Black Afara

Terminalia ivorensis

Physical Characteristics

Terminalia ivorensis is a deciduous Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 30 m (98ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Butterflies, Flies. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Western tropical Africa - Guinea Bissau to Cameroon.

Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Antiarthritic Antidiarrhoeal Antihaemorrhoidal Antiinflammatory Antirheumatic Kidney Skin A bark decoction or macerate yields a red liquor which is rich in tannins and is used for treating wounds, sores, haemorrhoids etc[299 , 332 ]. The powdered bark is dusted over ulcers, and when pulped it is rubbed over areas of muscular and rheumatic pain to relieve the pain[332 ]. Sap expressed from young leaves is applied to cuts and is taken in draught with a bark-decoction by enema for treating blennorrhoea and kidney disorders[332 ]. Terminolic acid, ellagic acid, sericic acid, quercetin and glycyrrhetinic acid have been isolated from the chloroform and methanol extracts of the bark[299 ]. Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties of the bark have been demonstrated in tests[299 ]. Moreover, it effectively checked diarrhoea produced by arachidonic acid and castor oil.[299 ]. Ethanol extracts of the roots showed distinct trypanocidal activity against both drug-sensitive as well as multi-drug-resistant strains of Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma brucei[299 ].

Known Hazards

The dust from sawn timber may irritate the skin or respiratory tract[316 , 407 ]. The wood has been found to contain a saponin which may induce allergy in persons working with it[332 ].