IngredientsAccepted scientific name: Lophira lanceolata Van Tiegh. ex Keay. It belongs to the family Ochnaceae. The accepted authority combines the original description by Van Tieghem with the revision by Keay, and it is this binomial that appears uniformly in the peer-reviewed pharmacological literature.
Lophira lanceolata is commonly known as the dwarf red ironwood and is a species of tree in the family Ochnaceae native to tropical West and Central Africa. Additional vernacular names documented in the literature include false shea and red oak; it is also referred to as iron wood and is a multipurpose tree widely distributed in the woody savannahs of tropical Africa.
Lophira lanceolata is a small deciduous tree growing to a height of 16 m (52 ft) or more; its timber is used for heavy construction, an edible oil can be extracted from the seeds, and various parts of the plant are used in traditional medicine. The tree has a narrow crown and steeply ascending branches and forms suckers readily. The trunk is usually unbranched to around 8 m (26 ft) and can reach a diameter of about 70 cm (28 in). The bark is grey and corky, coming away in coarse flakes.
Lophira lanceolata is found in tropical West and Central Africa, its range extending from Senegal to Sudan, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It grows at altitudes of up to around 1,500 m (5,000 ft) on wooded savanna, particularly on the edges of larger forested areas where it may grow thickly.
Taxonomic distinction from the related species: The genus Lophira comprises only 2 species: Lophira alata Banks ex P.Gaertn., which yields the well-known timber azobé, and Lophira lanceolata. They are very similar in morphology and have often been confused. They are mainly differentiated by their habit and different habitats: Lophira alata is a very large tree found in dense forest, while Lophira lanceolata is much smaller and grows in savanna woodland.
In traditional medicine, all parts of the plant are used to treat diseases. The primary commercial and traditional preparations documented in the literature include:
Seed oil extraction methods: The L. lanceolata seed oil is extracted using traditional methods in African villages. The steps of this ancestral method pass through the roasting of the seeds. Modern laboratory extraction methods evaluated in comparative studies include hexane (Soxhlet) extraction and enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction. The oil obtained following the ancestral process has shown good chemical parameters with brilliant colors. Results revealed that all oils are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids with α-linoleic (>30% w/w) and arachidonic (>14% w/w) acids as majors. Enzymes and roasting of the seeds induced lauric, eicosapentaenoic, and adrenic acid formations in oils.
Numerous seed oils from non-conventional sources, recovered from savanna plants, have been locally used for centuries for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications. Among them, Lophira lanceolata is an oil seed extracted from a wild plant from West and Central Africa.
An extensive ethnobotanical survey conducted across 29 sociolinguistic groups in Benin documented the breadth of traditional knowledge: the survey was based on a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 1,261 local population members randomly selected from twenty-nine sociolinguistic groups. Seventy-six different uses were reported, and the majority involve traditional medicine (76.62% of uses reported by respondents).
Various plant parts including seeds and seed oil, leaves, bark, and roots are used in traditional medicine to treat fever, malaria, wounds, skin conditions, and digestive disorders.
Cultural significance: The leaves and wood of Lophira lanceolata are very important for the Dii people. The leaves are used for traditional dances and masks are made from the wood. The medicinal uses are probably inseparable from the ceremonial uses of the leaves.
The most pharmacologically studied constituents of Lophira lanceolata are a suite of structurally unusual biflavonoids isolated principally from the stem bark and roots. Phytochemical analysis of the bark has shown the presence of several flavonoids with some antibacterial and antiviral activity. These include a group of related biflavonoids called lophirones AâJ, the biflavonoid isombamichalcone, and the tetraflavonoid lanceochalcone.
Lophirone A is a biflavonoid isolated from the stem bark of Lophira lanceolata. Its structure was elucidated by MS, 2D ÂčH and ÂčÂłC NMR including INADEQUATE to determine the carbon framework. It involved an aryl shift from one flavonoid unit to the second.
Two isomeric biflavonoids, lophirone B and lophirone C, have been isolated from the stem bark of Lophira lanceolata. Structural elucidation of three chalcone dimers (lophirones F, G, and H) isolated from Lophira lanceolata stem bark was also described using spectral chemical evidence.
More recently, research into the roots identified a novel compound: the investigation of L. lanceolata MeOH roots extract provided a mixture of unseparated biflavonoids with a newly described one, dihydrolophirone A (1a), associated with lophirone A (1b).
Additionally, bioassay-guided fractionation of stem bark led to the discovery of further compounds: bioassay-guided fractionation of the organic extract obtained from stem barks of Lophira lanceolata has led to the isolation of seven biflavonoids, including the new αâČ-chlorolophirone E (5) and 5âČ-chlorolophirone D (6). A related study isolated the glycosylated bichalcone glucolophirone C and the known lanceolins. Lanceolatins and lophirones were also identified in extracts of the plant.
Pegnyemb et al. (1998) isolated and characterized an isoflavone from the stem bark and flavonoids from the leaves of L. lanceolata. Broader phytochemical screening has revealed the presence of polyphenols, tannins (including gallic tannins), and quinone compounds. Qualitative phytochemical study using an aqueous extract of dried Lophira lanceolata leaves revealed the presence of sterols, polyphenols, flavonoids, saponosides, quinone compounds, alkaloids, and gallic tannins, which are believed to be responsible for certain pharmacological effects.
Stigmasterol and the biflavonoids (dihydrolophirone A and lophirone A) can be considered as promising isolated compounds with antitubercular relevance. The mycobacterial activity of L. lanceolata could be related mainly to its steroid and flavonoid contents.
The dry seeds per 100 g contain approximately: water 8 g, energy 2290 kJ (547 kcal), protein 14 g, fat 44 g, carbohydrate 32 g, fibre 1 g, Ca 101 mg, P 156 mg. On extraction the seeds yield 40â50% of a yellow inodorous semi-solid oil. Its approximate fatty acid composition is: myristic acid 2%, palmitic acid 27%, behenic acid 14%, lignoceric acid 2%, oleic acid 15%, linoleic acid 33%, docosenoic acid 5%.
The chemical profiles of Lophira lanceolata seed oil have been characterized. The oil contains approximately 31% saturated fatty acids, mainly palmitic acid. L. lanceolata oil has a high content in polyunsaturated fatty acids (52.46%).
The L. lanceolata oil is rich in tocopherols (3.61 mg/100 g), and a higher total sterol content was found for L. lanceolata (100.13 ± 0.04 mg/g). The α-tocopherol content of the oil is high, and in a test its unsaturated fatty acid content remained unchanged for one year.
The presence of tocols and phytosterols, determined by LCâMS/APCI+, may explain the therapeutic use of these oils in rural areas. The oil exhibited interesting potential nutritional value. The high contents in polyunsaturated essential fatty acids, tocopherols, and phytosterols could properly respond to nutritional deficiencies.
Importantly, no clinical (human) trials have been published to date on Lophira lanceolata preparations. All scientific evidence reviewed here is derived from in vitro (cell/organism-based) or in vivo animal studies. The evidence base is therefore preliminary and cannot yet be translated directly into clinical recommendations.
Traditional basis: The stem bark of Lophira lanceolata is used to treat fever and malaria in the Western Region of Cameroon by traditional healers.
In vitro antiplasmodial evidence: A 2023 study published in the Journal of Tropical Medicine (PMC9938790) directly addressed this traditional use. The aqueous and ethanol extracts were obtained by maceration. They were tested in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 and multiresistance Dd2. Macrophage cell lines (RAW 264.7 cells) and red blood cells were used for cytotoxicity tests. The in vitro antiplasmodial results showed that the ethanol extract was the most active, with ICâ â of 24.51 ± 4.77 ”g/mL and 31.86 ± 3.10 ”g/mL on the resistant Dd2 and sensitive 3D7 strains; the aqueous extract indicated moderate activity with ICâ â of 51.36 ± 4.86 ”g/mL and 56.36 ± 4.27 ”g/mL, respectively.
In vivo antimalarial evidence (animal): A study published in PMC (PMC10457170) employed the Peter 4-day suppressive and Rane curative tests in Swiss albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. The ethanol extract of L. lanceolata showed a dose-dependent suppressive activity, with the highest suppression of 88.22% at 500 mg/kg. The ethanolic extract of L. lanceolata showed the ability to inhibit parasite growth after its installation at different doses, with a considerable decrease in parasitemia observed with increasing doses in mice.
Gametocytocidal activity â isolation of lophirone E: A notable pharmacological finding was reported in Bioorganic Chemistry (2019). Among the isolated compounds, the bichalcone lophirone E was identified as a potent gametocytocidal agent with an ICâ â value in the nanomolar range and negligible cytotoxicity (selectivity index = 570). Lophirone E proved to be about 100 times more active against P. falciparum stage V gametocytes than on asexual blood stages, thus exhibiting a unique stage-specific activity profile.
Stage-selective anti-sporogonic activity: A follow-up study in Phytochemistry (2020) pursued this further. Lophira lanceolata produces two different stage-specific antimalarial agents acting on transmissible stages. Targeting the transmissible stages of the Plasmodium parasite that develop in the human and mosquito host is a crucial strategy for malaria control and elimination. Medicinal plants offer a prolific source for the discovery of new antimalarial compounds. The recent identification of the gametocytocidal activity of lophirone E inspired the evaluation of the plant also against early sporogonic stages of the parasite development. The bioassay-guided phytochemical study led to the isolation of two known lanceolins and of a new glycosylated bichalcone, glucolophirone C. Lanceolin B proved to be a potent inhibitor of the development of Plasmodium early sporogonic stages, indicating that the plant produces two different stage-specific antimalarial agents acting on transmissible stages in the human and mosquito host.
Evidence strength: In vitro and animal studies only. No human clinical data exist. The gametocytocidal and anti-sporogonic findings for lophirone E and lanceolin B are mechanistically significant, with sub-micromolar potency, but remain at a pre-clinical stage.
Traditional basis: The evaluation of the anthelmintic activity of Lophira lanceolata was motivated by its use as a medicinal plant for the treatment of helminthiasis in Foumban, West Region of Cameroon.
In vitro activity against Onchocerca ochengi (onchocerciasis model): A 2017 study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine investigated activity against the bovine parasite Onchocerca ochengi â a validated model for the human onchocerciasis agent Onchocerca volvulus â and against drug-resistant strains of Caenorhabditis elegans. Ethanolic and methanolic-methylene chloride extracts killed O. ochengi with LCâ â values of 9.76, 8.05, 6.39 ”g/mL and 9.45, 7.95, 6.39 ”g/mL, respectively, for leaves, trunk bark, and root bark after 72 h. The lowest concentrations required to kill 50% of the wild-type of C. elegans were 1200 and 1890 ”g/mL with ethanolic crude extract for root bark and trunk bark, respectively, after 72 h. Leaf extracts of L. lanceolata were lethal to albendazole- and ivermectin-resistant strains of C. elegans after 72 h.
Activity against Heligmosomoides polygyrus: A 2023 study published in the Journal of Tropical Medicine used an automated high-throughput WMicroTracker method. The ovicidal activity (hatching) had an ICâ â of 1.4 mg/mL for the ethanol extract. These results showed that the ethanol extract was more active than the aqueous extract.
Evidence strength: In vitro evidence only (two independent laboratory studies). Activity against drug-resistant nematode strains is a notable finding. No animal model or human studies have been published for anthelmintic applications.
A 2018 study published in Pharmaceutical Biology (PMID 29969355; PMC6130701) investigated the antimycobacterial activity of the methanol root extract and its isolated constituents against two strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (AC45 and AC83). Antimycobacterial screening was performed at extract concentrations of 4.882â5000 ”g/mL and isolated compounds at 0.244â250 ”g/mL, by microplate alamar blue assay (MABA) against two mycobacterial strains. The investigation of L. lanceolata MeOH roots extract provided a mixture of unseparated biflavonoids with a newly described one, dihydrolophirone A (1a) associated with lophirone A (1b). The bioactive compounds that effectively inhibited the growth of M. tuberculosis AC45 were found to be compounds 1 and 2. They exhibited MIC values of 31.25 and 15.75 ”g/mL, respectively, and their MIC was found to be 62.5 ”g/mL against resistant strain AC83. It was concluded that the mycobacterial activity of L. lanceolata could be related mainly to its steroid and flavonoid contents. The Lophira genus through the richness of its components could be considered as an important source for new antitubercular agents.
Evidence strength: In vitro only. The study is the first to identify specific MIC values for isolated compounds from this plant against M. tuberculosis. No animal model or clinical data are available.
Multiple independent studies have characterized the antioxidant potential of different L. lanceolata extracts. A comparative polyphenol and flavonoid study using aqueous extracts from leaves, barks, and roots collected at different times and ecological sites in Burkina Faso found substantial variation. The root extract of September from DindĂ©resso had the highest polyphenol content (1236.39 ± 11.59 mgGAE/g DE). The root extracts showed the best antioxidant activities, with ICâ â-DPPH = 18.39 ± 0.00 ”g/mL for the September Diarabakoko extract. An influence of ecology type and harvesting period on antioxidant activity was observed.
In vivo data from the mouse antimalarial study also provided indirect evidence of antioxidant effects: L. lanceolata exhibits potent antioxidant power against oxidative hepatic cells, where it significantly decreased the elevated hepatic levels of MDA and consequently increased the level of GSH and the enzymatic activities.
Stem bark extracts exhibited stronger biological propensities than leaf extracts in comparative in vitro analyses.
Evidence strength: In vitro and one animal study. The findings are consistent across multiple independent assays (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, hydrogen peroxide scavenging) but represent only bench-level observations.
A study published in Heliyon (2023) investigated the inhibitory effects of aqueous extracts from leaves, bark, and roots on α-amylase, a key enzyme in carbohydrate digestion relevant to blood sugar management. The root extract sampled in September in DindĂ©resso showed the highest inhibition of α-amylase (ICâ â = 0.91 mg/mL) and maximum glucose adsorption (119.00 ± 44.89 mM/g DE) at 20 mM glucose.
