Strophanthus

Strophanthus hispidus, Illustration

Strophanthus ( Syn: Cercocoma, Christya, Roupellia, Roupellina, Zygonerion ) is a plant genus of the subfamily Apocynoideae in the family of the dogbane family ( Apocynaceae ).

Description

The Strophanthus species are woody plants: they grow as shrubs or small trees, mostly in forest areas; However, you can also climb as vines on trees and so grow up to the treetops. The against-constant leaves are simple.

The hermaphrodite flowers are fünfzählig. The five petals are fused Roehrig. The five corolla lobes are very long in some species.

Medical importance / Toxicology

The Strophanthus species contain pharmacologically active ingredients. In addition to the alkaloid Inoein contain several species ( S. eminii, p kombe, S. hispidus and S. gratus ) toxic cardiac glycosides, the Strophanthine, which are among the cardiac glycosides. They are found mainly in the seeds ( Strophanthi Semina ). Differences are the different ouabain - structures by a preceding letter, which refers to the way in which the respective glycoside is mainly found:

  • Strophanthus kombé contains k- strophanthin ( also are Helveticosid ( Erysimin ) and cymarin included)
  • Strophanthus gratus contains g - strophanthin ( ouabain engl. = )
  • Strophanthus eminii includes e - strophanthin
  • Strophanthus hispidus contains h- strophanthin

These toxins have been used as arrow poisons in Africa. Approximately 50 micrograms are fatal for a guinea pig (about 250 micrograms per kilogram of body weight). There is no antidote, and the toxicity is higher than that of snake venoms. Residents of East Africa gained from the bark of the African baobab tree ( Adansonia digitata ), however, a hitherto unknown agent which should protect them from the effect of the Strophanthus arrow poisons.

G - and k- strophanthin are used in medicine in heart failure; g - strophanthin orally and k- strophanthin intravenously. Except in Strophanthus gratus comes g - strophanthin ( ouabain ) also available in Acokanthera ouabaio.

The aglycone of k- strophanthin, which is also very toxic k- strophanthidin, is contained in the well in Europe domestic summer pheasant's eye (Adonis aestivalis ).

Types and distribution

Most of about 38 to 48 different Strophanthus species are found in Africa. Some species, however, are located in Asia.

  • Strophanthus aambe
  • Strophanthus alterniflorus
  • Strophanthus amboensis (Namibia)
  • Strophanthus annamensis
  • Strophanthus arboreus
  • Strophanthus arnoldianus (tropical Africa)
  • Strophanthus aurantiacus
  • Strophanthus barteri ( from the Ivory Coast to Cameroon)
  • Strophanthus bequaertii
  • Strophanthus boivinni (Madagascar)
  • Strophanthus brevicaudatus
  • Strophanthus bullenianus (Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria)
  • Strophanthus capensis ( capensis)
  • Strophanthus caudate (syn.: S. dichotomus ) ( Southeast Asia)
  • Strophanthus chinensis
  • Strophanthus congoensis (Congo)
  • Strophanthus courmontii (tropical Africa): S. courmontii var courmontii
  • S. fallax var courmontii
  • S. courmontii var kerkii
  • Strophanthus gossweileri (Angola)
  • Strophanthus gracilis (Central Africa)
  • Strophanthus grandiflorus (tropical Africa)
  • Strophanthus gratus (syn.: S. glabra or S. glaber, Roupellia grata ) (Central Africa)
  • Strophanthus hirsutus (Angola)
  • Strophanthus hispidus (Sudan, Congo Basin, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone)
  • Strophanthus hypoleucus (tropical Africa)
  • Strophanthus intermedius (Angola)
  • Strophanthus kombe, Kombésamen plant, Strophanthus Seed Plant ( Africa south of the Sahara)
  • Strophanthus longicalyx (Angola)
  • Strophanthus luteolus ( capensis)
  • Strophanthus mirabilis (tropical Africa)
  • Strophanthus nicholsoni (tropical Africa)
  • Strophanthus paxii (Angola)
  • Strophanthus petersianus (South African corkscrew flower, Africa south of the Sahara)
  • Strophanthus preussii (West African corkscrew flower, tropical Africa)
  • Strophanthus sarmentosus (West Africa)
  • Strophanthus scandens ( Malacca )
  • Strophanthus schuchardtii (Angola)
  • Strophanthus speciosus ( capensis)
  • Strophanthus thollonii (Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria)
  • Strophanthus vanderijstii (Democratic Republic of Congo)
  • Strophanthus wallichii (Indian subcontinent)
  • Strophanthus welwitschii (syn.: S. Ecaudatus, Zygonerion welwitschii )
  • Strophanthus wightianus (Indian subcontinent)

Pictures

Strophanthus sarmentosus, flowering.

Strophanthus sarmentosus, fruit.

Swell

  • Entry in the Flora of China. (English )
Gentianales Liana
752043
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