''Margaritaria discoidea'' is a tree in the family

Phyllanthaceae Phyllanthaceae is a family of flowering plants in the eudicot order Malpighiales. It is most closely related to the family Picrodendraceae.Kenneth J. Wurdack and Charles C. Davis. 2009. "Malpighiales phylogenetics: Gaining ground on one of the ...

, commonly known as the pheasant-berry, egossa red pear or bushveld peacock-berry. These trees are native to the warmer, higher rainfall areas of

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

Taxonomy

This species has a complex taxonomic history with many synonyms (see taxobox); partially because of its morphological variability. These trees were formerly placed in the genus ''

Phyllanthus ''Phyllanthus'' is the largest genus in the plant family Phyllanthaceae. Estimates of the number of species in this genus vary widely, from 750David J. Mabberley. 2008. ''Mabberley's Plant-Book.'' third edition (2008). Cambridge University P ...

'' and in the family

Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, is a large family of flowering plants. In English, they are also commonly called euphorbias, which is also the name of a genus in the family. Most spurges, such as ''Euphorbia paralias'', are herbs, but some, e ...

. 4 varieties are now recognized (1981), these having in the past been treated variously as distinct species, subspecies or synonymous with typical ''M. discoidea''. In

KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...

, South Africa, there are 3 varieties: * ''M. discoidea'' var. ''discoidea'' * ''M. discoidea'' var. ''fagifolia'' * ''M. discoidea'' var. ''nitida''

Distribution

This species is distributed from the coastal areas of the

Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

, to

tropical Africa Although tropical Africa is mostly familiar to the West for its rainforests, this biogeographic realm of Africa is far more diverse. While the tropics are thought of as regions with hot moist climates, which are caused by latitude and the tropi ...

, as far as

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 � ...

in West Africa.

Description

A medium to tall tree in forest and riverine situations, where it can grow up to 30 m tall, or a shrub or small tree in dryer and more open situations. The stem is usually straight with rough, flaking bark which is grayish-brown on top and reddish beneath. The branches of young trees grow horizontally from the stem. The leaves are alternate and produced on one plane. Male and female flowers are produced on separate trees, with both types of flowers being small, greenish-yellow in colour, and fragrant. The fruit is a three-lobed capsule about 10 mm in diameter and golden-brown when ripe. The inner part of the fruit is dark metallic blue-green; giving rise to the name bushveld

peacock Peafowl is a common name for three bird species in the genera ''Pavo (genus), Pavo'' and ''Afropavo'' within the tribe Pavonini of the family Phasianidae, the pheasants and their allies. Male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, and female pea ...

-berry.

Medicinal use

Scientific investigation

These trees contain many

alkaloids Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar st ...

including phyllochrysine (a

central nervous system The central nervous system (CNS) is the part of the nervous system consisting primarily of the brain and spinal cord. The CNS is so named because the brain integrates the received information and coordinates and influences the activity of all par ...

stimulant) and

securinine Securinine is an alkaloid found in ''Securinega suffruticosa'' and ''Phyllanthus niruri''. Pharmacology Securinine has pro-convulsant effects and it has a strong Spasticity, spastic effect, similar to the actions of strychnine. Securinine is ...

. Oral administration of an aqueous extract at various concentrations showed no

acute toxicity Acute toxicity describes the adverse effects of a substance that result either from a single exposure or from multiple exposures in a short period of time (usually less than 24 hours). To be described as ''acute'' toxicity, the adverse effect ...

in rats and no adverse change in behavior; suggesting that it may be safe for

pharmacological Pharmacology is a branch of medicine, biology and pharmaceutical sciences concerned with drug or medication action, where a drug may be defined as any artificial, natural, or endogenous (from within the body) molecule which exerts a biochemica ...

uses. The aqueous extract of ''M. discoidea'' stem bark was investigated for its

anti-inflammatory Anti-inflammatory is the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation or swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs, also called anti-inflammatories, make up about half of analgesics. These drugs remedy pain by reducing inflammation as o ...

and

analgesic An analgesic drug, also called simply an analgesic (American English), analgaesic (British English), pain reliever, or painkiller, is any member of the group of drugs used to achieve relief from pain (that is, analgesia or pain management). It ...

activities in animal models (rats): The extract reduced significantly the formation of

oedema Edema, also spelled oedema, and also known as fluid retention, dropsy, hydropsy and swelling, is the build-up of fluid in the body's tissue. Most commonly, the legs or arms are affected. Symptoms may include skin which feels tight, the area ma ...

induced by

carrageenan Carrageenans or carrageenins ( ; ) are a family of natural linear sulfated polysaccharides that are extracted from red edible seaweeds. Carrageenans are widely used in the food industry, for their gelling, thickening, and stabilizing properties. T ...

and

histamine Histamine is an organic nitrogenous compound involved in local immune responses, as well as regulating physiological functions in the gut and acting as a neurotransmitter for the brain, spinal cord, and uterus. Since histamine was discovered in ...

, and had a good analgesic effect, with the results comparable to those of

indomethacin Indometacin, also known as indomethacin, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used as a prescription drug, prescription medication to reduce fever, pain, joint stiffness, stiffness, and swelling (medical), swelling from infl ...

, the reference drug used in the study.

