Elephantfoots
Adenia · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (21 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Elephantfoot, scientifically known as Adenia, is a fascinating genus of succulent climbing plants found across tropical Africa and Asia. Renowned for their massive, tuberous caudexes used for water storage, these plants offer significant ethnobotanical value, providing various traditional medicinal applications for treating diverse ailments in diverse cultures.
- Family
- Passifloraceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Not available
- Common names
- Elephantfoots · Elephantroots
- Scientific synonyms
- Erythrocarpus · Machadoa · 8 more
Names and Synonyms
Common Names
- Elephantfoots
- Elephantroots
Scientific Names
Accepted name
AdeniaSynonyms
- Erythrocarpus
- Machadoa
- Microblepharis
- Modecca
- Echinothamnus
- Clemanthus
- Keramanthus
- Paschanthus
- Blepharanthes
- Jaeggia
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Machadoa
- Jaeggia
- Blepharanthes
- Echinothamnus
- Keramanthus
- Ophiocaulon
- Microblepharis
- Clemanthus
- Modecca
- Paschanthus
German:
- Machadoa
- Kolbia
- Jaeggia
- Blepharanthes
- Keramanthus
- Ophiocaulon
- Erythrocarpos
- Microblepharis
- Clemanthus
- Modecca
- Echinothammus
- Paschanthus
Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Passifloraceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Adenia.
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Malpighiales |
| Family | Passifloraceae |
| Genus | Adenia |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Distribution
This plant is geographically distributed across several regions within West Tropical Africa. It can be found growing in the country of Benin. Additionally, its presence extends to the nations of Burkina and Ghana. The distribution also includes the territory of Guinea-Bissau. Finally, this medicinal species is also documented in Guinea.
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Activities
Adenia has 9 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Anesthetic, Anticholinesterase, Anticoagulant, Antidepressant.
| Activity | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anesthetic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticholinesterase | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticoagulant | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidepressant | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antithrombotic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Thrombolytic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Analgesic
- Frontiers in pharmacology
Anesthetic
- Frontiers in pharmacology
Anticholinesterase
- Frontiers in pharmacology
Anticoagulant
- Frontiers in pharmacology
Antidepressant
- Frontiers in pharmacology
Antimicrobial
- Frontiers in pharmacology
Antioxidant
- Frontiers in pharmacology
Antithrombotic
- Frontiers in pharmacology
Thrombolytic
- Frontiers in pharmacology
Medicinal Uses
Adenia has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include abdominal pain, cancer, colic, dysentery, headaches.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| abdominal pain | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colic | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dysentery | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| headaches | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| infections | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| infertility | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leprosy | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |