Alchornea laxiflora
Lowveld bead-string
Alchornea laxiflora, commonly known as a medicinal shrub native to tropical regions, holds significant ethnobotanical importance. Widely utilized in traditional medicine, its leaves and bark possess potent bioactive compounds. These properties offer therapeutic benefits, particularly for treating inflammatory conditions, skin ailments, and various digestive issues throughout indigenous communities.
- Scientific name: Alchornea laxiflora
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales, it is further categorized under the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Alchornea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Alchornea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Alchornea laxiflora, is referred to by several different common names depending on the language and region. In English, it is called the Lowveld bead-string, while in Chinese, it is identified as 疏花山麻杆 (zh), 疏花山麻杆 (zh-cn), or 疏花山麻桿 (zh-tw). Additionally, in the Dag language, it is known as Alchornea.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 疏花山麻杆 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 疏花山麻杆 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 疏花山麻桿 | Wikidata |
| dag | Alchornea | Wikidata |
| en | Lowveld bead-string | Wikidata |
| en | Venda Bead-string | Wikidata |
| af | Laeveldkralesnoer | Wikidata |
| af | Venda-kralesnoer | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Guinea, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species is also found within West-Central Tropical Africa. Specifically, its range extends into the Central African Republic and reaches as far as Burundi. Consequently, the distribution of Alchornea laxiflora covers a vast area of tropical habitats.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gabon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Alchornea laxiflora, possesses distinct morphological features across its various structures that contribute to its medicinal profile. The stem serves as a sturdy support system, providing the structural framework for the plant's upward growth. Attached to this framework are the leaves, which are typically characterized by their specific shape and vein patterns essential for photosynthesis. Each individual leaf acts as a primary site for biochemical production, often containing the active compounds sought for therapeutic use. Beneath the surface, the root system anchors the plant firmly in the soil and facilitates the absorption of water and nutrients necessary for its survival.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Alchornea laxiflora has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include fatty acids, flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, triterpenes.
- Total chemicals
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fatty acids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triterpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Alchornea laxiflora has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticonvulsant, Inflammatory.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anticonvulsant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Inflammatory | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Alchornea laxiflora has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, mitochondria dysfunction.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Enterococcus faecalis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| mitochondria dysfunction | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |