Planta Med 2016; 82(S 01): S1-S381
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1596373
Abstracts
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Identification of South African medicinal barks

EL Kotina
1   Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa
,
PM Tilney
1   Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa
,
BE van Wyk
1   Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 December 2016 (online)

 

Information about the morphology and anatomy of the bark of South African trees is incomplete despite the fact that more than 40 species are regularly traded [1,2,4] and used as raw material in traditional medicine. In KwaZulu-Natal alone, bark of at least 174 species is used [3]. Inadequate data is available for the accurate identification of bark which is essential for many reasons, including conservation management, quality control, forensic studies and toxicology. As a contribution towards developing a standard terminology and detailed descriptions of bark for use in pharmacognosy, a selection of 22 medicinally important South African trees was studied. Classical anatomical methods were used to describe the bark of Acacia karoo, Adansonia digitata, Adenia gummifera, Calodendrum capense, Ekebergia capensis, Erythrina lysistemon, Harpephyllum caffrum, Heteromorpha arborescens, Heteropyxis canescens, H. natalensis, Kigelia africana, Ocotea bullata, Prunus africana, Ptaeroxylon obliquum, Rauvolfia caffra, Sclerocarya birrea, Steganotaenia araliacea, Syzygium cordatum, Trichilia emetica, Vachellia xanthophloea, Warburgia salutaris and Zanthoxylum capense. Characters and character states found in these species showed that a rich diversity of diagnostic features are available and that a combination of morphology, anatomy, chemistry, smell and taste can be used for diagnostic purposes.

Acknowledgements: University of Johannesburg and the National Research Foundation of South Africa.

Keywords: Bark, morphology, anatomy, diagnostic characters, plant identification.

References:

[1] Van Wyk B-E, Van Oudtshoorn B, Gericke N. Medicinal plants of South Africa. Pretoria: Briza publications, 2009

[2] Von Ahlefeldt D, Crouch NR, Nichols G, Symmonds R, McKean S, Sibiya H, Cele MP. Medicinal plants traded on South Africa's eastern seaboard. Durban: Ethekwini Parks Department and University of Natal, 2003

[3] Grace OM, Prendergast HDV, Jäger AK, Van Staden J. Bark medicines used in traditional healthcare in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: An inventory. S Afr J Bot 2003; 69: 301 – 363

[4] Grace OM, Prendergast HDV, Van Staden J, Jäger AK. The status of bark in South African traditional health care. S Afr J Bot 2002; 68: 21 – 30