''Pleiocarpa mutica'' is a plant in the family

Apocynaceae Apocynaceae (from ''Apocynum'', Greek for "dog-away") is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, stem succulents, and vines, commonly known as the dogbane family, because some taxa were used as dog poison Members of the ...

Description

''Pleiocarpa mutica'' grows as a shrub or small tree up to tall, with a stem diameter of up to . Its fragrant flowers feature a white

corolla Corolla may refer to: *Corolla (botany), the petals of a flower, considered as a unit *Toyota Corolla, an automobile model name * Corolla (headgear), an ancient headdress in the form of a circlet or crown * ''Corolla'' (gastropod), a genus of moll ...

. The fruit is yellow to bright orange with paired follicles, each up to long. Local medicinal uses include as a treatment for stomach-ache, kidney diseases,

malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...

jaundice Jaundice, also known as icterus, is a yellowish or greenish pigmentation of the skin and sclera due to high bilirubin levels. Jaundice in adults is typically a sign indicating the presence of underlying diseases involving abnormal heme meta ...

and as a laxative.

Distribution and habitat

''Pleiocarpa mutica'' is native to an area of tropical Africa from Sierra Leone east to the Central African Republic. The species is found in a variety of habitats from sea-level to altitude.

Phytochemistry

The

alkaloid 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 ...

kopsinine, which has ''

in vitro ''In vitro'' (meaning in glass, or ''in the glass'') studies are performed with microorganisms, cells, or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called "test-tube experiments", these studies in biology an ...

'' anticholinergic activity, has been isolated from ''Pleiocarpa mutica''.

References

mutica Flora of Africa Plants used in traditional African medicine Plants described in 1876 {{Apocynaceae-stub