Macaranga monandra

Family

Euphorbiaceae

Synonyms

Vernacular names

Origin and geographic distribution

Macaranga monandra occurs from southern Nigeria east to Uganda and south to Tanzania and Angola.

show more data (10)

Uses

In Gabon a decoction of the stem bark is taken as a galactagogue. In Congo the decoction, together with the bark of Pentaclethra eetveldeana De Wild. & T.Durand, is taken by women to treat sterility. A bark decoction is drunk to treat dyspnoea. A large amount of bark decoction is drunk in case of threatened abortion. A twig bark decoction is taken to treat intercostal neuralgia.
In DR Congo Macaranga monandra is considered a good food plant for different species of edible caterpillars. The wood is considered a good firewood.

show more data (1)

Properties

Hexane and ethyl acetate fractions of the methanol extract of the stem bark showed growth inhibition of different plant fungi: Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum fragariae, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis cinerea, Phomopsis obscurans and Phomopsis viticola. Two active clerodane-type diterpenes were isolated: kolavenic acid and 2-oxo-kolavenic acid. These 2 compounds showed moderate growth inhibition of Phomopsis viticola and Botrytis cinerea. Isolated from other plants, these compounds also showed cytotoxic and antibacterial activities.

Botany

Dioecious, much-branched medium-sized tree up to 25 m tall, with bushy crown, usually with a spiny bole; spines sparse, up to 7.5 cm long, blunt; young shoots, petioles and inflorescences densely hairy. Leaves alternate, simple; stipules linear-lanceolate, 5–7 mm long, soon falling; petiole 4–10 cm long; blade ovate, oblong-ovate to elliptical-oblong, (5–)11–16(–20) cm × (3–)6–10(–12) cm, base rounded, cuneate or truncate to shallowly cordate with 2 basal glands, apex acuminate, margins coarsely toothed, softly hairy above, later glabrescent, densely and minutely yellowish glandular-punctate and shortly hairy on the main veins beneath. Male inflorescence an axillary, many-flowered panicle 3–9 cm long, bracts up to 1 cm long; female inflorescence an axillary, few-flowered raceme (2–)3–5.5 cm long, bracts up to 1 cm long. Flowers unisexual, petals absent, disk absent; male flowers almost sessile, calyx lobes 3, broadly ovate, c. 0.5 mm long, pale greenish brown to brownish white, stamens usually 2, fused at base, minute; female flowers with pedicel up to 1 mm long, extending to 1–2 cm in fruit, calyx cup-shaped, c. 1 mm long, splitting into 3 lobes, ovary superior, 1.5–2 mm long, densely yellowish glandular, 2-celled, stigma sessile, recurved, c. 1 mm long. Fruit a transversely ovoid drupe 6–7 mm × 8–9 mm, densely yellowish glandular, becoming blackish when ripe, sometimes late dehiscent, stigma persistent, 1-seeded. Seed almost globose, 5–6 mm long, rough, dull, brownish to blackish.
Macaranga comprises about 280 species, of which about 30 are native to tropical continental Africa and about 15 to Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands. Several other Macaranga species occurring in Central Africa are medicinally used. In Congo, leaf sap of Macaranga angolensis (Müll.Arg.) Müll.Arg. is rubbed on painful spots, sores and wounds, or a vapour bath with the leaf decoction is taken to treat bronchitis. In Gabon a bark infusion is drunk to treat hypermenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea. In DR Congo a stem bark decoction of Macaranga saccifera Pax together with salt is taken to treat headache. The large leaves are used to wrap seeds and tobacco for storage purposes.

Description

Ecology

Macaranga monandra occurs in secondary forest and is common in riverine, lakeside and swamp-edge forest, from sea-level up to 1500 m altitude. It is a fast-growing, light-demanding pioneer species of forest gaps.

show more data (7)

Management

Macaranga monandra can be grown from seeds and cuttings. It is the main competitor of Aucoumea klaineana Pierre in forest gaps as it grows slightly faster.

Genetic resources and breeding

Macaranga monandra is relatively widespread and a fast-growing pioneer species of forest gaps. It is therefore not threatened by genetic erosion.

Prospects

The stem bark of Macaranga monandra has several gynaecological applications. Kolavenic acid and 2-oxo-kolavenic acid, isolated from the stem bark, show antifungal activity against plant fungi. However, nothing is known about the pharmacological activity of Macaranga monandra against human pathogens.

Major references

• Burkill, H.M., 1994. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 2, Families E–I. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 636 pp.
• Neuwinger, H.D., 2000. African traditional medicine: a dictionary of plant use and applications. Medpharm Scientific, Stuttgart, Germany. 589 pp.
• Radcliffe-Smith, A., 1987. Euphorbiaceae (part 1). In: Polhill, R.M. (Editor). Flora of Tropical East Africa. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands. 407 pp.
• Salah, M.A., Bedir, E., Toyang, N.J., Khan, I.A., Harries, M.D. & Wedge, D.E., 2003. Antifungal clerodane diterpenes from Macaranga monandra (L.) Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 51(26): 7607–7610.

show more data (4)

Other references

• Bourobou Bourobou, H., Mounzeo, H., Mbatchi, B. & Posso, P., 1996. Quelques plantes galactogènes utilisées par les Bapunu au Gabon. Revue de Médecines et Pharmacopées africaines 10(1): 71–78.
• Doucet, J.L., Otimbo, P.A.N. & Boubady, A.G., 2004. Comment assister la régénération naturelle de l’okoumé dans les concessions forestières? Bois et Forêts des Tropiques 279: 59–72.
• Latham, P., 2004. Useful plants of Bas-Congo province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. DFID, London, United Kingdom. 320 pp.
• Terashima, H. & Ichikawa, M., 2003. A comparative ethnobotany of the Mbuti and Efe hunter-gatherers in the Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of Congo. African Study Monographs 24(1–2): 1–168.

Afriref references

Author(s)

•	G.H. Schmelzer 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

Schmelzer, G.H., 2007. Macaranga monandra Müll.Arg. [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 .

Additional references

Citation in books
	There are 56 book citations related to *Macaranga monandra Müll.Arg.*. Click on "show more" to view them.

Citation in web searches
	There are 100 citation in web searches related to *Macaranga monandra Müll.Arg.*. Click on "show more" to view them.

Citation in scholarly articles
	There are 37 citation in scholarly articles related to *Macaranga monandra Müll.Arg.*. Click on "show more" to view them.

Citation in news articles
	There are 1 news article citations related to *Macaranga monandra Müll.Arg.*. Click on "show more" to view them.

Citation in Afrirefs
	There are 6 citations in Afrirefs related to *Macaranga monandra Müll.Arg.*. Click on "show more" to view them.