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Anthocleista liebrechtsiana De Wild. & T.Durand

Protologue  
 Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belg. 38(2): 96 (1899).
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Family  
 Loganiaceae (APG: Gentianaceae)
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Chromosome number  
 2n = 60
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Synonyms  
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Vernacular names  
 Lesser forest fever tree (En).
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Origin and geographic distribution  
 Anthocleista liebrechtsiana occurs from Ghana east to the Central African Republic and south to Zambia and Namibia.
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Uses  
 In Congo a stem bark decoction of Anthocleista liebrechtsiana is taken to treat hernia and a root decoction is taken to treat stomach-ache in women, ovarian problems, venereal diseases, hernia, bronchitis and fever and also to induce labour and as a purgative. Sap of young leaves, root powder and bark pulp are used to treat sores, abscesses, as a haemostatic and for cicatrization. Sap is applied topically to treat otitis or ophthalmia.
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Properties  
 Anthocleista liebrechtsiana contains the secoiridoid glycoside swertiamarin (swertiamaroside), a compound used in Asian medicine. Patent applications have been submitted for its use in hair-growth products and hepatitis medicines.
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Botany  
 Few-stemmed shrub or small tree up to 12 m tall; bole up to 30 cm in diameter; twigs without spines. Leaves opposite, simple and entire; petiole 1–9 cm long, auricled; blade very narrowly obovate to linear, 15–40 cm × 3–8 cm, in young plants up to 75 cm × 15 cm, base long-decurrent into the petiole, apex rounded. Inflorescence an erect terminal dichasial cyme 10–35 cm long, many-flowered. Flowers bisexual, regular; sepals 4, free, broadly ovate or orbicular, 4–8 mm long; corolla with narrowly cylindrical tube 22–34 mm long, contracted at base, greenish white, lobes 10–12, oblong-lanceolate, 10–18 mm long, apex obtuse, spreading, white; stamens as many as corolla lobes and alternating with them, exserted, filaments fused; ovary superior, obovoid, 5–7 mm × 3–4 mm, stigma obovoid-cylindrical, notched at apex. Fruit a globose to ovoid berry 1.5–2.5 cm × 1–2 cm, rounded at apex, thin-walled, green or pale yellow, many-seeded. Seeds obliquely ovoid, 1.5–2.5 mm × 1–1.5 mm, brown.
Anthocleista comprises 14 species and occurs in tropical Africa, including Comoros and Madagascar.
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Ecology  
 Anthocleista liebrechtsiana occurs in open localities in swamps and periodically inundated forests from sea-level up to 400 m altitude.
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Genetic resources and breeding  
 Anthocleista liebrechtsiana is widespread and not under pressure from genetic erosion, although it is uncommon in West Africa.
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Prospects  
 In view of the medicinal uses on record, the limited chemical and pharmacological data available and the many medicinal uses of other Anthocleista species, research into the properties of Anthocleista liebrechtsiana is recommended.
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Major references  
 • Burkill, H.M., 1995. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 3, Families J–L. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 857 pp.
• Jensen, S.R. & Schripsema, J., 2002. Chemotaxonomy and pharmacology of Gentianaceae. In: Struwe, L. & Albert, V. (Editors). Gentianaceae - Systematics and Natural History. Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom. pp. 573–631.
• Leeuwenberg, A.J.M., 1961. The Loganiaceae of Africa. 1. Anthocleista. Acta Botanica Neerlandica 10: 1–53.
• Leeuwenberg, A.J.M., 1983. Loganiaceae. In: Launert, E. (Editor). Flora Zambesiaca. Volume 7, part 1. Flora Zambesiaca Managing Committee, London, United Kingdom. pp. 327–374.
• Neuwinger, H.D., 2000. African traditional medicine: a dictionary of plant use and applications. Medpharm Scientific, Stuttgart, Germany. 589 pp.
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Other references  
 • Bouquet, A., 1969. Féticheurs et médecines traditionnelles du Congo (Brazzaville). Mémoires ORSTOM No 36. Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique Outre-Mer. Paris, France. 282 pp.
• Kanemura, K., 2006. [Hair growth stimulants comprising natural products.] In Japanese. Japan Kokai Tokkyo Koho. 3 pp.
• Keay, R.W.J., 1989. Trees of Nigeria. A revised version of Nigerian trees (1960, 1964) by R.W.J. Keay, C.F.A. Onochie and D.P. Stanfield. Clarendon Press, Oxford, United Kingdom. 476 pp.
• Leeuwenberg, A.J.M. (Editor), 1980. Angiospermae: Ordnung Gentiales. Fam. Loganiaceae. Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien. Second Edition. Band 28 b-1. Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, Germany. 255 pp.
• Tchouto, M.G.P., 2004. Plant diversity in a Central African rain forest: implications for biodiversity conservation in Cameroon. Tropenbos Cameroon Series 7, Tropenbos International, Wageningen, Netherlands. 208 pp.
• Zhang, L.-L., 2005. [Method for manufacturing swertiamarin soft capsule for treating hepatitis.] In Chinese. Faming Zhuanli Shenqing Gongkai Shuomingshu. 8 pp.
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Author(s)  
 
• A. de Ruijter
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands


Editors  
 
• G.H. Schmelzer
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
• A. Gurib-Fakim
Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius
Associate editors  
 
• C.H. Bosch
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
• M.S.J. Simmonds
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, United Kingdom
• R. Arroo
Leicester School of Pharmacy, Natural Products Research, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, United Kingdom
• A. de Ruijter
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
General editors  
 
• R.H.M.J. Lemmens
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
• L.P.A. Oyen
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
Photo editor  
 
• A. de Ruijter
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
Correct citation of this article  
 de Ruijter, A., 2007. Anthocleista liebrechtsiana De Wild. & T.Durand. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>. Accessed .



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General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Forage/feed use
Carbohydrate/starch use
Medicinal use



Anthocleista liebrechtsiana
inflorescence

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