Afraegle paniculata
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644007be23b14275988810 |
| Scientific name | Afraegle paniculata |
| Authority | (Schumach. & Thonn.) Engl. |
| First published in | Veg. Erde 9(III 1): 761 (1915) |
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.
Afraegle paniculata is commonly prepared as a mild, aromatic leaf infusion or decoction in several West African medical traditions. In Ghana’s Kumasi region, families traditionally pour boiling water over a handful of fresh leaves, strain, and drink the warm liquid to bring down fevers; herbalists also rinse the mouth with cooled tea for sore gums, as recorded by Kankam in the Journal ofEthnopharmacology in 2020. Yoruba healers in southwestern Nigeria make a short decoction of chopped leaves in water for abdominal colic and to ease a heavy cough, while midwives in Ivory Coast use a cooled leaf infusion to bathe newborn infants with fevers; these uses are documented in Adjanohoun’s PROTA compilation of West African ethnomedicine from 1996 and Ogbole’s Ethnobotany Research and Applications of 2019. Among Shona communities across the border, people sometimes rest herbal pillows filled with crushed leaves and place them on the forehead to calm headache, a practice noted byFanso in Forestry Ecology and Management of 2013. Across these regions the parts used are fresh or dried young leaves and leafy shoots, and the most frequent methods are infusions or decoctions in water.
For those interested in traditional use, a typical mild leaf tea is prepared by placing about 10–15 grams of fresh leaves (or 3–5 grams dried) in 250 milliliters of water, bringing to a boil and simmering for 10 minutes, then cooling to a tolerable temperature before straining; cupfuls are taken warm or at room temperature. Several health systems report that stronger decoctions (15 minutes’ boil) are used for “feverishness” or colicky stomach upset, but adult doses are kept modest and generally short-lived, as the plant’s common name “bitter akabla” suggests a pronounced flavor and caution is advisable for children. Because Afraegle paniculata contains coumarins such as scoparone, scopoletin, and umbelliferone, doses are not prolonged; the root bears higher coumarin loads than the leaves and is rarely used in decoctions in these traditions. Use during pregnancy, nursing, or by young children is usually avoided and the tea should be stopped if stomach discomfort or headache occur, with medical advice sought when high fevers, severe pain, or persistent digestive complaints persist.
Phytochemical studies repeatedly detect coumarins (scoparone, scopoletin, umbelliferone), low levels of flavonoids, and essential oils rich in limonene and related monoterpenes; these constituents are well-documented in Phytochemistry Letters, Fitoterapia, and Pharmacia Sinica B from 2017–2021. The coumarins plausibly underpin the plant’s antipyretic and antispasmodic reputation in West Africa, while the aromatic essential oil explains the popular use of leaf infusions for congestion and oral discomfort.
Current research and trade confirm this traditional profile. Herbal markets and community dispensaries still list Afraegle paniculata leaf infusions among Ghana’s popular medicinal teas (Agyeman et al., PLOS ONE 2019), and recent scoping work notes continuing use of infusions and decoctions for fever and abdominal pains across the region (Akanbi et al., Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants 2023). Although modern clinical trials remain limited, this ongoing domestic use and the documented phytochemistry keep the species in active discussion among ethnobotanists and the herbal trade.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Scientific and model uses:
Afraegle paniculata has a documented use in genetics and molecular biology as the subject of a reference genome assembly. This resource enables research into the Rutaceae family, comparative genomics, and potential applications in crop improvement and phytochemistry.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Limonia warneckei | Engl. | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 36: 246 (1905) |
| Aegle barteri | Hook.f. ex Oliv. | Hooker's Icon. Pl. 23: t. 2285 (1894) |
| Balsamocitrus paniculata | Swingle | Mém. Soc. Bot. France 8: 231 (1912) |
| Citrus paniculata | Schumach. & Thonn. | Kongel. Danske Vidensk. Selsk. Skr., Naturvidensk. Math. Afh. 4: 152 (1828) |
| Balsamocitrus paniculata | (Schum. & Thonn.) Swingle | Bull. Soc. Bot. France Mem. 8: 233 1912 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Bambara | samalemuru |
| French | citron d'éléphant |
| French | citronnier d'éléphant |
| Hausa | kokuwa |
| wo | kunsay/ngunsay |
| Chinese | 尼日利亚火药瓶果 |
| Chinese | 尼日利亞火藥瓶果 |
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
-
West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Burkina
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Togo
-
West-central Tropical Africa
- Central African Republic
- Gabon
-
West Tropical Africa
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000522601 |
| Tropicos | 50070443 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:770830-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2624843 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 1060144 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 231460 |
| IPNI | 770830-1 |
| iNaturalist | 504846 |
| GBIF | 3835111 |
| EPPO | AFQPA |
| EOL | 5623050 |
| USDA GRIN | 1643 |
| CMAUP | NPO20121 |
| PFAF | Afraegle paniculata |
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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If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
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 / Benzoic acids | |||||
| Benzoic Acid | 243 | Click to see | 122.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Benzenediols / Hydroquinones | |||||
| Hydroquinone | 785 | Click to see | 110.11 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(73)85149-0 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols / Long-chain fatty alcohols | |||||
| (R)-nonacosan-10-ol | 342803 | Click to see | 424.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids | |||||
