Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv.
Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. TREE
Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. FLOWER
Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. FRUIT
| Botanical Name | Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Bignoniaceae |
| Genus: | Spathodea |
| Species: | S. campanulata |
| Common Names: | English: African tulip tree, Flame tree, Fountain tree, Uganda flame, Nile flame, Nandi flame French: Tulipier d'Africain, Arbre flamme, Baton de sorcier |
Plant Synonyms
Spathodea tulipifera (Thorn.) G. Don.
S. danckelmaniana Buttn
S. nilotica Seeman
Bignonia tulipifera Thom.
Plant Local Names
Burkina Faso: Fulfuide - Djapelede;kafavano
Ghana: Akan – Akuakuoninsuo
Nigeria: Bokyi – Kenshie
Senegal: Balanta - Blalo
Togo: Ewe - Adatsigo, Fon - Dudu, Ouatchi - Adassigolo
Plant Habitat
Spathodea campanulata is a medium-sized, spontaneous plant that grows commonly in several African countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Gabon, Carrjeroon, Guinea, Angola, Congo, Sudan, Uganda and Senegal. It occurs in deciduous forests, woodlands and savanna forest edges and commonly grown as a street tree (Ofori-Kwakyetef a/., 2009).
Plant Material of Interest
Stem bark Leaf
Plant Description
Dioecious tree reaching about 35 m tall; often in the form of bush savanna, shallow-rooted; fluted, measuring about 60 cm in diameter, bark grey, pale brown and smooth, becoming dark grey with age, rough and scaly at the base of the barrel; leaves opposite or in whorls of 3, odd-pinnate, stipules absent; inflorescence in terminal raceme, bisexual flowers; fruit narrowly ellipsoid, measuring from 15 to 27 cm long, dehiscent by 2 valves.
Plant Used Parts
Plant Uses
Various parts of S. campanulata are used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including dysentery, gastritis, ulcers, .pelvic pain in women, headache, oedema, dermatitis, guinea worm. The stem bark is applied as a paste to treat wounds (Mensah et al., 2003). The macerated leaf is used against urethritis and as an antidote for poison. The bark decoction is used for kidney problems, swelling and skin complaints (Irvin, 1961) and the stem bark is used as an enema in diabetes (Niyonzima, 1997). The macerated bark of the trunk is a remedy for infectious diseases including sexually transmitted infections (Magassouba et al., 2007). In Ghana, the plant is used for the treatment of dyspepsia, peptic ulcer, arthritis, fracture, toothache, stomach ache and stomach ulcer (Agbovie et al., 2002).
Plant Therapeutic Action
Anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV (Niyonzima et al., 1999), antidiabetes (Niyonzima, 1997), anti¬malarial (Makinde et al., 1988), vulnerary, antioxidant and antimicrobial (Ofori-Kwakye et al, 2009; Mensah et al., 2003; 2006).
Plant Precaution for Use
No special precautions required within the recommended dose of the aqueous extract.
Plant Adverse Effect
No adverse effects reported
Plant Contraindication
Pregnancy and lactation
Plant Dosage Forms
Infusions; decoction; tincture
Plant Dosage
Infusion: about 25 g per day
Tincture: 1:5, 90% alcohol 0.3-1.2 ml, max 25 ml per week
Plant Storage
Store in a cool dry place
Plant Chromatographic Fingerprint
Analytical TLC on silica gel G60 F254, 0.25 mm layer in petroleum ether (40-60 °C)/chloroform [2:8], detection in daylight, after spraying with anisaldehyde (0.5 ml) mixed with 10 ml glacial acetic acid, 85 ml methanol and 5 ml concentrated sulphuric acid and heated to 100- 110°C for 5-10 min. Presence of six characteristic spots with R,s 0.66 (pink), 0.52 (pink), 0.47 (pink), 0.32 (blue), 0.25 (blue) and 0.13 (blue).
Plant Constituents
Ferulic acid, vanillic acid; verminoside (6-0- caffeoyl-catalpol: iridoid glycoside), atranorin, stachyose(0-a-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-6)-0-a-D- galactopyranosyl-(1-6)-0-a-D-glucopyranosyl-(1- 2)-p-D-fructofuranoside; spathoside, (new cerebroside), spathodea acid; triterpenes: 3(3,19a,24-trihydroxyolean -12-ene-28-oic acid), oleanolic acid, 3p-acetoxy-oleanolic acid, p- sitosterol-3-O-p-d-glucopyranoside; quercetin, caffeic acid; siaresinolique acid, 3p-acetoxy- oleanolic acid, p-sitosterol-3-O-p-d- glucopyranoside, p-sitosterol, spathodol (sterol hydroxylated); cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside,
pelargonidin-3-O-rutinoside; pomolic acid, p- hydroxybenzoic acid esters and phenylethanol; octacosanol and triacontanol (Gorman et al., 2004; Niyonzima, 1997; Mbosso et al., 2008; Silvere etal., 1990).
Plant Pictures
Plant References
Agbovie, T., Amponsah, K., Crentsil, O.R., Dennis, F., Odamtten, G.T. et al. (2002). Conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants in Ghana - Ethnobotanical Survey.
Agyare, C., Asase, A., Lechtenberg, M., Niehues, M., Deters, A., Hensel, A. (2009). An ethnopharmacological survey and in vitro confirmation of ethnopharmacological use of medicinal plants used for wound healing in Bosomtwi-Atwima-Kwanwoma area, Ghana. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 125(3):393-403.
Akoegninou, A., van der Burg, W.J., van der Maesen, L.J.G. (2006). Flore Analytique du Benin. Backhuys Publishhers, p. 428.
Amusan, O.O.G., Bhembe, F.N., Mkhatshwa, F.T., Thwala, E.Z. (1994). Antibacterial activity of Annona senegalensisi, Andrache ovalis and Spathodea campanulata against Pseudomonas solsnecearum. UNISWA Journal of Agriculture 3:62-66.
Gorman, R., Schreiber, L., Kolodziej, H. (2004). Cuticular wax profiles of leaves of some traditionally used African Bignoniaceae. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung: C. 59(9-10):631- 635.
Irvin, F.R. (1961). in Wood plants of Ghana ; London : Oxford University Press, pp739-740. Lisowski, S. (2009). Flore (Angiospermes) de la Republique de Guinee ; premiere partie (texte). Scripta Botanica Belgica, 41, 517.
Magassouba, F.B., Diallo A., M. Kouyate, F. Mara, O. et al. (2007). Ethnobotanical survey and antibacterial activity of some plants used in Guinean traditional medicine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 114(1 ):44-53.
Makinde, J.M., Amusan, O.O., Adesogan, E.K. (1988). The antimalarial activity at Spathodea campanulata stem bark extract on Plasmodium berghei berghei in mice. Planta Medica 54(2):122-125.