Periploca linearifolia (PROTA)

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Introduction

List of species

General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Medicinal
Timber
Fibre

Periploca linearifolia Quart.-Dill. & A.Rich.

File:Map Periploca linearifolia.gif

distribution in Africa (wild)

Protologue: Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 2, 14: 263 (1840).

Family: Asclepiadaceae (APG: Apocynaceae)

Vernacular names

• Silk vine (En).

Origin and geographic distribution

Periploca linearifolia occurs in eastern Central Africa, East Africa and part of southern Africa, from Ethiopia south to eastern DR Congo, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Uses

The latex or a leaf and root decoction is applied to wounds, skin diseases, whitlow, warts and ulcers. A leaf or root decoction is drunk to treat skin diseases. Leaves are macerated in water and used as a dressing to treat mastitis. Crushed leaves, together with several other plants, are applied to snakebites. A leaf decoction is drunk to treat diarrhoea, intestinal worms and insanity. The leaf sap in water or a root decoction is taken by pregnant women as a tonic and to stop vomiting. A leafy stem decoction is taken to treat malnutrition. Pounded leaves in water are taken to treat female sterility; with other plant parts added the liquid is taken as a galactogogue. A root bark infusion or decoction is drunk or applied as enema to treat tapeworm and other intestinal worms. It is also taken to treat stomach-ache. Roots cooked in soup are eaten to treat fever, malaria, chest complaints, including cough and pneumonia, female infertility and venereal diseases. The juice of the roots in banana beer is taken to treat rectal prolapse. Root powder and latex is externally applied to haemorrhoids.

In Kenya a leaf or root decoction is used for ceremonial purposes, and to protect against evil spirits. The stems are used for tying.

Production and international trade

Periploca linearifolia is only used on a local scale.

Properties

Few phytochemical analyses have been effected on Periploca linearifolia. From the stem bark several triterpenoids have been isolated.

A methanolic stem bark extract showed highly significant antiplasmodial activity in vitro against a chloroquine-resistant strain and a chloroquine-sensitive strain of Plasmodium falciparum. A chloroform stem bark extract showed promising antiplasmodial activity in vitro against a chloroquine-sensitive strain. The extracts showed low toxicity in a brine shrimp cytotoxicity assay. A methanolic extract of the leafy stem showed significant antibacterial activity and moderate antifungal activity in vitro.

Description

Liana, woody at base, up to 10 m long, glabrous, latex copious. Leaves opposite, simple and entire, almost sessile; stipules absent; blade linear to narrowly elliptical or narrowly ovate, 3–6.5(–9) cm × 2–12 mm, base cuneate to obtuse, apex long tapering, papery. Inflorescence an open axillary and terminal panicle-like cyme, many-flowered, up to 15 cm in diameter. Flowers bisexual, 5-merous, regular, c. 1 cm in diameter; pedicel 5–10 mm long; sepals ovate, c. 1 mm long, apex obtuse; corolla with shallow tube, lobes slightly fleshy and glandular, spreading, oblong-ovate, 3–4 mm × 1–2 mm, apex rounded, above violet, centre dark violet, margins curved backwards, densely short-hairy; corona lobes 5, each 3-lobed with central lobe filiform, 3–4 mm long, violet, short-hairy; stamens with hairy filaments, pollen carriers spoon-shaped; ovary semi-inferior, 2-celled, gynostegium exserted, styles fused, apex 5-angled. Fruit a pair of follicles, horizontal, each follicle linear-ovoid, 6–12(–16) cm × 4–5 mm, many-seeded. Seeds ovate, brown, tuft of hairs white.

Other botanical information

Periploca comprises c. 13 species, excluding Parquetina, and is widely distributed in Africa, Europe and Asia. In northern and tropical Africa 6 species occur, 2 being exclusive to tropical Africa. Ten species are known in Asia, of which 7 are exclusive to Asia. In Europe two species occur but none is exclusive. Periploca has formerly been classified in a separate family: Periplocaceae.

Several other Periploca species are medicinally used in tropical Africa.

Periploca aphylla

Periploca aphylla Decne. occurs from the north-eastern part of Sudan and Egypt east along the western coast of the Red Sea, Sinai and peninsular Arabia to Afghanistan, in arid localities. It has a wide variety of medicinal uses outside Africa. In Pakistan the latex is applied to swellings and tumours, and is taken as a stomachic and to treat fever. A stem bark decoction is drunk as a purgative. Several pharmacologically active compounds have been isolated from the stems, including lupine-type triterpenes, several bisflavan-3-ols, lyoniresinol, lupeol, betuline and β-sitosterol. One of the triterpenes showed moderate antibacterial activity in vitro and significant α-glucosidase type VI inhibition. The flower buds are sweet and eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable. The stems are made into rope.

Periploca laevigata

Periploca laevigata Ait. (synonym: Periploca chevalieri Browicz) occurs in the Cape Verde Islands, Canary Islands and Savage Islands, in arid localities. In the Cape Verde Islands a leaf infusion is taken to treat fever and coughs. A maceration of the leaves was formerly used in tanning of goat skins. The leaves are browsed by goats. It is classified as vulnerable or endangered in the IUCN Red List, depending on the island.

Growth and development

Periploca linearifolia usually forms a tangled mass on top of shrubs and small trees. It flowers mainly during the rainy season; fruits remain on the plant for an extended period of time.

Ecology

Periploca linearifolia occurs in moist forest, forest edges, riverine forest and savanna, at 1000–2400 m altitude.

Propagation and planting

The average 1000-seed weight is 7.1 g.

Diseases and pests

The African monarch butterfly, Danaus chrysippus, feeds on the leaves.

Harvesting

The plant parts of Periploca linearifolia can be harvested throughout the year.

Genetic resources

Periploca linearifolia has a large area of distribution and is common. It is therefore not threatened by genetic erosion.

Prospects

A pharmacological test on the antiplasmodial activity of the stem bark showed promising results in vitro. More research is needed, however, on its phytochemistry as well as in vivo tests. A toxicity profile needs to be established.

Major references

• Ayuko, T.A., Njau, R.N., Cornelius, W., Leah, N. & Ndiege, I.O., 2009. In vitro antiplasmodial activity and toxicity assessment of plant extracts used in traditional malaria therapy in the Lake Victoria Region. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 104(5): 689–694.
• Baerts, M. & Lehmann, J., 2011. Periploca linearifolia. [Internet] Prelude Medicinal Plants Database. Metafro-Infosys, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium http://www.metafro.be/prelude. Accessed November 2011.
• Maundu, P., Berger, D., Saitabau, C., Nasieku, J., Kipelian, M., Mathenge, S., Morimoto, Y. & Höft, R., 2001. Ethnobotany of the Loita Maasai. Towards community management of the forest of the Lost Child. Experiences from the Loita Ethnobotany Project. UNESCO People and Plants Working Paper 8, Paris, France. 34 pp.
• Neuwinger, H.D., 2000. African traditional medicine: a dictionary of plant use and applications. Medpharm Scientific, Stuttgart, Germany. 589 pp.
• Venter, H.J.T., 1997. A revision of Periploca (Peripolocaceae). South African Journal of Botany 63(3): 123–128.

Other references

• Brown, N.E., 1902–1904. Asclepiadeae. In: Thiselton-Dyer, W.T. (Editor). Flora of tropical Africa. Volume 4(1). Lovell Reeve & Co, London, United Kingdom. pp. 231–503.
• Gomes, I., Leyens, T., Da Luz, B., Costa, J. & Gonçalves, F., 1999. New data on the distribution and conservation status of some angiosperms of the Cape Verde Islands, W. Africa. Willdenowia 29: 105–114.
• Kofi-Tsekpo, W.M., 1994. Medicinal implications of plants used in traditional soups and trees. In: Kabuye, C.H.S., Maundu, P.M. & Chweya, J. (Editors). Indigenous food plants workshop, National Museums of Kenya, April 14-16, 1993, Nairobi, Kenya. pp. 22–23.
• Latham, P., 2007. Plants visited by bees and other useful plants of Umalila, southern Tanzania. Third edition. P.Latham, DFID, United Kingdom. 216 pp.
• Muthaura, C.N., Rukunga, G.M., Chhabra, S.C., Mungai, G.M. & Njagi, E.N.M., 2007. Traditional phytotherapy of some remedies used in treatment of malaria in Meru district of Kenya. South African Journal of Botany 73(3): 402–411.
• Sileshi, A., Gebre-Mariam, T. &Asres, K., 2007. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of extracts of some medicinal plants of Ethiopia. Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Journal 25(2): 111–120.
• Tadesse, M., 1994. Traditional use of some medicinal plants in Ethiopia. In: Seyani, J.H. & Chikuni, A.C. (Editors). Proceedings of the 13th plenary meeting of AETFAT, Zomba, Malawi. Volumes 1 & 2. National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi. pp. 273–293.
• ur Rehman, A., Malik, A., Riaz, N., Nawaz, H.R., Ahmad, H., Nawaz, S.A. & Choudhary, M.I., 2004. Lipoxygenase inhibitory constituents from Periploca aphylla. Journal of Natural Products 67(9): 1450–1454.

Author(s)

• G.H. Schmelzer, PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Correct citation of this article

Schmelzer, G.H., 2012. Periploca linearifolia Quart.-Dill.& A.Rich. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). Prota 11(2): Medicinal plants/Plantes médicinales 2. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. Accessed 23 April 2026.

• See this page on the Prota4U database.