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Psorospermum febrifugum

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Psorospermum febrifugum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Hypericaceae
Genus: Psorospermum
Species:
P. febrifugum
Binomial name
Psorospermum febrifugum
Synonyms[2]
  • Haronga febrifuga (Spach) Steud.
  • Psorospermum ferrugineum Hook.f.
  • Hypericum afzelii Purdie ex Turcz.
  • Psorospermum afzelii Turcz.
  • Psorospermum tenuifolium Kotschy
  • Psorospermum niloticum Kotschy ex Schweinf.
  • Psorospermum febrifugum var. albidum Oliv.
  • Psorospermum febrifugum var. glabrum Oliv.
  • Psorospermum albidum (Oliv.) Engl.
  • Psorospermum salicifolium Engl.
  • Psorospermum campestre Engl.
  • Psorospermum stuhlmannii Engl.
  • Psorospermum stuhlmannii var. cuneifolium Engl.
  • Psorospermum febrifugum f. latifolium De Wild.
  • Psorospermum chariense A.Chev.
  • Vismia corymbosa A.Chev.
  • Psorospermum microphyllum A.Chev.
  • Psorospermum floribundum Hutch. & Dalziel
  • Psorospermum angustifolium Spirlet
  • Psorospermum baumannii Engl.
  • Psorospermum corymbosellum Spirlet
  • Psorospermum corymbosum Spirlet
  • Psorospermum discolor Spirlet
  • Psorospermum ellipticum Spirlet
  • Psorospermum febrifugum var. ferrugineum (Hook.f.) Keay & Milne-Redh.
  • Psorospermum gillardinii Spirlet
  • Psorospermum kaniamae Spirlet
  • Psorospermum kisantuense Spirlet
  • Psorospermum lanceolatum Spirlet
  • Psorospermum leopoldvilleanum Spirlet
  • Psorospermum macrophyllum Spirlet
  • Psorospermum magniflorum Spirlet
  • Psorospermum mahagiense Spirlet
  • Psorospermum mossoense Spirlet
  • Psorospermum nigrum Spirlet
  • Psorospermum orbiculare Spirlet
  • Psorospermum ovatum Spirlet
  • Psorospermum pauciflorum Spirlet
  • Psorospermum pectinatum Spirlet
  • Psorospermum pubescens Spirlet
  • Psorospermum rotundatifolium Spirlet
  • Psorospermum stanerianum Spirlet
  • Psorospermum uelense Spirlet
  • Psorospermum victoranum Spirlet

Psorospermum febrifugum is a species of flowering plant in the family Hypericaceae. It is found across tropical Africa in seasonally dry tropical biomes.[2] French botanist Édouard Spach described Psorospermum febrifugum in 1836.[2]

Description

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Inflorescence of Psorospermum febrifugum

Psorospermum febrifugum grows as a tree or shrub up to 2 meters tall. The leaves are directly attached to the stems or have a very short leaf stalk, and are opposite one another. The flowers are covered in fine hairs, with many flowers clustered together on the ends of branches. When the fruit matures, many bunches of dark red berries can be seen.[3]

A phytochemical assay of the species in 1980 isolated a new xanthone that was named psorospermin.[4] Later studies determined that P. febrifugum had a wide array of chemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, and tannins; the species also has higher quantities and densities of these chemicals than Harungana madagascariensis, another member of Hypericaceae with known medicinal qualities.[5]

Uses

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Psorospermum febrifugum has been used as a febrifuge, leprosy treatment, antidote, and purgative.[4] As an ethnomedicine in Tanzania and among the Baganda people of Uganda, is has also been used to treat epilepsy, pneumonia, and tuberculosis.[3] A 1972 study demonstrated that ethanol extracts of the plant exhibited activity in a laboratory setting against leukemia in mice and a human cell line.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Psorospermum febrifugum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T146208485A146208487. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T146208485A146208487.en. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Psorospermum febrifugum Spach". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b Ajao & Moteetee 2023, p. 2.
  4. ^ a b c Kupchan, Streelman & Sneden 1980, p. 296.
  5. ^ Ajao & Moteetee 2023, p. 3.

Bibliography

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