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{{PROTAUpperbar}}
{{PROTA Starbox
| General importance= 3| Geographic coverage Africa= 4| Geographic coverage World= 1
| Cereal / pulse=
| Fruit=
| Vegetable=
| Vegetable oil=
| Spice /condiment= 1
| Stimulant=
| Carbohydrate / starch=
| Dye / tannin= 1| Essential oil / exudate= 1| Medicinal= 3| Timber= 1| Fuel= 3| Ornamental= 1| Forage / feed= 2| Auxiliary plant= 1
| Fibre=
| Food security=
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Combretum molle'' (PROTA)}}
[[File:Map Combretum molle.gif|thumb|distribution in Africa (wild)]][[File:Linedrawing Combretum molle.gif|thumb|1, flowering twig; 2, flower in longitudinal section, several petals and stamens removed; 3, fruit.Redrawn and adapted by J.M. de Vries]]
:Protologue: Trans. Linn. Soc. London 15: 431 (1827).
Methanol and acetone extracts of the twigs were shown to be safe in male Swiss albino mice at a dose of 849–900 mg/kg. A methanolic root extracts showed promising selective inhibition of HIV-1 replication. Extracts from leaves and stem bark showed significant inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. An acetone leaf extract showed significant anthelmintic activity against the gastrointestinal sheep nematode ''Haemonchus contortus''. A methanolic leaf extract showed moderate antiplasmodial activity against the multi-resistant strain (W2) of ''Plasmodium falciparum''. The extracts tested also displayed low levels of cytotoxicity against K562S cells.
Several other ''Combretum'' species have similar traditional medicinal uses as ''Combretum molle'', and showed significant antimicrobial properties.
== Ecology ==
''Combretum molle'' is widespread in dry tree and shrub savanna, often forming pure stands, from sea-level up to 2300 m altitude. It occurs on many types of soil, including rocky slopes, quartzite outcrops and termite mounts, and also on soil with high concentrations of nickel, copper or other metals. In southern Africa ''Combretum molle'' is one of the most common constituents in ''Brachystegia-Julbernardia'' (Miombo) woodland. It occurs mainly in areas with annual rainfall up to 800 mm. It tolerates partial shade and is drought and frost hardy. ''Combretum molle '' is highly fire resistant.
== Propagation and planting ==