This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Mobola Plum works primarily through its high tannin and flavonoid content, which exert astringent effects on the digestive tract. These compounds bind to proteins in the intestinal lining to form a protective barrier, reducing fluid secretion and inflammation. Additionally, phenolic acids in the bark provide antimicrobial properties that may help combat intestinal pathogens responsible for infections. This combination of astringent and antimicrobial actions supports its traditional use for managing diarrhea. Evidence level: C.
Does Mobola Plum interact with prescription medications?
Yes, Mobola Plum has potential drug interactions due to its significant tannin content. Tannins can bind to certain drugs in the gastrointestinal tract, particularly iron supplements and alkaloid-based medications, reducing their absorption and efficacy. To minimize this interaction, separate the intake of Mobola Plum preparations from prescription medications by at least two to three hours. Patients taking antihypertensives or anticoagulants should consult a healthcare provider before use. Evidence level: D (theoretical).
What is the recommended dosage for Mobola Plum bark?
The traditional adult dosage for Mobola Plum bark is 6 to 15 grams daily, typically prepared as a decoction or infusion. Because clinical evidence is limited to preclinical studies (Level C), users should adhere to the lowest effective dose necessary to manage symptoms. Due to the high tannin content, prolonged use or exceeding this dosage range is not recommended without professional guidance, as it may lead to adverse digestive effects.
Is Mobola Plum safe to take during pregnancy?
No, Mobola Plum is considered unsafe during pregnancy. The high tannin concentration and potential for uterine stimulation pose risks to fetal development and pregnancy maintenance. Traditional medicinal knowledge contraindicates its use for expectant mothers. Furthermore, the herb's strong astringent properties can cause constipation and dehydration, which are undesirable during pregnancy. Women who are breastfeeding should also avoid this herb due to a lack of safety data.
What are the side effects of Mobola Plum?
The primary side effect associated with Mobola Plum is constipation, resulting from the astringent action of tannins on the digestive system. Excessive consumption can lead to hardened stools, abdominal discomfort, and potential bowel obstruction. For this reason, individuals with a history of chronic constipation or gastrointestinal blockage should strictly avoid this herb. Long-term use may also interfere with the absorption of dietary minerals like iron. Evidence level: Traditional.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Parinari curatellifolia, known as Mobola plum, is an African underutilized plant used as a food source and in ethnomedicine [PMID:39866452]. It exhibits various biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative effects [PMID:39866452, PMID:33178265].
Background
Mobola plum (Parinari curatellifolia) is a prominent evergreen tree from the Miombo woodland of south-central and eastern Africa, with a natural habitat stretching from West to Southern Africa [PMID:39866452, PMID:37928381].
Traditional uses
In Sub-Saharan Africa, plant decoctions are used to treat cancer, pneumonia, fever, microbial infections, anti-inflammation [PMID:27549624], stomach ailments, body aches, wound healing, and tuberculosis [PMID:27457758]. It is also employed in the treatment of leukemia, anemia, malaria [PMID:37599500], and bone disorders [PMID:41151042], and is used by traditional practitioners in Lubumbashi to treat female infertility [PMID:41349704].
Active compounds
The plant contains alkaloids, flavonoids, and saponins [PMID:33178265]. Specific compounds identified include ent-kaurene diterpenoids (13-methoxy-15-oxozoapatlin, 13-hydroxy-15-oxozoapatlin, and 15-oxozoapatlin) in the root bark [PMID:8620568]. Seed oils are rich in erucic acid [PMID:33473275] or composed of alpha-eleostearic, linoleic, and oleic acids [PMID:34500642]. The cork contains suberin, lignin, and polysaccharides [PMID:37928381].
Mechanism of action
Ethanolic leaf extracts may increase glucose transport in intestinal epithelia (Caco-2 cells) by increasing glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) levels, while inhibiting insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipocytes [PMID:41244198]. Certain diterpenoids may exert cytotoxic effects via Michael-type addition with cellular nucleophiles [PMID:8620568].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DHepatic Necrosis (Rat Model)
Flavonoid extracts from seeds showed hepatoprotective potential against acetaminophen-induced necrosis [PMID:25313285]
Evidence DPolycystic Ovary Syndrome (Rat Model)
Hydroethanolic extract from root bark showed beneficial effects on weight, hormonal, metabolic, and hepatic disturbances in letrozole-induced PCOS [PMID:41349704]
Evidence DCancer (In Vitro)
Root bark diterpenoids and leaf extracts demonstrated antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines [PMID:8620568, PMID:33178265]
Evidence DMycobacterium smegmatis (In Vitro)
Leaf extracts inhibited biofilm formation and growth, with methanol and ethanol extracts showing an MIC of 25 µg/mL [PMID:28558683, PMID:33763648]
Evidence DMalaria (In Vitro/In Vivo)
Aqueous leaves and bark mixture extract exhibited antiplasmodial activity against P. falciparum and osteoprotective effects in P. berghei-compromised rats [PMID:41151042]
Safety & adverse effects
Methanol stem bark extract in female Wistar rats showed an LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg [PMID:37599500]. Sub-chronic administration (100-400 mg/kg/day) led to significantly increased HCT, PLT, MCH, and MCHC levels, while WBC levels were reduced [PMID:37599500].
