Oxyanthus unilocularis

Star

Oxyanthus unilocularis

Family: Rubiaceae Genus: Oxyanthus Species: unilocularis

Synonyms: Oxyanthus macrophyllus, Oxyanthus litoreus

Western Herbalism Properties

Actions:
analgesicanti-inflammatory

Traditional Uses

In Cameroonian traditional medicine, the leaves, bark, and roots of Oxyanthus unilocularis are used to relieve fever, arthritis, swelling, and pain; experimental work has supported these uses, with leaf and bark extracts raising pain thresholds and reducing carrageenan-induced paw oedema in laboratory models (Nguelefack et al., 2010).

Botanical Description

Oxyanthus unilocularis is a shrub or small tree of the coffee family (Rubiaceae), native to the rainforests of western and central tropical Africa, including Cameroon. It has opposite, elliptic to oblong-elliptic leaves with entire margins, prominent venation, and interpetiolar stipules typical of the family. The flowers are notable for their very long, slender corolla tube opening into narrow spreading lobes, white to cream and fragrant, borne in axillary clusters and adapted for pollination by long-tongued insects. The fruit is a fleshy berry containing several seeds. It grows in the understorey and margins of lowland and submontane evergreen forest.

Native Region: Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cabinda, Cameroon, Central African Repu, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zaïre

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.

📝 Notes

Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Oxyanthus unilocularis.

No notes yet.

Log in or register to add your own notes.

Back to Herb Database