Alchornea cordifolia

BotanicalBest with a meal

What is it

Alchornea cordifolia (Christmas bush) is a shrub native to tropical Africa, used in West African traditional medicine for diarrhea, infections, wound healing, and inflammatory conditions. Leaves, stems, and roots are all used.

Evidence for 2 uses

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Diarrhea and gastrointestinal infections (traditional use)

Mixed Evidence

Widely used in West African traditional medicine; antimicrobial activity is demonstrated in vitro. No high-quality controlled clinical trials in humans support specific efficacy claims.

Wound healing and skin infections (topical, traditional)

Mixed Evidence

Traditional topical use; preclinical data only.

How it works

The plant contains alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, and saponins. In vitro work has shown antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, and anti-inflammatory activity across several extract types. Tannin-rich extracts have astringent properties that may explain traditional use for diarrhea. Well-controlled human clinical trial evidence is extremely limited. Most documentation comes from ethnobotanical surveys and preclinical investigations of antimicrobial activity against tropical pathogens.

Dosage

No established RDA. Traditional doses of dried leaf or root preparations vary widely depending on local practice; no clinical dosing standard exists for any indication.

When and how to take it

Traditional preparations are usually taken between meals to avoid interference with food and other medications. No evidence-based timing recommendation exists.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Dried leaf or root powder

Most traditional form, taken as decoction or paste.

Active constituents are diverse; absorption not characterized.

Safety

Traditional use suggests reasonable tolerability at customary doses. Modern safety data are sparse. Concentrated extracts contain high levels of tannins, which can cause GI upset and may interfere with iron and protein absorption.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to lack of safety data. People with iron deficiency anemia should be cautious of high-tannin preparations. People on prescription medications should separate doses by at least 2 hours.

Interactions

Tannin-rich preparations may reduce absorption of medications, iron supplements, and dietary protein. Otherwise no specific interactions are documented.

Frequently asked questions

Is Alchornea cordifolia available as a supplement in the U.S.?⌄

Rarely. Most use is in West Africa as a traditional herbal medicine.

Is it safe?⌄

Traditional use suggests it is reasonably tolerated, but modern safety data are sparse. Avoid during pregnancy and consult a clinician before use if you are on medications.

References

Alchornea cordifolia on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Alchornea cordifolia on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Alchornea cordifolia (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.