Cynomorium coccineum (PROTA)

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Introduction

List of species

General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Vegetable
Medicinal
Forage / feed
Food security

Cynomorium coccineum L.

distribution in Africa (wild)

Protologue: Sp. pl. 2: 970 (1753).

Family: Balanophoraceae

Chromosome number: 2n = 28

Synonyms

• Cynomorium songaricum Rupr. (1869).

Vernacular names

• Maltese mushroom, scarlet cynomorium (En).

Origin and geographic distribution

• Cynomorium coccineum occurs from the Canary Islands through the Mediterranean region to Mongolia and China. In tropical Africa it occurs in Mauritania, Sudan and Somalia.

Uses

In Sudan and northern Africa dried-up plant sap is externally applied to treat haemorrhoids, as well as nasal and uterine bleeding. An infusion of the entire plant is taken to treat hepatitis. In northern Africa and peninsular Arabia an infusion of the old blackened inflorescences is drunk to treat digestive disorders and stomach ulcers. Plant sap is externally applied to ulcers. Mixed with butter, the stem is eaten to treat liver and kidney problems, as well as impotence and infertility. In continental Asia Cynomorium coccineum is widely used as an anti-aging, anti-epilepsy and anti-stress medicine. In various herbal mixtures it is also used to treat a range of different diseases, including impotence.

The soft white inner part of the plant after removal of the outer skin has a sweet, crispy taste when eaten raw. In the Sahara region it has long been known as a famine food. Sheep, goats and dromedaries browse the plant. In northern Africa the dried and pulverized plant is used as a spice or condiment with meat dishes. In the United Arab Emirates women use the red pigment to dye cloth bright red.

Production and international trade

In northern Africa Cynomorium coccineum is traded fresh on a local scale as a refreshing snack. Dried plant parts are sold for medicinal use. In China the dried plant parts are widely traded for medicinal use, and are also available through the internet.

Properties

From Cynomorium coccineum several pharmacologically active compounds were isolated. Most recent research is done on Asian material. From the stems catechin, flavan-3-ol oligomers and tannins were isolated, as well as the triterpenes ursolic acid, acetyl ursolic acid and malonyl ursolic acid hemiester. From the aerial parts palmitic acid and sucrose were also isolated, as well as β-sitosterol palmitate, β-sitosterol and β-sitosterol glucoside (= daucosterol). The flavan-3-ol oligomers have been shown to inhibit activity of α-glucosidase. Malonyl ursolic acid hemiester was shown to significantly inhibit activity of HIV-1 protease.

Aqueous extracts show significant antioxidant activities in vitro. The ethyl acetate fraction of the aqueous extract significantly reduced staurosporine-induced apoptotic cell death in neuroblastoma cells.

In a preliminary test the juice of the fresh plant, when given to dogs, was found to significantly reduce blood pressure. An aqueous extract of the aerial parts showed a direct spermatogenic influence on the seminiferous tubules of immature rats. Young rats given an extract of the aerial parts during a prolonged period, showed significant increases in epididymal sperm count and absolute testes weights compared to the control group. In a laboratory test with rats, it was shown an extract of the aerial parts, given to rats during a period of intense endurance training, caused an increase in the reserves of liver glycogen and blood urea, and less accumulation of lactic acid.

The administration of the purified polysaccharide fraction to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats significantly decreased levels of blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and activities of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase. It effectively increased serum insulin level and the content of liver glycogen.

Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the aerial parts showed significant antibacterial activity in vitro, but no antifungal activity.

Description

Fleshy fungus-like, dark red holoparasite up to 30 cm tall, with rhizome-like tuber. Stem up to 80 cm long below soil surface, above ground up to 10 cm long. Leaves numerous, spirally arranged, scale-like, triangular. Inflorescence cylindrical, spadix-like, up to 12 cm × 4 cm, flowers numerous; scales present on the inflorescence. Flowers male, female and bisexual, irregular; tepals (1–)4–6(–8), linear, c. 1 mm long; male flowers with 1 stamen; female flower with inferior ovary, globose-ovoid, c. 1 mm long, 1-celled, style very slender, c. 2 mm long, 1-seeded. Fruit a small nutlet.

Other botanical information

Cynomorium comprises a single species with 2 subspecies, subsp. coccineum occurring in the Mediterranean region east to Iran, and subsp. songaricum (Rupr.) J.Léonard occurring in Central Asia, where it is often recognized as a separate species.

Growth and development

In Africa Cynomorium coccineum is flowering from (January–)March–April(–June), after sufficient rain. The flowers are pollinated by insects, mainly ants and flies.

Ecology

Cynomorium coccineum occurs in saline areas, on compacted sands, coastal sands and dunes and along roadsides, from sea-level up to 200 m altitude. It is a holoparasite occurring on the roots of a wide variety of shrubs, including Atriplex, Cistus, Frankenia, Halimione, Inula, Limonium, Medicago, Melilotus, Myrtus, Parapholis, Pistacia, Salsola and Tamarix in Africa. In Asia it is common on Nitraria sibirica Pallas.

Propagation and planting

Cynomorium coccineum is propagated by seed. Seed show dormancy, which is broken by chemical signals of host roots.

Harvesting

Stems and inflorescences of Cynomorium coccineum can be harvested during or just after the rainy season. The dried and shrivelled aerial parts can be collected as well.

Handling after harvest

The stems of Cynomorium coccineum can be used fresh in infusions and decoctions, or the sap can be squeezed for direct use for medicinal purposes. The peeled stems can be eaten fresh. The dried aerial parts can be powdered and kept in airtight containers for later use as medicine or spice.

Genetic resources

Cynomorium coccineum is relatively common throughout its area of distribution and does not seem to be in danger of genetic erosion.

Prospects

Interest in Cynomorium coccineum is increasing, especially in China, as pharmacological research reveals interesting results concerning its medicinal properties, including antioxidant, hypoglycaemic and antibacterial activities. As a result, plants are being extensively collected from wild populations for local and international trade. Local populations could therefore become extinct, although not much is known about its success rate to parasitize new plants. More research is therefore needed.

Major references

• Lu, Y., Wang, Q.G., Melzig, M.F. & Jenett-Siems, K., 2009. Extracts of Cynomorium songaricum protect SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells against staurosporine-induced apoptosis potentially through their radical scavenging activity. Phytotherapy Research 23(2): 257–261.
• Ma, C.M., Sato, N., Li, X.Y., Nakamura, N. & Hattori, M., 2010. Flavan-3-ol contents, anti-oxidative and alpha -glucosidase inhibitory activities of Cynomorium songaricum. Food Chemistry 118(1): 116–119.
• Neuwinger, H.D., 2000. African traditional medicine: a dictionary of plant use and applications. Medpharm Scientific, Stuttgart, Germany. 589 pp.
• Nishida, S., Kikuichi, S., Yoshioka, S., Tsubaki, M., Fujii, Y., Matsuda, H., Kubo, M. & Irimajiri, K., 2003. Induction of apoptosis in HL-60 cells treated with medicinal herbs. American Journal of Chinese Medicine 31(4): 551–562.
• Thulin, M., 1999. Balanophoraceae. In: Thulin, M. (Editor). Flora of Somalia. Volume 2. Angiospermae (Tiliaceae-Apiaceae). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. pp. 147–149.

Other references

• El-Rahman, H.A., El-Badry, A.A., Mahmoud, O.M. & Harraz, F.A., 1999. The effect of the aqueous extract of Cynomorium coccineum on the epididymal sperm pattern of the rat. Phytotherapy Research 13(3): 248–250.
• Hansen, B., 1986. The Balanophoraceae of continental Africa. Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik 106(3): 359–377.
• Hussein, G., Nakamura, N., Hattori, M., Kakiuchi, N. & Shimotohno, K., 2000. Inhibitory effects of Sudanese medicinal plant extracts on hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease. Phytotherapy Research 14: 510–516.
• Ramadan, A., Harraz, F.M. & El Naenaeey, E.Y., 1994. Antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plant extracts. Veterinary Medical Journal Giza 42(1): 47–53.
• Wang, J.L., Zhang, J., Zhao, B.T., Wu, Y.Q., Wang, C.X. & Wang, Y.P., 2010. Structural features and hypoglycaemic effects of Cynomorium songaricum polysaccharides on STZ-induced rats. Food Chemistry 120(2): 443–451.
• Wang, Z.B. & Li, J., 2011. The effect of Cynomorium on endurance and biochemical indexes of male rat. Xibei Shifan Daxue Xuebao 47(2): 112–114, 119.
• Yang, W.M., Kim, H.Y., Park, S.Y., Kim, H.M., Chang, M,S. & Park, S.K., 2010. Cynomorium songaricum induces spermatogenesis with glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) enhancement in rat testes. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 128(3): 693–696.
• Yu, F.R., Liu, Y., Cui, Y.Z., Chan, E.Q., Xie, M.R., McGuire, P.P. & Yu, F.H., 2010. Effects of a flavonoid extract from Cynomorium songaricum on the swimming endurance of rats. American Journal of Chinese Medicine 38(1): 65–73.
• Zhao, G., Wang, J., Qin, G.W. & Guo, L.H., 2010. Cynomorium songaricum extracts functionally modulate transporters of gamma-aminobutyric acid and monoamine. Neurochemical Research 35(4): 666–676.

Author(s)

• G.H. Schmelzer, PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Correct citation of this article

Schmelzer, G.H., 2012. Cynomorium coccineum L. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). Prota 11(2): Medicinal plants/Plantes médicinales 2. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. Accessed 6 March 2025.

• See this page on the Prota4U database.