Botanical name: Combretum micranthum G. Don, Combretaceae
Main 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 according to literature: General plant constituents such as organic acids, flavones and tannins. Quaternary alkaloids combretins A and B, catechins, glycosides, choline, organic acids, tannins and resin, flavonoids (vitexin and saponaretin), inositol, sorbitol, organic acids, 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. The leaves of C. micranthum are included in the French Pharmacopoeia 1937 and the Spanish Pharmacopoeia as cholagogues and antipyretics.