Combretum coccineum (PROTA)

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Introduction

List of species

General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Vegetable oil
Medicinal
Ornamental
Forage / feed
Auxiliary plant
Fibre
Food security
Climate change

Combretum coccineum (Sonn.) Lam.

distribution in Africa (wild and naturalized)

Protologue: Encycl. 1(2): 734 (1785).

Family: Combretaceae

Chromosome number: 2n = 56

Synonyms

• Poivrea coccinea (Sonn.) Thouars (1811),
• Combretum pachycladum Baker (1881).

Vernacular names

• Scarlet comb, flame vine, caffer butter shrub (En).

Origin and geographic distribution

Combretum coccineum is native of Madagascar. It has been introduced in Comoros, Seychelles, Réunion and Mauritius as an ornamental, and has become naturalized there. It has also been planted in Pakistan, continental Asia and southern United States as an ornamental.

Uses

In Madagascar a leafy stem decoction is taken to treat fever and liver complaints, including hepatitis, as it stimulates the secretion of bile from the gallbladder. It is also taken as a diuretic. The seeds are commonly chewed as an anthelmintic, and are especially given to children, 1–2 seeds per year of age. Afterwards, a laxative is given. A decoction of the roots or fruits is also taken as an anthelmintic. Crushed leaves are applied to bites of toxic spiders. The seeds are also given to cattle to treat intestinal worms. In Comoros the seeds are chewed to treat roundworm infection. A root decoction is taken to treat an enlarged spleen.

In southern Madagascar Combretum coccineum is used as a fodder for sheep. It is suitable as a barrier hedge in coastal localities. A vegetable oil is sometimes extracted from the seed for cooking purposes, removing the anthelmintic property in the process. The bark fibres are sometimes used to make baskets. It is widely planted in the Indian Ocean islands as an ornamental.

Production and international trade

In Madagascar the seeds and those of related species, are widely sold in markets as ‘voantamenaka’ for anthelmintic purposes. Some pharmacists coat the seeds with sugar to make them more attractive.

Properties

Preliminary phytochemical screening of the leaves revealed the presence of phenols, triterpenes, sterols, saponins and β-sitosterol. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the seeds yielded 21–23% oil, saponins and traces of alkaloids. From the aerial parts a hydroxylated mansumbinen-28-oic acid was isolated.

A methanolic leaf extract showed promising cytotoxicity in the brine shrimp lethality test. A hexane extract of the leaves showed moderate antimalarial activity in vitro.

Description

Climbing shrub or liana up to 6 m tall; all parts glabrous. Leaves opposite, simple and entire; stipules absent; petiole 1–2 cm long; blade very variable, elliptical to lanceolate, 8–13 cm × 2.5–3.5 cm, very large on young shoots, oblong, up to 24 cm × 12 cm, base cuneate, apex acute, dark green. Inflorescence a dense axillary or terminal raceme, 5–15 cm long, horizontally held. Flowers bisexual, regular, 5-merous, red, 2–2.5 cm long, erect; pedicel 1–2 mm long; receptacle cup-shaped; calyx tube 4–5 mm long, lobes triangular, c. 2 mm × c. 2 mm; petals free, elliptical to oblong, 5–6 mm × c. 2 mm; stamens 10, exserted, 12–15 mm long; ovary inferior, linear-oblong, 2–4 mm long, style simple, exserted, 10–12 mm long. Fruit an almost orbicular, (4–)5-winged nut 16–20 mm in diameter, wings c. 8 mm large, papery, striped, pale yellow, tinged pink-red. Seedling with hypogeal germination.

Other botanical information

Combretum is a very large genus, comprising about 250 species and distributed worldwide in the tropics and subtropics. About 140 species occur in tropical Africa; c. 20 species are endemic to Madagascar. Several of the Combretum spp. from Madagascar have similar medicinal uses as Combretum coccineum. The seeds of the following species are all chewed as an anthelmintic:

• Combretum albiflorum (Tul.) Jongkind (synonyme : Poivrea phaneropetala (Bak.) H.Perrier),
• Combretum coursianum (H.Perrier) Jongkind (synonym: Calopyxis coursiana H.Perrier),
• Combretum eriogynum (H.Perrier) Jongkind (synonym: Calopyxis eriogyna H.Perrier),
• Combretum evisceratum (H.Perrier) Jongkind (synonym: Calopyxis eviscerata H.Perrier),
• Combretum grandidieri Drake (synonym: Poivrea grandidieri (Drake) H.Perrier),
• Combretum longicollum Jongkind (synonym: Calopyxis trichophylla Baker),
• Combretum macrocalyx (Tul.) Jongkind (synonyms: Calopyxis bernieriana (Tul.) H.Perrier, Poivrea macrocalyx Tul.),
• Combretum obscurum Tul. (synonym: Poivrea obscurum (Tul.) H.Perrier),
• Combretum oxygonium (Tul.) Jongkind (synonym: Calopyxis oxygonia Tul.),
• Combretum subumbellatum (Baker) Jongkind (synonym: Calopyxis subumbellata Baker) and
• Combretum villosum (Tul.) Jongkind (synonym: Poivrea villosa Tul.).

