Millettia thonningii
StarMillettia thonningii
Synonyms: Phaseoloides thonningii, Millettia atite, Robinia thonningii
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In West African traditional medicine, decoctions of the root and stem bark of Millettia thonningii are used to treat malaria and intestinal parasites, while powdered seeds are applied to skin infections and used as a fish poison in some areas (Burkill, 1995; Iwu, 2014). Pharmacological work on the species documents antiplasmodial, molluscicidal and antimicrobial activity attributable to its prenylated chalcones.
Botanical Description
Millettia thonningii is a medium-sized tree of the Fabaceae native to the savannas and dry woodlands of West and Central Africa, from Senegal eastward to Cameroon and the Central African Republic. It typically reaches 8–15 m, with a dense rounded crown and dark fissured bark. The imparipinnate leaves bear several pairs of opposite, elliptic to ovate leaflets, somewhat coriaceous, with a fine appressed pubescence beneath. Showy, dense, terminal panicles of deep mauve to purple pea-flowers are produced before or with the new leaves, making the tree conspicuous in the dry season, and are followed by flat, woody, indehiscent pods containing one to several large, brown, lens-shaped seeds. The species contains characteristic prenylated chalcones, including the well-studied antimalarial compound 4-hydroxylonchocarpin and related flavonoids.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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