Philenoptera laxiflora

Philenoptera laxiflora, synonym Lonchocarpus laxiflorus, is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae.[1] The tree grows to 4–8 meters in height, has grey or yellowish bark and compound leaves. New leaves are accompanied by purple flowers on multi-branched panicles. The fruit is a glabrous papery pod, usually containing one seed. Ph. laxiflorus is widely distributed in West Africa, Central Africa, the African Great Lakes, and Northeast Africa. It is found in savanna woodlands and dry forested areas, particularly fringing forest near water courses.[2]

Philenoptera laxiflora
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Tribe: Millettieae
Genus: Philenoptera
Species:
P. laxiflora
Binomial name
Philenoptera laxiflora
(Guill. & Perr.) Roberty
Synonyms[1]
  • Dalbergia schimperiana Hochst. ex A.Rich.
  • Lonchocarpus laxiflorus Guill. & Perr.
  • Lonchocarpus philenoptera Benth.
  • Lonchocarpus sophiae Kotschy & Peyr.
  • Philenoptera heuglinii Pritz.
  • Philenoptera kotschyana Fenzl, nom. nud.

Human use

Ph. laxiflorus is used across its range for traditional medicine. These uses include:

Other uses of Ph. laxiflorus include applying a lotion with a decoction to the skin to treat venereal disease, constipation in children, skin diseases, sterility (insufficient semen).[2]

Chemistry and toxicology

Skeletal formula of lonchocarpane (R=OMe) or laxiflorane (R=H)

Ph. laxiflorus has been little studied, though many species in the related genus Lonchocarpus contain rotenoids, tannins, flavonoids, and isoflavonoids. One study extracted several new compounds from the bark: two isoflavanes (lonchocarpane and laxiflorane) and two pterocarpanes (philonopterane and 9-O-methyl derivative).[2]

Nothing specific is known about the toxicology of Ph. laxiflorus.[2]

References

  1. "Philenoptera laxiflora (Guill. & Perr.) Roberty". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  2. Hans Dieter Neuwinger. African ethnobotany: poisons and drugs : chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, CRC Press, 1996, ISBN 978-3-8261-0077-2, 682–683
  3. Behrend, Heike (1999). Alice Lakwena & the Holy Spirit: War in Northern Uganda 1986–97. Oxford: James Currey. ISBN 9970-02-197-4., 40-41
  4. Reference HO 08 in Prelude Medicinal Plants Database, for Okello J., P.Ssegawa. "Medicinal plants used by communities of Ngai Subcounty, Apac District, northern Uganda." African Journal of Ecology, Volume 45 (Suppl.1), pp. 76 – 83 (2007)
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