Drug interactions
Leaf extracts were found to inhibit glutathione transferases (GSTs) in rats, which are enzymes involved in the detoxification of xenobiotics and herbal medicines [PMID:27457758].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is based primarily on in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), demonstrating significant pharmacological potential in antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, and anticancer activities, but lacks human clinical trials.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 39866452 (2025) — Parinari curatellifolia: A treasure trove of phytochemicals, nutritional benefits, and biological activities. · Heliyon
2.PMID: 41349704 (2026) — Lubumbashi's medicinal plants against female infertility and the beneficial effects of Parinari curatellifolia Planch. Ex Benth., in the letrozole induced polycystic ovary syndrome in the female albino rats. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
3.PMID: 27549624 (2016) — Multiple cellular effects of leaf extracts from Parinari curatellifolia. · BMC complementary and alternative medicine
4.PMID: 35184010 (2022) — Metabolomic and chemometric profiles of ten southern African indigenous fruits. · Food chemistry
5.PMID: 25313285 (2014) — Protective effects of Parinari curatellifolia flavonoids against acetaminophen-induced hepatic necrosis in rats.
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 33178265 (2020) — Determination of the Cytotoxic Effect of Different Leaf Extracts from Parinari curatellifolia (Chrysobalanaceae). · Journal of toxicology
7.PMID: 28558683 (2017) — Inhibition of biofilm formation in Mycobacterium smegmatis by Parinari curatellifolia leaf extracts. · BMC complementary and alternative medicine
8.PMID: 37631032 (2023) — Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, and Anticancer Potentials of African Medicinal Fruits: A Comprehensive Review. · Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
9.PMID: 27457758 (2016) — In vivo and in vitro inhibition of rat liver glutathione transferases activity by extracts from Combretum zeyheri (Combretaceae) and Parinari curatellifolia (Chrysobalanaceae). · BMC complementary and alternative medicine
10.PMID: 15080640 (2004) — Volatile flavor constituents of fruits from Southern Africa: Mobola plum (Parinari curatellifolia). · Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
11.PMID: 33763648 (2021) — Isolation and Antimicrobial Activities of Phytochemicals from Parinari curatellifolia (Chrysobalanaceae). · Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences
12.PMID: 37599500 (2023) — Toxicity assessment of methanol extract of Parinari curatellifolia Planch ex. Benth. · Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
13.PMID: 37928381 (2023) — Cork cellular and chemical features underlying bark environmental protection in the miombo species Parinari curatellifolia. · Heliyon
14.PMID: 8620568 (1996) — Cell-cycle specific cytotoxicity mediated by rearranged ent-kaurene diterpenoids isolated from Parinari curatellifolia. · Chemico-biological interactions
15.PMID: 41244198 (2025) — Assessment of distinct effects of Parinari curatellifolia Planch.ex Benth Ethanolic leaf extract on glucose transport in different cell types. · PeerJ
16.PMID: 28850221 (2017) — Comprehensive Dual Liquid Chromatography with Quadruple Mass Spectrometry (LC1MS2 × LC1MS2 = LC2MS4) for Analysis of Parinari Curatellifolia and Other Seed Oil Triacylglycerols. · Analytical chemistry
17.PMID: 33473275 (2021) — Lipid composition and antioxidant activities of some underused wild plants seeds from Burundi. · Food science & nutrition
18.PMID: 41151042 (2026) — Osteoprotective Effects and In Silico Profiling of Parinari curatellifolia Planch. Ex Benth. (Chrysobalanaceae) Extract on Acute Plasmodium berghei-Compromised Rat Bone. · Chemistry & biodiversity
19.PMID: 21399602 (2010) — Antimycobacterial activities of selected medicinal plants from Zimbabwe against Mycobacterium aurum and Corynebacterium glutamicum. · Tropical biomedicine
20.PMID: 38403583 (2024) — An ethnobotanical study of wild edible fruits in miombo woodlands of Tabora region in Western Tanzania. · Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine
21.PMID: 12601673 (2003) — In vitro antiplasmodial evaluation of medicinal plants from Zimbabwe. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
22.PMID: 34500642 (2021) — The Chemical Composition of Oils and Cakes of Ochna serrulata (Ochnaceae) and Other Underutilized Traditional Oil Trees from Western Zambia. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
23.PMID: 40319331 (2025) — Ethnobotanical survey and antimycobacterial activities of plants used against tuberculosis in Lubumbashi, DR Congo. · Tropical medicine and health
24.PMID: 31800768 (2020) — Potential of some autochthonous wild plants of Burundi for vegetable oil and valuable compounds production. · Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia
25.PMID: 18672045 (2008) — Antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants against oral microorganisms. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
26.PMID: 22014738 (2011) — Antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, haemolytic and antioxidant activities of crude extracts from three selected Togolese medicinal plants. · Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine