Prunus africana

African Cherry / Red Stinkwood

Prunus africana, known as the African cherry or red stinkwood, is an evergreen tree found in montane forests across sub-Saharan Africa — from Ethiopia and Kenya to South Africa. The bark has been used in traditional medicine for centuries to treat fevers, malaria, stomach pain, and prostate disorders, earning it the local name ‘the prostate tree’ in some regions.

The bark contains phytosterols (beta-sitosterol), pentacyclic triterpenes (ursolic and oleanolic acids), and ferulic acid esters. These compounds inhibit 5-alpha-reductase and aromatase enzymes, reducing prostate epithelial cell proliferation. Prunus africana is one of the most commercially harvested medicinal trees in Africa, supporting a multi-million-dollar export industry to Europe for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treatments.

Chemical Constituents

Beta-sitosterol, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, ferulic acid esters, n-docosanol, lauric acid.

Conservation Status

Listed in CITES Appendix II due to international trade demand. Sustainable bark-harvesting techniques are critical for species survival.