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Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, saponins and phenolic compounds in the roots, and in lower amounts, in the leaves. From the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the crude methanolic leaf extract the flavonoids quercetin and the quercetin-related compounds rutin and quercitrin were isolated. These compounds showed significant antimicrobial activity against several gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The anti-oxidant activity of the root and leaf extracts have been compared with that of the standard anti-oxidant butylated hydroxyanisole. The crude hexane and methanol extracts of ''Alchornea laxiflora'' showed 65–75% activity for root extracts, and ca. 40% activity for leaf extracts in comparison to the standard anti-oxidant compound.

Deciduous, erect to straggling shrub or small tree up to 7(–10) m tall, monoecious with male and female inflorescences on separate branches; bark smooth, pale grey, flaking; young shoots shortly hairy to almost glabrous. Leaves alternate, simple; stipules linear, 2–8 mm long; petiole 1–7(–9) cm long, thickened at both ends with 2 filiform, 1–3 mm long stipels at top; blade elliptical-lanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate, 5–18 cm × 3–8 cm, base rounded or cuneate, apex acuminate, margins shallowly toothed, glandular at base, sparingly shortly hairy on the veins, base 3-veined, reddish when young. Male inflorescence an axillary spike or raceme up to 12 cm long, developing on older twigs just before new leaf flush, bracts ovate, 1.5–5 mm long; female inflorescence a terminal, lax spike up to 10 cm long, few-flowered, bracts ovate-lanceolate, 2–3 mm long, glandular at base. Flowers unisexual, sessile; male flowers with 2–4(–5), almost round to ovate, reflexed, yellowish green or white sepals, petals absent, stamens 8–9, filaments united into a basal plate; female flowers with 5–6, almost round to ovate, acute, unequal, slightly toothed sepals, petals absent, ovary superior, almost globose, c. 1 mm × 1.5 mm, scarcely 3-lobed, smooth, shortly hairy, styles (2–)3, up to 1.5 cm long, united at base, red. Fruit a 3-lobed capsule 5–7 mm × 7–8 mm, smooth, dark green, brown or black, slightly shortly hairy, 3-seeded. Seeds ovoid to almost globose, c. 4 mm × 3 mm, smooth or slightly rough, slightly shiny, pale brown or greyish.

''Alchornea'' is pantropical and comprises about 50 species, of which 6 occur in tropical Africa.

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