Psorospermum febrifugum is a species of flowering plant in the family Hypericaceae. It is found across tropical Africa in seasonally dry tropical biomes.[1] French botanist Édouard Spach described Psorospermum febrifugum in 1836.[1]
| Psorospermum febrifugum | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Hypericaceae |
| Genus: | Psorospermum |
| Species: | P. febrifugum
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| Binomial name | |
| Psorospermum febrifugum | |
Description
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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.[2]
A phytochemical assay of the species in 1980 isolated a new xanthone that was named psorospermin.[3] 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.[4]
Uses
editPsorospermum febrifugum has been used as a febrifuge, leprosy treatment, antidote, and purgative.[3] As an ethnomedicine in Tanzania and among the Baganda people of Uganda, is has also been used to treat epilepsy, pneumonia, and tuberculosis.[2] 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.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b "Psorospermum febrifugum Spach". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ a b Ajao & Moteetee 2023, p. 2.
- ^ a b c Kupchan, Streelman & Sneden 1980, p. 296.
- ^ Ajao & Moteetee 2023, p. 3.
Bibliography
edit- Ajao, Abdulwakeel; Moteetee, Annah (2023). "Psorospermum febrifugum Spach (Hypericaceae): Ethnomedicine, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activity of an underexplored plant". Scientific African. 22 – via Elsevier.
- Kupchan, S. M.; Streelman, D. R.; Sneden, A. T. (1980). "Psorospermin, a new antileukemic xanthone from Psorospermum febrifugum". Journal of Natural Products. 43 (2): 296–301. doi:10.1021/np50008a010. ISSN 0163-3864. PMID 7189773.