Aspidosperma
Aspidosperma, commonly known as various local names depending on the species, belongs to the Apocynaceae family. These tropical plants are highly valued in ethnobotany for their diverse alkaloid content. Often used in traditional medicine, their extracts demonstrate significant pharmacological potential, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and various neuroprotective therapeutic properties.
- Scientific name: Aspidosperma
- Family: Apocynaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Gentianales and the family Apocynaceae. Within this group, it is identified by the genus Aspidosperma.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Apocynaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Aspidosperma | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, belonging to the genus Aspidosperma, is known by various names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Chinese, it is referred to as 白坚木属 (zh-hans), 白堅木屬 (zh-hant), and 白堅木屬 (zh-hk). In Russian, it is commonly called Аспидосперма (ru), while in Lithuanian, it is known as Kvebrachas (lt).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 白坚木属 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 白堅木屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 白堅木屬 | Wikidata |
| ru | Аспидосперма | Wikidata |
| lt | Kvebrachas | Wikidata |
| zh | 白堅木屬 | Wikidata |
| eo | Aspidospermao | Wikidata |
| bg | аспидосперма | Wikidata |
| cs | štítosemenka | Wikidata |
| ja | アスピドスペルマ属 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse distribution throughout the various regions of Mexico. It can be found spanning across Mexico Central and the coastal areas of Mexico Gulf. Furthermore, its range extends into the Mexico Southwest and Mexico Southeast territories. Beyond the borders of Mexico, the species is also present in Central America, specifically within Belize. Together, these locations define the primary geographical footprint of the Aspidosperma genus.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Mexico Central | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
| Central America | Belize | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | El Salvador | WCVP |
| Central America | Guatemala | WCVP |
| Central America | Honduras | WCVP |
| Central America | Nicaragua | WCVP |
Chemicals
Aspidosperma has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include tabersonine.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| tabersonine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Aspidosperma has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |