''Funtumia elastica'' (also known as the bush rubber tree or silkrubber) is a medium-sized African rubber tree with glossy leaves, milky sap, and long woody seedpods. The bark is used in the traditional medicine of tropical Africa. It is economically important in West African countries such as

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in Ghana–Ivory Coast border, the west, Burkina ...

, where it is commonly known as the ofruntum.

Chemical constituents

A variety of

chemical compound A chemical compound is a chemical substance composed of many identical molecules (or molecular entities) containing atoms from more than one chemical element held together by chemical bonds. A molecule consisting of atoms of only one ele ...

s have been identified in ''F. elastica''. Unprocessed ''F. elastica'' powder is distinctly blue due to its anthocyanin content. The steroidal alkaloid conessine, which is found in ''F. elastica'', has anti-bacterial properties ''

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 and ...

''.

Bioactivities

Crude extracts of ''F. elastica'' inhibit growth of many molds, including ''

Aspergillus ' () is a genus consisting of several hundred mold species found in various climates worldwide. ''Aspergillus'' was first catalogued in 1729 by the Italian priest and biologist Pier Antonio Micheli. Viewing the fungi under a microscope, Mic ...

'', ''

Penicillium ''Penicillium'' () is a genus of ascomycetous fungi that is part of the mycobiome of many species and is of major importance in the natural environment, in food spoilage, and in food and drug production. Some members of the genus produce ...

'', and '' Candida'', as well as the fungi that cause ringworm.Adekunle AA, Ikumapayi AM. Antifungal property and phytochemical screening of the crude extracts of Funtumia elastica and Mallotus oppositifolius. West Indian Med J. 2006 Sep;55(4):219-23.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3018415 Malouetieae Medicinal plants of Africa