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Bobgunnia madagascariensis
Bobgunnia madagascariensis (Bambara: samagara), also called the snake bean plant,[2] is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae. Sometimes sold as "Pau Rosa", along with Bobgunnia fistuloides. DescriptionBobgunnia madagascariensis is a small deciduous tree, 3–4 m tall. The plant has large pods that turn dark when ripe.[2] EcologyThe larvae of Abantis zambesiaca feed on B. madagascariensis. ToxicityBobgunnia madagascarensis is toxic.[3] Applications Poison composed of the roasted seeds of Bobgunnia madagascariensis and innards of the beetle Diamphidia nigroornata is applied to the arrows of the Bushmen.[citation needed] Seeds, fruits and stem bark are also used in fishing by poisoning in Africa.[4] ChemistryThe methanolic extract of the fruit of B. madagascariensis contains a saponin tetraglycoside.[5] The root bark of B. madagascariensis contains quinone methide diterpenes.[6] The seed pod contains two acidic saponins, swartziasaponin A and B and swartziagenin, a mixture of oleanolic and O-acetyloleanolic acid.[7] The pod methanolic extract yields highly glycosylated flavonoids (glycosides of kaempferol and quercetin).[8] The crude chloroform and methanol extracts of the stem bark of the plant show strong feeding deterrent activity against stored-product insect pest of maize Tribolium castaneum with the two compounds, methyl paraben and lupeol, being identified in these extracts.[citation needed] Other compounds in B. madagascariensis are (−)-maackiain, (−)-medicarpin, gypsogenin 3-O-rhamnosylglucuronide, (−)-homopterocarpin, pterocarpin, 4-methoxymedicarpin, 4-methoxymaackiain, 4-methoxyhomopterocarpin, 4-methoxypterocarpin, anhydrovariabilin and coumestrol dimethyl ether.[9] References
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