Furthermore, a leaf infusion of Combretum grandidieri, Combretum longicollum, Combretum obscurum and Combretum subumbellatum is taken to treat indigestion, liver and gallbladder problems. A decoction of the aerial parts and roots of Combretum obscurum and Combretum villosum is drunk to treat fever. Methanolic extracts of the aerial parts of Combretum albiflorum, Combretum grandidieri and Combretum obscurum showed significant antibacterial activity in vitro against a range of pathogenic bacteria, as well as antifungal activity against Candida albicans.

Growth and development

Combretum coccineum flowers between March and September.

Ecology

Combretum coccineum occurs in secondary forest and open localities, often forming large mounts, from sea-level up to 1000 m altitude. It requires full to partial sun. It has moderate water requirements and does not tolerate frost. However, it is salt tolerant.

Propagation and planting

Combretum coccineum can be propagated by seed and cuttings, although propagation by cuttings is faster and more reliable. Average seed weight is 25.4 g/1000 seeds.

Management

Combretum coccineum can be pruned when it becomes too large. In a greenhouse it is best grown in a pot in order to flower well.

Genetic resources

Combretum coccineum is widespread and common in Madagascar, and therefore not threatened by genetic erosion. It is also widely cultivated as an ornamental.

Prospects

The fruits of Combretum coccineum, and several related species, have a very interesting use as an anthelmintic. Different plant parts also have other traditional medicinal uses. However, there is only very little chemical and pharmacological research available and more research is therefore warranted.

Major references

• Boiteau, P., Boiteau, M. & Allorge-Boiteau, L., 1999. Dictionnaire des noms malgaches de végétaux. 4 Volumes + Index des noms scientifiques avec leurs équivalents malgaches. Editions Alzieu, Grenoble, France.

• Gurib-Fakim, A. & Brendler, T., 2004. Medicinal and aromatic plants of Indian Ocean Islands: Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles and Mascarenes. Medpharm, Stuttgart, Germany. 568 pp.

• Jongkind, C.C.H., 1995. Prodromus for a revision of Combretum (Combretaceae) for Madagascar. Bulletin du Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle Section B, Adansonia Botanique Phytochimie. 17(3–4): 191–200.

• Perrier de la Bâthie, H., 1954. Combrétacées (Combretaceae). Flore de Madagascar et des Comores (plantes vasculaires), familles 147–151. Firmin-Didot et cie., Paris, France. 84 pp.

• Rahman, M.S., Begum, B., Chowdhury, R., Rahman, K.M. & Rashid, M.A., 2008. Preliminary cytotoxicity screening of some medicinal plants of Bangladesh. Dhaka University Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 7(1): 47–52.

Other references

• Abdou Raouf, O., 1987. Drogues et plantes medico-magiques comoriens. Mémoire pour l’obtention du Diplôme DEUG, Ecole Nationale d’Enseignement Supérieure, Moroni, Comores. 48 pp.

• Adjanohoun, E.J., Aké Assi, L., Ali Ahmed, Eymé, J., Guinko, S., Kayonga, A., Keita, A. & Lebras, M. (Editors), 1982. Médecine traditionelle et pharmacopée - Contribution aux études ethnobotaniques et floristiques aux Comores. Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique, Paris, France. 217 pp.

• Andriamanga, N., 1995. Les plantes médicinales anthelmintiques Malagasy. FOFIFA, DRZV (Direction des Recherches Zootechniques et en Vétérinaires), Antananarivo, Madagascar. 100 pp.

• Boiteau, P. & Allorge-Boiteau, L., 1993. Plantes médicinales de Madagascar. Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique, Paris, France. 135 pp.

• Chowdhury, R. & Islam, N., 2004. A hydroxylated mansumbinen-28-oic acid from Combretum coccineum. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 32(4): 443–445.

• CNRE (Centre National de Recherche sur l’Environnement) & ONE (Office National pour l’Environnement), 2001. Valorisation des filières potentielles en matière de biodiversité : les plantes médicinales dans la région de la forêt de Mikea. Rapport final des travaux de recherche dans la région de Mikea, Tuléar, Antananarivo, Madagascar. 105 pp.

• Rakotondramanana, N.M., 2007. Contribution à l’étude chimique des feuilles de Poivrea coccinea DC. (Combretaceae). Mémoire de Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies, Département Chimie Organique, Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar. 81 pp.

• Rakotoniriana, E.F., Rajaonarison, J.F., Raoelison, E.G., Rajaonarivelo, J.P., Manga, N., Solofoniaina, M., Rakotonirina, B., Randriamampionona, D., Rabemanantsoa, C., Cheuk, K., Urveg-Ratsimamanga, S. & Quetin Leclercq, J., 2010. Antimicrobial activity of 23 endemic plants in Madagascar. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 9(2): 165–171.

• Rasoanaivo, P., Petitjean, A. & Conan, J.Y., 1993. Toxic and poisonous plants of Madagascar: an ethnopharmacological survey. Fitoterapia 64: 117–129.

• Razafinimpanana, M., 1989. Contribution à l’étude des accoucheuses traditionnelles à Madagascar. Thèse pour l'obtention du grade de Docteur en médecine, Etablissement d'Enseignement Supérieur des Sciences de la Santé, Faculté de Médecine, Université d'Antananarivo, Madagascar. 66 pp.

Author(s)

• E.N. Matu, CTMDR/KEMRI, P.O. Box 54840–00200, Nairobi, Kenya

Correct citation of this article

Matu, E.N., 2011. Combretum coccineum (Sonn.) Lam. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. Accessed 18 December 2024.

• See the Prota4U database.