Nauclea latifolia
StarNauclea latifolia
Synonyms: Nauclea sambucina, Sarcocephalus russeggeri, Cephalina esculenta, Sarcocephalus sambucinus, Sarcocephalus esculentus var. amarissima, Sarcocephalus esculentus var. velutina, Nauclea esculenta, Sarcocephalus latifolius, Sarcocephalus esculentus
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Across West and Central Africa, Nauclea latifolia (=Sarcocephalus latifolius, African peach or pin cushion tree) is one of the most widely used medicinal plants. Decoctions of the bitter root bark and stem bark are taken for malarial fevers, dysentery, gastrointestinal upsets, and as a general tonic; leaf preparations are applied to wounds and ulcers, and bark decoctions are used as antimicrobial gargles for toothache and oral infections (Iwu, 2014, Handbook of African Medicinal Plants; Burkill, 1985–2000, Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa). Antiplasmodial constituents (indoloquinolizidine alkaloids) have been characterised but the specific antimalarial slug is not assigned.
Botanical Description
Nauclea latifolia Sm. (Rubiaceae), now widely accepted as Sarcocephalus latifolius (Sm.) E.A.Bruce, is a sprawling shrub or small tree 3–9 m tall of West and Central African savannas, gallery forests, and riverbanks. Stems often scramble and form thickets; bark is grey-brown and shallowly fissured. Leaves are opposite, broadly ovate to elliptic, 10–25 cm long, leathery and glossy, with prominent pinnate venation and interpetiolar stipules. Flowers are arranged in dense globose heads 2.5–5 cm in diameter on long peduncles, with numerous small white to pinkish tubular blossoms and exserted styles giving the head its pincushion appearance. The fruit is a fleshy, syncarpous compound head 5–10 cm across, pink to deep red when ripe, with edible sweetish pulp containing many small embedded seeds; it is widely eaten and traded in rural markets.
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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