Connarus (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Connarus L.
- Protologue: Sp. pl. 2: 675 (1753); Gen. pl. ed. 5: 305 (1754).
- Family: Connaraceae
- Chromosome number: x= unknown
Origin and geographic distribution
Connarus comprises approximately 80 species and occurs in all tropical areas: 7 species in Africa, about 20 in tropical Asia, 1 in Australia, 2 in Melanesia, and about 50 in tropical America. In the Malesian region, 19 species have been recorded.
Uses
Many different parts of Connarus plants are used in South-East Asia. In traditional medicine, roots are used internally to treat fever, amenorrhoea and bubonic plague, and externally to treat itch. Bark is used to treat asthma, chest complaints and stomach-ache, and leaves to treat chest complaints, fever and as anthelmintic. In Peninsular Malaysia, the fruits of C. ferrugineus Jack have been used for killing dogs. The lianescent stems are used for binding. Young shoots of C. semidecandrus are occasionally eaten as a vegetable. The seed-oil of C. monocarpus is used in soap production in India.
In Africa, C. africanus Lamk (which is related to C. monocarpus ) is used in traditional medicine. A hot decoction of the bark is used to wash ulcers, powdered bark is applied to wounds, and root bark serves as a taenicide. The sap from the leaves is administered in the form of nose drops in cases of syncope; aphrodisiac properties have also been attributed to it. Dried and ground seeds are taken as a purge and vermifuge. In tropical America, Connarus is also considered useful in traditional medicine, e.g. the leaves of C. suberosus Planchon are applied to treat malaria.
Properties
The presence of myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, delphinidin and cyanidin has been demonstrated in leaf extracts of C. semidecandrus . In India, 1% rapanon, 1.5% bergenin (an isocoumarin) and 1.3% leucopelargonidin (a flavone diol) have been isolated from C. monocarpus roots. The hepatoprotective effects of bergenin (isolated from Mallotus japonicus (Thunberg) Müll. Arg.) were evaluated against carbontetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats. The results clearly indicated that bergenin has a potent protective activity.
In tests on mice in Indonesia, an ethanolic extract of C. grandis leaves showed depressant activity on the central nervous system, and also dose-dependent sympholitic, parasympathomimetic and muscle-relaxant activities. Extracts of C. suberosus from South America also showed depressive action on the central nervous system of mice, rats and guinea-pigs, and additionally analgesic and anticonvulsive activities.
Botany
Lianas or shrubs to small trees. Leaves alternate, imparipinnate or trifoliolate, rarely unifoliolate; stipules absent; leaflets opposite or not, usually acuminate at apex, often glandular punctate; stipels absent. Inflorescence an axillary panicle, often appearing terminal and compound by a reduced development of the leaves. Flowers bisexual, 5-merous, heterostylous; pedicel with a distinct joint; sepals connate at base, often thick and fleshy, usually glandular punctate; petals free or slightly coherent, more or less pilose outside and often glandular hairy inside, whitish to pinkish; stamens 10, epipetalous ones shorter and often rudimentary, filaments connate at base, longer ones often with stipitate glands, anthers often with glandular hairs at apex; ovary 1, superior, 1-celled, style often pilose and with stipitate glands. Fruit a follicle, opening lengthwise along the ventral suture, sometimes also along the dorsal suture, usually stipitate and with a short mucro apically, red when mature, 1-seeded. Seed attached to the ventral side of the follicle, ovoid or slightly kidney-shaped, testa shiny black with yellow and fleshy sarcotesta below the lateral hilum; cotyledons thick, planoconvex; endosperm absent. Seedling with hypogeal germination; cotyledons sessile, at most slightly spreading, testa persistent; first leaves opposite and unifoliolate or scale-like.
Connarus belongs to the tribe Connareae characterized by a single carpel per flower, together with Ellipanthus , which always has 1-foliolate leaves.
Ecology
Most Connarus species are lianas of the forest at low and medium altitudes (up to 1100(-1400) m), but some can also be found in more open locations, even as a shrub in grassland.
Genetic resources
The Connarus species treated here have a wide distribution and ecological amplitude, and are not at risk of genetic erosion. Several other species have a very limited distribution in South-East Asia and may easily become endangered, e.g. C. agamae Merr. and C. lucens Schellenb. in northern Borneo, C. ferrugineus Jack in Peninsular Malaysia, C. lamii Leenh. in Irian Jaya, and C. schumannianus Gilg in Papua New Guinea.
Prospects
Very little research has been conducted on the chemistry and pharmacological properties of Connarus . However, the fact that Connarus is used in traditional medicine in all tropical areas for similar complaints warrants more research.
Literature
120, 731.
Selection of species
Authors
Wardah