A separate 2020 study published in Industrial Crops and Products (ScienceDirect, DOI S0926669020308992) evaluated inhibitory effects against multiple enzymes relevant to chronic disease pathogenesis: biological investigations included MTT cytotoxicity assay, antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory assessments against cholinesterases, tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase.
Evidence strength: In vitro enzyme inhibition studies only. No animal or human data exist for antidiabetic indications. Results suggest potential but are far from clinical substantiation.
In conventional use, the oil is applied to the skin to avoid dryness and is used to treat dermatitis, toothache, and muscle exhaustion. The chemical basis for these uses is supported by the oil's composition: the oil exhibited interesting potential nutritional value; the high contents in polyunsaturated essential fatty acids, tocopherols, and phytosterols could properly respond to nutritional deficiencies. The α-tocopherol content in particular is relevant to skin protection from oxidative stress.
Evidence strength: No controlled clinical or laboratory studies specifically evaluating the seed oil for dermatological endpoints were identified. The use is supported by traditional documentation and the known properties of the oil's constituents, but direct evidence is absent.
Studies have documented antibacterial screening of leaf aqueous extracts (including a 2011 publication by Ali et al. referenced in the literature) and bark extracts. Phytochemical analysis of the bark has shown the presence of several flavonoids with some antibacterial and antiviral activity. However, the specific species and MIC data from the primary source studies are not reproduced in sufficient detail in the indexed sources accessed.
Evidence strength: Preliminary; the specific in vitro antibacterial findings reported in referenced studies support traditional anti-infective uses but have not advanced beyond initial screening.
No standardized human dosages have been established. The following represent dosages reported in preclinical (animal and in vitro) research only:
Two independent studies have assessed acute toxicity of L. lanceolata extracts in rodents, yielding partially discordant conclusions depending on route of administration and extract type:
Aqueous extract (intraperitoneal, mice): The study of acute toxicity in mice, at doses ranging from 150 to 1000 mg/kg b.w., determined the LDâ â values to be 375 and 439 mg/kg b.w. (by Dragstedt-Lang and Miller-Tainter methods, respectively). According to Diezi's classification (1989), this substance is classified as highly toxic when administered intraperitoneally.
Oral extracts (anthelmintic study, mice): A contrasting finding was noted for oral administration: a mortality was observed at the 4000 mg/kg oral dose in mice. The result of the acute oral toxicity study indicates that the plant extracts under study, when given orally, could be considered relatively safe. This classification is consistent with a different mechanism of absorption by route of administration (oral versus intraperitoneal).
Anthelmintic study safety assessment: Extracts from L. lanceolata could be considered relatively safe based on the acute oral toxicity testing performed in that study.
In the in vivo antimalarial mouse study, liver function was assessed using hepatic enzyme markers: during the curative test, blood was collected for hematological parameters, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to evaluate liver function. Specific results from this assessment are not fully reported in the publicly accessible abstract, but this observation indicates that researchers considered hepatotoxicity a parameter warranting monitoring at the doses used.
In the in vitro antiplasmodial study, cytotoxicity to macrophage cell lines (RAW 264.7) and red blood cells was tested alongside antiplasmodial activity. For the isolated compound lophirone E, the selectivity index was reported as very high: lophirone E was identified as a potent gametocytocidal agent with an ICâ â value in the nanomolar range and negligible cytotoxicity (selectivity index = 570). This suggests that lophirone E, at concentrations effective against P. falciparum gametocytes, shows minimal toxicity to mammalian cells in vitro; however, this is an in vitro finding and does not establish in vivo safety.
Qualitative phytochemical screening has confirmed the presence of alkaloids and gallic tannins in the plant, in addition to flavonoids and sterols. Alkaloids and tannins in high-dose concentrated extracts can have toxic potential, and their presence is relevant context for the intraperitoneal toxicity data described above.
No published clinical trials, case series, or systematic pharmacovigilance studies documenting adverse effects in human users of L. lanceolata preparations were identified in the peer-reviewed literature accessed. The seed oil has a long history of dietary and cosmetic use across West and Central Africa, but formal safety evaluations conforming to regulatory standards have not been published. No drug interaction studies have been performed.
Lophira lanceolata is a multipurpose fruit tree species widely distributed across West Africa, but its populations are declining due to climate change and anthropogenic pressures. Unsustainable harvesting for oil extraction is one contributor. This is relevant to the reliability and composition of raw material used in any preparations.
Health conditions that Lophira lanceolata may help support.
Body systems that Lophira lanceolata may help support.
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