| Manilkara obovata | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Sapotaceae |
| Genus: | Manilkara |
| Species: | M. obovata |
| Binomial name | |
| Manilkara obovata (Sabine & G.Don) J.H.Hemsl. | |
Manilkara obovata is small to large sized evergreen tree within the Sapotaceae family. Its timber is sold under the name Nkunya in Uganda. The species has a wide distribution from Sierra Leone in West Africa moving east to Uganda in Eastern Africa and southwards to Zambia. It is also considered a variable species having different ecotypes.
Taxonomy
Manilkara obovata is a wide spread and variable species that occurs in West and Central Africa. Chrysoplyllum obovatum, now a synonym of the species showed similarities both in flower appearance and its leaf blade outline and leaf surface with those of Manilkara lacera, both are considered to be part of Manilkara obovata complex of species, though they tend to be smaller and commonly found around rocky rapids and mountains.
Description
A scaly brown barked tree that can grow up to 40 meters tall; tall and mature trees have narrow buttressed roots up to 2 meters, the trunk is straight and up to 25 meters branchless; slash is fibrous, pale-pink with whitish exudate. Leaves, simple, alternate arrangement and tufted at the ends of branches, the stipules are small, grows up to 1.5 mm long; Leaf-blade is narrowly elliptical to obovate in outline, 5-16 cm long and 2-8 cm wide, it has a coriaceous surface that is greyish to green in color and densely pubescent and pale beneath. Flowers are pale yellow to white, clusters of 3-4 on leaf axils, sepals are 6 in two distinct whorls of 3. Fruit is an orange colored berry when ripe that is up to 3 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter, it is 2-3 seeded.
Chemistry
Test on stem bark, root and leaf extracts of the species identified phenyl-coumarin derivatives, xanthones, saponins, triterpenes and flavonoids. Calophyllic acid, canophyllic acid, and isocalophyllic acid were obtained from extracts of leaves of the species, while xanthones, friedelin, friedelanol and oleanolic acid were obtained from stem bark and root extracts.
Uses
The root is prepared and used as a laxative, while stem bark is used as part of a regimen to treat stomach ailment.
References
- Armstrong, Kate (2011). "Systematics and biogeography of the pantropical genus Manilkara Adans. (Sapotaceae)": 23, 33, 58.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - Hemsley, J. H. (1966). "Notes on African Sapotaceae". Kew Bulletin. 20 (3): 461–510. doi:10.2307/4108249. JSTOR 4108249.
- ^ Voorhoeve, A. G. (1979). Liberian high forest trees : a systematic botanical study of the 75 most important or frequent high forest trees, with reference to numerous related species (2nd impr ed.). Wageningen: Pudoc. p. 348. ISBN 90-220-0701-4. OCLC 63303450.
- ^ Akosung, Emmanuel; Djouaka Bavoua, Judith Liliane; Tabekoueng, Georges Bellier; Stammler, Hans-Georg; Frese, Marcel; Kapche Wabo Fotso, Gilbert Deccaux; Lenta Ndjakou, Bruno; Kamdem Waffo, Alain François; Sewald, Norbert; Wansi, Jean Duplex (2021). "Antibacterial constituents from the roots, stem bark and leaves of Manilkara obovata (Sabine & G. Don) J. H. Hemsl. (Sapotaceae)". Phytochemistry Letters. 44: 55–61. doi:10.1016/j.phytol.2021.05.007. S2CID 236244444.
- Akosung, Emmanuel; Kenmogne, Sidonie Beactrice; Lobe Songue, Jules; Longue Ekon, Jean Pierre; Lateef, Mehreen; Ngeufa Happi, Emmanuel; Langat, Moses Kiprotich; Tabekoueng, Georges Bellier; Toze, Flavien Aristide Alfred; Stammler, Hans-Georg; Ndjakou Lenta, Bruno (2020-01-20). "Bioactive constituents from Manilkara obovata (Sabine & G.Don) J.H.Hemsl". Natural Product Research. 35 (22): 4347–4356. doi:10.1080/14786419.2020.1713123. ISSN 1478-6419. PMID 31957487. S2CID 210829935.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Manilkara obovata | |
| Chrysophyllum obovatum | |