In traditional medicine

These trees are used in traditional medicine across Africa: A leaf-decoction is taken in

Ivory Coast Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital is Yamoussoukro, in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is ...

for

blennorrhoea Blennorrhoea aka blennorrhagia or myxorrhoea ('blenno' mucus, 'rrhoea' flow), is a medical term denoting an excessive discharge of watery mucus, especially from the urethra or the vagina, and also used in ophthalmology for an abnormal discharge fro ...

and for poisoning,Adjanohoun & Aké Assi, 1972 while in Ubangi a

decoction Decoction is a method of extraction by boiling herbal or plant material (which may include stems, roots, bark and rhizomes) to dissolve the chemicals of the material. It is the most common preparation method in various herbal-medicine systems. De ...

of roots and leafy twigs is also used for blennorrhoea A wash of the decoction is a stimulant in case of general fatigue. The bark is used as a

purgative Laxatives, purgatives, or aperients are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation. Laxatives vary as to how they work and the side effects they may have. Certain stimulant, lubri ...

in West Africa and

anthelmintic Anthelmintics or antihelminthics are a group of antiparasitic drugs that expel parasitic worms (helminths) and other internal parasites from the body by either stunning or killing them and without causing significant damage to the host. They may a ...

in Central Africa. The

Fula people The Fula, Fulani, or Fulɓe people ( ff, Fulɓe, ; french: Peul, links=no; ha, Fulani or Hilani; pt, Fula, links=no; wo, Pël; bm, Fulaw) are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Sahel and West Africa, widely dispersed across the region. ...

use the bark for toothache, in the

Central African Republic The Central African Republic (CAR; ; , RCA; , or , ) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the southeast, the DR Congo to the south, the Republic of th ...

a decoction is used for

post-partum The postpartum (or postnatal) period begins after childbirth and is typically considered to end within 6 weeks as the mother's body, including hormone levels and uterus size, returns to a non-pregnant state. The terms puerperium, puerperal perio ...

pains, and in the

Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Republíki ya Kongó), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply either Congo or the Congo, is a country located in the western coast of Central Africa to the w ...

for stomach and kidney complaints and to facilitate

parturition Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring, also referred to in technical contexts as parturition. In mammals, the process is initiated by hormones which cause the muscular walls of the uterus to contract, expelling the f ...

. In Malawi the powdered bark extract is applied to swellings and inflammation for quick relief.

Other uses

As fodder

The dried leaves can be used as a

food supplement A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement one's diet by taking a pill, capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients either extracted from food sources or that are synthetic in order ...

for sheep.

Forestry and timber

The wood is hard and durable and the trees are fast growing from seed, suggesting that this species may be suitable for

agroforestry Agroforestry is a land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland. Trees produce a wide range of useful and marketable products from fruits/nuts, medicines, wood products, etc. This intentional ...

. The sap-wood is yellowish, and the

heartwood Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin tha ...

is pinkish-white to brownish-red, hard, heavy, of medium texture, not difficult to work and is suitable for cabinetry; finishing smoothly and taking a fine polish. The wood can be sawn into planks and used for ordinary building purposes. These trees have been planted in mixed plantations, with a suggestion that they may have a rotation time of 40 to 60 years.

As an
acaricide Acaricides are pesticides that kill members of the arachnid subclass ''Acari'', which includes ticks and mites. Acaricides are used both in medicine and agriculture, although the desired selective toxicity differs between the two fields. Termino ...

Extracts from this plant can be used to kill ticks, including ''

Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ''Rhipicephalus appendiculatus'', the brown ear tick, is a hard tick found in Africa where it spreads the parasite ''Theileria parva'', the cause of East Coast fever East Coast fever, also known as theileriosis, is a disease of cattle which o ...

'' and ''

Amblyomma variegatum ''Amblyomma variegatum'', commonly known as the tropical bont tick, is a species of tick of the genus ''Amblyomma'' endemic to Africa. It has spread from its centre of origin to several countries, including the Caribbean islands, where it is kno ...

'', and an application of a 50% concentrated oil extract on rabbit ears caused a complete inhibition of attachment by adult ''R. appendiculatus'' and ''A. variegatum'' for at least 4 days. When applied on ticks on

cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult mal ...

in the field, the 50% oil extract induced 100% and 50% mortalities in adult ''R. appendiculatus'' and ''A. variegatum'', respectively, by 2 days post-application.

Ecological significance

The leaves are eaten by the larvae of the scarce forest emperor butterfly ('' Charaxes etesipe tavetensis''). The flowers are much visited by bees and other insects. The seeds are a relished food of

guineafowl Guineafowl (; sometimes called "pet speckled hens" or "original fowl") are birds of the family Numididae in the order Galliformes. They are endemic to Africa and rank among the oldest of the gallinaceous birds. Phylogenetically, they branched o ...

and

francolin Francolins are birds in the tribe Gallini that traditionally have been placed in the genus ''Francolinus'', but now commonly are divided into multiple genera. As previously defined, they were paraphyletic as the genus ''Pternistis'', which was ...

. Seed in Kenya have attracted

bushbuck The Cape bushbuck (''Tragelaphus sylvaticus'') is a common and a widespread species of antelope in sub-Saharan Africa.Wronski T, Moodley Y. (2009)Bushbuck, harnessed antelope or both? ''Gnusletter'', 28(1):18-19. Bushbuck are found in a wide ra ...

. ''M. discoidea'' is also eaten by

red duiker The red forest duiker, Natal duiker, or Natal red duiker (''Cephalophus natalensis'') is a small antelope found in central to southern Africa. It is one of 22 extant species form the subfamily Cephalophinae. While the red forest duiker is very s ...

.Van Eeden, D.G. 2006.

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q6760183 Phyllanthaceae Plants used in traditional African medicine Flora of Africa Taxa named by Henri Ernest Baillon Taxa named by Grady Webster