Warburgia salutaris
| Warburgia salutaris | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Canellales |
| Family: | Canellaceae |
| Genus: | Warburgia |
| Species: | W. salutaris |
| Binomial name | |
| Warburgia salutaris | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Warburgia salutaris (pepper-bark tree, Afrikaans: Peperbasboom, Sotho: Molaka, Venda: Mulanga, Zulu: Isibaha)[3] is a species of tree in the family Canellaceae. It is native to southwestern Africa, including Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and KwaZulu-Natal the Northern Provinces of South Africa.[2] It is threatened by habitat loss. It is a popular medicinal plant and is overharvested in the wild, another reason for its endangerment.[4] The Pepper-bark tree is a protected tree in South Africa.[3] Various projects are investigating methods of propagation under controlled conditions with subsequent planting in the wild.[5]
This is an erect tree growing up to about ten metres in maximum height, but known to reach 20 metres at times. It has a thick canopy of aromatic, shiny green leaves. The evergreen leaf blades are lance-shaped, measuring up to 11 cm long by 3 wide. The flowers have ten yellow-green petals. They are each just under a centimeter long and are solitary or borne in small clusters of up to 3. The fruit is a berry, leathery purple or black in color when ripe, measuring up to 4 cm wide.
The leaves are used to add peppery flavoring to food and tea.[5] The bitter taste of the tree's bark and leaves is due to the presence of iridoids. The aromatic, oily, yellowish wood is used for firewood.[5]
Traditional medicine
[edit]This plant is used medicinally by the Maasai people to treat malaria.[6] It is used as a snuff or smoked for respiratory complaints such as common cold and cough.[5] The bark can be purchased at markets in Tanzania,[7] and elsewhere.[8] Moreover, "Dried bark is chewed and the juice swallowed, thus acting as remedy for stomach-ache, constipation, coughs, fever, toothache, muscle pains, weak joints, and general body pains."[9]
Recent studies
[edit]Recent studies done at the University of Johannesburg have shown that a compound extract from the bark of Warburgia salutaris, called Iso-Mukaadial Acetate, is a potential new antidiabetic agent.[10][11]
Gallery
[edit]
habit
foliage
flowering branch
cross-section of wood and bark
References
[edit]- ↑ Harvey-Brown, Y. (2023). "Warburgia salutaris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023 e.T30364A146814256. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T30364A146814256.en. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Warburgia salutaris (G.Bertol.) Chiov". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Protected Trees" (PDF). Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Republic of South Africa. 3 May 2013.
- ↑ "Warburgia salutaris | PlantZAfrica.com". www.plantzafrica.com. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- 1 2 3 4 5 W. salutaris. World Agroforestry.
- ↑ Bussmann, RW; Gilbreath, GG; Solio, J; Lutura, M; Lutuluo, R; Kunguru, K; Wood, N; Mathenge, SG (2006). "Plant use of the Maasai of Sekenani Valley, Maasai Mara, Kenya". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2 22. doi:10.1186/1746-4269-2-22. PMC 1475560. PMID 16674830.
- ↑ "Indigenous multipurpose trees of Tanzania: Uses and economic benefits for people - WARBURGIA SALUTARIS". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2017-07-18.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ Botha, J.; Witkowski, E.T.F.; Shackleton, C.M. (2004). "The impact of commercial harvesting on Warburgia salutaris ('pepper-bark tree') in Mpumalanga, South Africa". Biodiversity and Conservation. 13 (9): 1675. Bibcode:2004BiCon..13.1675B. doi:10.1023/B:BIOC.0000029333.72945.b0. S2CID 33016408..
- ↑ Kokwaro, J. O. (1993). Medicinal plants of East Africa (2nd ed.). Nairobi: Kenya Literature Bureau. ISBN 978-9966-44-190-4. OCLC 32406949.
- ↑ Msomi, N; Shode, F.O.; et al. (2019). "Iso-Mukaadial Acetate from Warburgia salutaris Enhances Glucose Uptake in the L6 Rat Myoblast Cell Line". Biomolecules. 9 (10). PubMed Central: 520. doi:10.3390/biom9100520. PMC 6843169. PMID 31546691.
- ↑ Van Wyk, Therese (14 May 2026). "Traditional African medicine tree demonstrates complementary effects in blood sugar control". uj.ac.za. Retrieved 25 May 2026.