pawpaw
Asimina triloba · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (655 studies) · ★★★★★
Pawpaw, scientifically known as Asimina triloba, is a unique North American perennial prized for its large, tropical-looking leaves and custard-like fruit. Beyond its delicious flavor, this botanical wonder holds significant medicinal potential, offering bioactive compounds traditionally used to support digestive health and provide potent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
Names
Common Names
- dog-banana
- Indian-banana
- pawpawtree
- American paw paw
- Indiana banana
- bandango
- common paw paw
- custard apple
- false-banana
- fetid-bush
- papaw
- paw-paw
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Porcelia triloba
- Uvaria triloba
- Asimina glabra
- Annona triloba
- Annona pendula
- chirimoyo de la Florida
German:
- Dreilappige Papau
- Indianerbanane
- Papau
- Dreilappige Papau
- Indianerbanane
French:
- asiminier trilobé
- Annona triloba
- asiminier trilobe
- asiminier
- aciminier
- aciminier
- asiminier trilobé
- asiminier
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Asimina trilobaSynonyms
- Uvaria triloba
- Porcelia triloba
- Annona pendula
- Annona triloba
- Uvaria conoidea
- Orchidocarpum arietinum
- Asimina campaniflora
- Asimina conoidea
- Asimina glabra
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Magnoliales and the family Annonaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is established under the genus Asimina.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Magnoliales | WCVP |
| Family | Annonaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Asimina | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant, known as Asimina triloba, exhibits a specific range across North American landscapes. In Eastern Canada, its presence can be documented within the province of Ontario. Moving into the North-Central United States, the species is widely distributed across several key states. Specifically, it thrives in the regions of Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas. Additionally, its geographical footprint extends further south into Missouri.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Canada | Ontario | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Illinois | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Iowa | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Kansas | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Missouri | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Nebraska | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Oklahoma | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Wisconsin | WCVP |
| Northeastern U.S.A. | Indiana | WCVP |
| Northeastern U.S.A. | Michigan | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Asimina triloba, contains various components that are traditionally studied for their biological properties. The bark and the stem bark are often examined for their chemical constituents, which can be harvested from the woody structure of the plant. Furthermore, the reproductive elements, including the seeds and the fleshy fruits, play a significant role in the plant's lifecycle and are frequently analyzed in pharmacological research due to their unique bioactive compounds.| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| bark | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Asimina triloba has 115 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Asimicin, (+)-Syringaresinol, (Z)-Hex-3-en-1-ol, 10-Hydroxyasimicin, 10-Hydroxytrilobacin.
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Asimicin | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-Syringaresinol | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (Z)-Hex-3-en-1-ol | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 10-Hydroxyasimicin | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 10-Hydroxytrilobacin | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3-hydroxybutan-2-one | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4-Hexanolide | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4-Octanolide | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ACETOGENINS | Journal of economic entomology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Annonaceous Acetogenins | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Asimina triloba has 522 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Antiviral, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimalarial | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 11B-HSD-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ACE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AChE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ATPase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acaricide | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acarifuge | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Asimina triloba has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, fleas, head lice, ticks.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fleas | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| head lice | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ticks | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| EtOH extract of the bark of Asimina triloba | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |