllene (Van Wyk & Wink, 2015). The astringent tannins explain the bark decoction’s antidiarrheal effect, while the anti‑inflammatory flavonoids contribute to the soothing action of the leaf tea.
Contemporary interest in Searsia pyroides is evident in recent laboratory work that confirms antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of its extracts, supporting the traditional claims (Van Wyk & Wink, 2015). Commercially, dried leaves and powdered bark are now sold by several South African herbal retailers, and in rural households the plant continues to be harvested seasonally as a reliable home remedy.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Rhus vulgaris | Meikle | Kew Bull. 6: 290 (1951) |
| Rhus steudneri | Engl. | Veg. Erde 9(III 2): 211 (1921) |
| Rhus pyroides | Burch. | Trav. S. Africa 1: 340 (1822) |
| Toxicodendron pyrodes | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 154 (1891) |
| Rhus baurii | Schönland | Bothalia 3: 32 (1930) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | gewone taaibos |
| Dutch | gewone taaibos |
Varieties (abbr. var.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Searsia pyroides var. dinteri | (Engl.) Moffett | Bothalia 37: 171 (2007) |
| Searsia pyroides var. gracilis | (Engl.) Moffett | Bothalia 37: 171 (2007) |
| Searsia pyroides var. integrifolia | (Engl.) Moffett | Bothalia 37: 171 (2007) |
| Searsia pyroides var. pyroides |
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
- Ethiopia
- Sudan
-
South Tropical Africa
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
-
Southern Africa
- Botswana
- Cape Provinces
- Free State
- Kwazulu-Natal
- Lesotho
- Namibia
- Northern Provinces
- Swaziland
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Rwanda
- Zaïre
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East Tropical Africa
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000510287 |
| Tropicos | 100469946 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77088533-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2608664 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 856671 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 298680 |
| IUCN Red List | 147141190 |
| IPNI | 77088533-1 |
| iNaturalist | 429245 |
| Freebase | /m/0ccymf |
| EOL | 5613772 |
| USDA GRIN | 457929 |
| Wikipedia | Searsia_pyroides |
| CMAUP | NPO17894 |
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 / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives | |||||
| Protocatechuic Acid | 72 | Click to see | 154.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives / M-methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Vanillic Acid | 8468 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C(=O)O)O | 168.15 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Phenylacetic acids / 2(hydroxyphenyl)acetic acids | |||||
| 2-Hydroxy-5-butoxyphenylacetic acid | 15108711 | Click to see | 224.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Benzenediols / Hydroquinones | |||||
| Butyl 2-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)acetate | 44217017 | Click to see CCCCOC(=O)CC1=C(C=CC(=C1)O)O | 224.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Ethyl 2,5-dihydroxyphenylacetate | 297396 | Click to see CCOC(=O)CC1=C(C=CC(=C1)O)O | 196.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Methyl 2-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)acetate | 13790504 | Click to see | 182.17 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acyl glycosides / Fatty acyl glycosides of mono- and disaccharides | |||||
| Entadamide-A-beta-D-glucopyranoside | 101616680 | Click to see CSC=CC(=O)NCCOC1C(C(C(C(O1)CO)O)O)O | 323.36 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Triterpene glycosides / Triterpene saponins | |||||
| [(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3-[(2S,3R,4R)-4-[[(2S,3R,4R)-3,4-dihydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]oxymethyl]-3,4-dihydroxyoxolan-2-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl] (4aR,5S,6R,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-10-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3-acetamido-6-[[(2S,3R,4S,5S)-3,5-dihydroxy-4-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]-4-hydroxy-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-5,6-dihydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylate | 72737016 | Click to see | 1544.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-6-(acetyloxymethyl)-3-[(2S,3R,4R)-4-[[(2S,3R,4R)-3,4-dihydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]oxymethyl]-3,4-dihydroxyoxolan-2-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxyoxan-2-yl] (4aR,5S,6R,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-10-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3-acetamido-6-[[(2S,3R,4S,5S)-3,5-dihydroxy-4-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]-4-hydroxy-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-5,6-dihydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylate | 72737187 | Click to see | 1586.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| phaseoloideside A | 72736851 | Click to see | 1512.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| phaseoloideside B | 72736852 | Click to see | 1412.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| Entagenic acid | 21594206 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(C(C1)C3=CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(C(C2O)O)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C(=O)O)C | 488.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic nitrogen compounds / Organonitrogen compounds / Amines / Alkanolamines / 1,2-aminoalcohols / N-acylethanolamines | |||||
| Entadamide A | 6439215 | Click to see | 161.22 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Entadamide B | 3035981 | Click to see CSC(CC(=O)NCCO)SC | 209.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides | |||||
| 2-beta-d-Glucopyranosyloxy-5-butoxyphenylacetic acid | 15108713 | Click to see | 386.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| butyl 2-[5-hydroxy-2-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]acetate | 102143698 | Click to see CCCCOC(=O)CC1=C(C=CC(=C1)O)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 386.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Phaseoloidin | 14104237 | Click to see | 330.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| (1R,8S,9R,16R,18S,27S)-9-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,8,16,21,23-pentahydroxy-2,10,17,26-tetraoxaheptacyclo[14.11.1.01,13.03,12.06,11.018,27.020,25]octacosa-3(12),4,6(11),13,20,22,24-heptaen-15-one | 101925531 | Click to see | 576.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Catechin | 9064 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Epicatechin | 72276 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Epigallocatechins | |||||
| Epigallocatechin | 72277 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C21)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)O | 306.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones | |||||
| Naringenin | 439246 | Click to see | 272.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones / Flavanonols | |||||
| Aromadendrin | 122850 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O | 288.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Taxifolin | 439533 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O)O | 304.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones | |||||
| 4H-1-Benzopyran-4-one, 2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy- | 5487757 | Click to see | 286.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7,4'-Dihydroxyflavone | 5282073 | Click to see | 254.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Apigenin | 5280443 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O | 270.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 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 | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Galangin | 5281616 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O | 270.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isorhamnetin | 5281654 | Click to see | 316.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercetin | 5280343 | Click to see | 302.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Rhamnocitrin | 5320946 | Click to see | 300.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Rutin | 5280805 | Click to see | 610.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| Ayanin | 5280682 | Click to see | 344.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 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 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Linear 1,3-diarylpropanoids / Cinnamylphenols | |||||
| 4,4'-Dihydroxy-2'-methoxychalcone | 5319688 | Click to see | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |