Terminalia schimperiana (PROTA)
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Introduction |
| General importance |  
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| Geographic coverage Africa |
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| Geographic coverage World |
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| Fruit |
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| Carbohydrate / starch |
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| Dye / tannin |
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| Medicinal |
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| Timber |
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Terminalia schimperiana Hochst.
- Protologue: Sched. G.W.Schimp., Iter Abyss., sectio III, No 1638 (1844).
- Family: Combretaceae
Synonyms
Terminalia glaucescens Planch. ex Benth. (1849).
Origin and geographic distribution
Terminalia schimperiana is widely distributed from Guinea eastward to Ethiopia, and southward to northern DR Congo, Uganda and north-western Tanzania.
Uses
Terminalia schimperiana is an important medicinal plant in savanna areas throughout its distribution area. Pulverized roots and root bark are applied to wounds, burns, ulcers and skin diseases including leprosy. Root powder is taken to treat epilepsy. Root decoctions are used to treat malaria, hepatitis and cough. The roots are commonly used as chewing sticks for dental care, and they are also chewed as laxative, tonic and aphrodisiac. Bark decoctions are administered as purgative and to treat malaria, diarrhoea and pinworm infections. Leaf decoctions are applied to treat burns and headache, and are taken against malaria, stomach-ache, hepatitis, amenorrhoea, cough, asthma, diabetes, obesity and elephantiasis. Fruits serve as vermifuge.
The wood is used in house construction, and for mortars and dug-out canoes. It is suitable for flooring, joinery, mine props, vehicle bodies, railway sleepers, toys, novelties, agricultural implements and tool handles. The tough wood of the roots is used for walking sticks and bows. The wood is also used as firewood and for the production of charcoal of excellent quality. In Ethiopia the bark has been used for tanning, in DR Congo the wood for dyeing leather pale brown, and in Sudan the roots for dyeing cloths blackish. The flowers are much visited by honey bees; the honey produced is said to be of good quality. Bark is used for making beehives.
Properties
Arjunic acid, arjungenin, sericoside, friedelin, glaucinoic acid, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, lupeol, betulinic acid, β-amyrin and terminalin A have been isolated from the bark; several of these compounds showed β-glucuronidase inhibitory activity. Tannins, alkaloids and saponins are present in various plant parts, but roots contain higher amounts of these compounds than other plant parts.
In in-vitro tests, bark and leaf extracts showed pronounced antimalarial and trypanocidal activities. Ethanol and pentane extracts exhibited antiplasmodial activity on stages corresponding to cell division of the parasite. Ethanol extracts showed moderate toxicity when tested on human fibroblast cells.
The chewing sticks made from Terminalia schimperiana roots showed distinct antibacterial activity against various bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus auricularis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Streptococcus mutans, confirming the use for the maintenance of oral hygiene in rural communities. Root, bark and leaf extracts also inhibited the growth of Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli. Terminalia schimperiana extracts showed hypoglycaemic activity in tests with rats. Tests in mice showed protection by leaf extracts against streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress, which supports its traditional use for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts demonstrated activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Leaf and root extracts showed significant antifungal activity against dermatophytes and yeasts.
The pale brown to pale greenish brown heartwood is distinctly demarcated from the narrow, yellowish grey sapwood. The grain is straight or interlocked, texture coarse. The wood is heavy, with a density of about 850 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content. It should be dried slowly because it is liable to distortion. The shrinkage rates are quite high, from green to oven dry 5.3% radial and 7.2% tangential. The wood is difficult to saw, work and plane due to its hardness and often interlocked grain. It holds nails well, but pre-boring is needed. It is fairly durable, although it may be liable to attack by termites and the sapwood to Lyctus. The saw dust may cause irritations to skin and mucous membranes.
Adulterations and substitutes
Other Terminalia species are often used for similar medicinal purposes and it is difficult to differentiate between the dried stem barks from different species found in the local markets.
Description
Deciduous small tree up to 10(–20) m tall; bole often crooked and low-branching, up to 60 cm in diameter; bark surface deeply fissured, brown to black, inner bark thick, fibrous, yellowish to reddish, turning brown upon exposure; crown rounded, open, with spreading branches; twigs short-hairy to nearly glabrous, pale brown to blackish. Leaves arranged spirally, simple and entire; stipules absent; petiole 1.5–5 cm long; blade elliptical to obovate, 7–25 cm × 3–11 cm, cuneate to rounded at base, obtuse to short-acuminate at apex, thin-leathery, densely hairy below but sometimes becoming glabrous, pinnately veined with 8–18 pairs of lateral veins. Inflorescence an axillary spike 7–17 cm long, short-hairy. Flowers bisexual or male, regular, 5-merous, c. 5 mm in diameter, creamy white, with a bad smell; calyx with short-hairy tube and 5 lobes; corolla absent; stamens 10, 3–4 mm long, exserted; ovary inferior, 1-celled. Fruit an oblong to ellipsoid winged nut 5.5–9 cm × 2–3.5 cm including the large wing, finely hairy, brown, indehiscent, 1-seeded.
Other botanical information
Terminalia is a pantropical genus of about 200 species. In tropical mainland Africa about 30 species occur naturally, in Madagascar about 35.
In the literature, Terminalia schimperiana has been confused with Terminalia avicennioides Guill. & Perr. Literature referring to specimens from East Africa under the name Terminalia avicennioides probably relates to Terminalia schimperiana; Terminalia avicennioides does not occur east from the Central African Republic.
Several other Terminalia species are medicinally used in tropical Africa.
Terminalia kaiserana
Terminalia kaiserana F.Hoffm. is a shrub or small tree up to 10 m tall occurring in Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia. Similarly to Terminalia schimperiana, its roots are commonly used in traditional medicine. Root decoctions, sometimes in combination with leaf sap, are taken to treat schistosomiasis, cough, cardiac problems, scabies and gonorrhoea, and as anodyne and aphrodisiac. Powdered roots are taken in water against diarrhoea. Root extracts of Terminalia kaiserana showed marked antibacterial and antifungal activities.
Terminalia stenostachya
Terminalia stenostachya Engl. & Diels is a shrub or small tree up to 12(–20) m tall occurring in southern DR Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Root decoctions and infusions are taken to treat epilepsy and as antidote in cases of poisoning. Root and bark extracts, and to a lesser extent leaf extracts, showed significant antibacterial activity.
Terminalia trichopoda
Terminalia trichopoda Diels is a small tree up to 10(–20) m tall occurring in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Root decoctions and infusions are taken to treat stomach-ache, bark and leaf decoctions against abdominal pain.
Growth and development
The growth of Terminalia schimperiana is fairly rapid; in Côte d’Ivoire a mean annual height growth of 22.5 cm has been recorded, which was higher than accompanying savanna trees. Flowering of trees is often in the second half of the dry season, often just after the development of new foliage. In Ghana Terminalia schimperiana flowers in March–June, in Nigeria in February–May, and fruits ripen about 5 months later but persist for a long time on the tree.
Ecology
Terminalia schimperiana is widespread in deciduous open woodland and bushy grassland up to 2200 m altitude. It often persists in cultivated areas and is reported to be a pioneer species in savanna resulting from the clearing of forest and in abandoned farmland. It can be found on any type of soil, but in Uganda it is reported to prefer loamy black cotton soil. The thick, corky bark makes the tree somewhat fire-resistant.
Propagation and planting
It is recommended to spray the fruits with water after collecting and subsequently cover them with grass or leaves for 1–2 days, after which the seeds can be extracted from the soft fruit. However, for storage whole fruits should be used. Before sowing, seeds should be immersed in cold water for one night. Seeds are often sown directly into the field. Wildlings are sometimes collected for planting.
Management
Terminalia schimperiana trees can be coppiced.
Genetic resources
Terminalia schimperiana is widespread and common, often even abundant in many regions within its distribution area. It does not seem to be threatened by genetic erosion, although it may be locally threatened by over-exploitation.
Prospects
Terminalia schimperiana is a multipurpose tree, which has been recommended for planting in mixed plantations with other medicinal tree species in Uganda. There is little information on proper propagation and planting techniques and this warrants for research, as well as the development of techniques for sustainable harvesting because mainly roots and bark are used in traditional medicine, which may easily harm the tree. Terminalia schimperiana roots have been suggested to have great potential in dentifrice production. The wound-healing properties of various plant parts also merit further investigations.
Major references
- Arbonnier, M., 2004. Trees, shrubs and lianas of West African dry zones. CIRAD, Margraf Publishers Gmbh, MNHN, Paris, France. 573 pp.
- Burkill, H.M., 1985. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 1, Families A–D. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 960 pp.
- Irvine, F.R., 1961. Woody plants of Ghana, with special reference to their uses. Oxford University Press, London, United Kingdom. 868 pp.
- Katende, A.B., Birnie, A. & Tengnäs, B., 1995. Useful trees and shrubs for Uganda: identification, propagation and management for agricultural and pastoral communities. Technical Handbook 10. Regional Soil Conservation Unit, Nairobi, Kenya. 710 pp.
- Mustofa, Valentin, A., Benoit-Vical, F., Pélissier, Y., Koné-Bamba, D. & Mallié, M., 2000. Antiplasmodial activity of plant extracts used in West African traditional medicine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 73: 145–151.
- Njomen, G.B.S.N., Kamgang, R., Oyono, J.L.E. & Njikam, N., 2008. Antioxidant potential of the methanol-methylene chloride extract of Terminalia glaucescens leaves on mice liver in streptozotocin-induced stress. Indian Journal of Pharmacology 40(6): 266–270.
- Nkomo, S.P.R., 2007. Effets de l’extrait à l’éthanol/eau de Terminalia glaucescens (Combretaceae) sur le métabolisme glucido-lypidique des rats intolérants au glucose. Mémoire de DEA, Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon. 62 pp.
- Ogundiya, M.O., Kolapo, A.L., Okunade, M.B. & Adejumobi, J.A., 2009. Assessment of phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Terminalia glaucescens against some oral pathogens. Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry 8(7): 466–471.
- Ojo, O.O., Ajayi, A.O. & Anibijuwon, I.I., 2007. Antibacterial properties of extracts of some chewing sticks commonly used in Southwestern Nigeria. Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology 1(1): 33–38.
- Wickens, G.E., 1973. Combretaceae. In: Polhill, R.M. (Editor). Flora of Tropical East Africa. Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations, London, United Kingdom. 99 pp.
Other references
- Adebayo, E.A. & Ishola, O.R., 2009. Phytochemical and antimicrobial screening of crude extracts from the root, stem bark, and leaves of Terminalia glaucescens. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 3(5): 217–221.
- Akande, J.A. & Hayashi, Y., 1998. Potency of extract contents from selected tropical chewing sticks against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus auricularis. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 14(2): 235–238.
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- Atta-Ur-Rahman, Seema, Z., Choudhary, M.I., Ngounou, F.N., Yasin, A. & Parvez, M., 2002. Terminalin A, a novel triterpenoid from Terminalia glaucescens. Tetrahedron Letters 43(35): 6233–6236.
- Batawila, K., Kokou, K., Koumaglo, K., Gbeassor, M., de Foucault, B., Bouchet, P. & Akpagana, K., 2005. Antifungal activities of five Combretaceae used in Togolese traditional medicine. Fitoterapia 76(2): 264–268.
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- Takahashi, A., 1978. Compilation of data on the mechanical properties of foreign woods (part 3) Africa. Shimane University, Matsue, Japan. 248 pp.
- Vollesen, K., 1995. Combretaceae. In: Edwards, S., Mesfin Tadesse & Hedberg, I. (Editors). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Volume 2, part 2. Canellaceae to Euphorbiaceae. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Department of Systematic Botany, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. pp. 115–132.
Sources of illustration
- Vollesen, K., 1995. Combretaceae. In: Edwards, S., Mesfin Tadesse & Hedberg, I. (Editors). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Volume 2, part 2. Canellaceae to Euphorbiaceae. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Department of Systematic Botany, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. pp. 115–132.
Author(s)
- R.H.M.J. Lemmens, PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
Correct citation of this article
Lemmens, R.H.M.J., 2013. Terminalia schimperiana Hochst. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). Prota 11(2): Medicinal plants/Plantes médicinales 2. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. Accessed 17 September 2026.
- See this page on the Prota4U database.