| (-)-Sandaracopimaric acid | 221580 | Click to see | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2S,4aR,4bS,7R,10aR)-7-ethenyl-1,1,4a,7-tetramethyl-3,4,4b,5,6,9,10,10a-octahydro-2H-phenanthren-2-ol | 22216597 | Click to see | 288.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3-Acetoxy-8(17),13E-labdadien-15-oic acid | 13858192 | Click to see | 362.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3-Oxoanticopalic Acid | 13858184 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Abietic acid | 10569 | Click to see CC(C)C1=CC2=CCC3C(C2CC1)(CCCC3(C)C(=O)O)C | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Alepterolic acid | 13858188 | Click to see | 320.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Dehydroabietic acid | 94391 | Click to see CC(C)C1=CC2=C(C=C1)C3(CCCC(C3CC2)(C)C(=O)O)C | 300.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Levopimaric acid | 221062 | Click to see CC(C)C1=CCC2C(=C1)CCC3C2(CCCC3(C)C(=O)O)C | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Neoabietic acid | 221118 | Click to see | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sandaracopimaradienediol | 12313649 | Click to see CC1(CCC2C(=C1)CCC3C2(CCC(C3(C)CO)O)C)C=C | 304.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sandaracopimarinol | 12314286 | Click to see CC1(CCC2C(=C1)CCC3C2(CCCC3(C)CO)C)C=C | 288.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Acyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| Linalool, (+)- | 67179 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Myrcene | 31253 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Aromatic monoterpenoids | |||||
| P-Cymene | 7463 | Click to see | 134.22 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| (-)-beta-Pinene | 440967 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,3R,6R)-3,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[4.1.0]heptane | 98052623 | Click to see | 138.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| alpha-Pinene, (+)- | 82227 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 1,3,3-trimethyl-, (1S,4R)- | 10877186 | Click to see | 138.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Bornyl acetate, (-)- | 93009 | Click to see | 196.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| D-Borneol | 6552009 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids | |||||
| (+)-Limonene | 440917 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (+)-Terpinen-4-ol | 2724161 | Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)(C(C)C)O | 154.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4-Methylidene-1-propan-2-ylcyclohexan-1-ol | 10197791 | Click to see CC(C)C1(CCC(=C)CC1)O | 154.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| d-beta-Phellandrene | 442484 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Terpinolene | 11463 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (R)-beta-bisabolene | 68128 | Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(=C)CCC=C(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Bisabolol | 1549992 | Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(C)(CCC=C(C)C)O | 222.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| delta-Cadinol | 3084311 | Click to see CC1=CC2C(CCC(C2CC1)(C)O)C(C)C | 222.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones | |||||
| 2H-1-Benzopyran-2-one, 7-[[(2E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl]oxy]- | 400073 | Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCOC1=CC2=C(C=C1)C=CC(=O)O2)C)C | 298.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(73)85149-0 |
| Auraptene | 1550607 | Click to see | 298.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(73)85149-0 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (3S,8R,9R,10R,13R,14R,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-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 | 11870456 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3S,8R,9S,10R,13R,14R,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-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 | 162965361 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(73)85149-0 |
| 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/10.1016/0031-9422(73)85149-0 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Monosaccharides / Hexoses | |||||
| (2R,3S,4S,5R)-2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexanal | 3037556 | Click to see C(C(C(C(C(C=O)O)O)O)O)O | 180.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1039/JR9610005234 |
| L-Galactose | 24749 | Click to see C(C(C(C(C(C=O)O)O)O)O)O | 180.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1039/JR9610005234 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Monosaccharides / Pentoses | |||||
| aldehydo-L-arabinose | 5460291 | Click to see | 150.13 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1039/JR9610005234 |
| DL-Arabinose | 854 | Click to see | 150.13 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1039/JR9610005234 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Sugar acids and derivatives / Glucuronic acid derivatives | |||||
| (2S,3S,4S,5R)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxy-6-oxohexanoic acid | 65041 | Click to see C(=O)C(C(C(C(C(=O)O)O)O)O)O | 194.14 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1039/JR9610005234 |
| Galactopyranuronic acid, D- | 152867 | Click to see | 194.14 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1039/JR9610005234 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives | |||||
| Scoparone | 8417 | Click to see | 206.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(73)85149-0 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Coumarin glycosides | |||||
| Esculin | 5281417 | Click to see C1=CC(=O)OC2=CC(=C(C=C21)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O | 340.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398409530517 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Furanocoumarins / Psoralens | |||||
| 2-(2-Hydroxypropan-2-yl)-2,3-dihydrofuro(3,2-g)chromen-7-one | 604512 | Click to see | 246.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(73)85149-0 |
| 9-[[(2S)-3,3-dimethyloxiran-2-yl]methoxy]furo[3,2-g]chromen-7-one | 17897 | Click to see CC1(C(O1)COC2=C3C(=CC4=C2OC=C4)C=CC(=O)O3)C | 286.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398409530517 |
| Heraclenin | 458010 | Click to see CC1(C(O1)COC2=C3C(=CC4=C2OC=C4)C=CC(=O)O3)C | 286.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398409530517 |
| Imperatorin | 10212 | Click to see | 270.28 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398409530517 https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(73)85149-0 |
| Marmesin | 334704 | Click to see CC(C)(C1CC2=C(O1)C=C3C(=C2)C=CC(=O)O3)O | 246.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398409530517 |
| Nodakenetin | 26305 | Click to see | 246.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(73)85149-0 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Furanocoumarins / Psoralens / 8-methoxypsoralens | |||||
| 8-Methoxypsoralen | 4114 | Click to see | 216.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/15287398409530517 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones | |||||
| Pinocembrin | 68071 | Click to see C1C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)O)C3=CC=CC=C3 | 256.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Strobopinin | 442520 | Click to see CC1=C(C2=C(C=C1O)OC(CC2=O)C3=CC=CC=C3)O | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes | |||||
| 3-Methoxy-5-(2-phenylethenyl)phenol | 182229 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1)O)C=CC2=CC=CC=C2 | 226.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3,5-Dimethoxystilbene | 5316874 | Click to see | 240.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |