© Thomas Brendler
Botanical name: Combretum micranthum G. Don, Combretaceae
Synonyms: C. altum Perr., C. floribundum Engl. & Diels, C. raimbaultii Heck
Vernacular names: Kinkeleba
Geographical distribution: Western Africa in savannah and forests.
Description: C. micranthum is a shrub on rocky outcrops, but in woodlands may be a small tree with a stem diameter of up to 10 cm, or a liana reaching heights of up to 20 m.
Origin: Western Africa
Chemical constituents: Quaternary alkaloids combretins A and B, catechins, glycosides, choline, organic acids, tannins and resin, flavonoids (vitexin and saponaretin), inositol, sorbitol, minerals.
Pharmacology: The presence of maleic, glyceric and glycolic acid and catechin may explain the diuretic action.
Medicinal uses: Widely used as a general panaceae and known for its diuretic, febrifugal and digestive activities. The leaves of C. micranthum are included in the French Pharmacopoeia 1937 and the Spanish Pharmacopoeia as cholagogues and antipyretics.