Desert Date
Balanites aegyptiaca · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Moderate (102 studies) · ★★★☆☆
Desert Date, scientifically known as Balaenitea aegypteca, is a resilient, drought-tolerant tree native to arid regions of Africa and the Middle East. Valued for its nutritional fruit and medicinal properties, it is traditionally used to treat digestive ailments, skin conditions, and inflammation, serving as a vital resource in desert ecosystems.
- Family
- Zygophyllaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Fruit · Seed
- Common names
- Balanites · Desert-Date · 4 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Agialid Aegyptiaca · Ximenia Aegyptiaca
Names
Common Names
- Balanites
- desert-date
- soapberry-tree
- Desert Date
- Simple-Thorned Green Thorn
- Simple-Thorned Torch Wood
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- mirobalano de Egipto
German:
- Wüstendattel
French:
- dattier du désert
- dattier sauvage
- héglik
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Balanites aegyptiacaSynonyms
- Agialid aegyptiaca
- Ximenia aegyptiaca
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Balaenites aegyptiaca, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Zygophyllales and the family Zygophyllaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is defined by the genus Balaenites.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Zygophyllales | WCVP |
| Family | Zygophyllaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Balanites | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant is primarily located within the vast landscapes of Northern Africa. Its distribution spans across several distinct countries, including Algeria and Egypt. Furthermore, it can be found growing throughout the territories of Libya and Morocco. The species also extends its reach into the region of Western Sahara. Collectively, these areas define the specific geographical range of this medicinal species.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Algeria | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Libya | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Morocco | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Western Sahara | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Azores | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Balanites aegyptiaca, is a versatile medicinal resource where various components are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The large, fleshy fruits are often processed for their nutritional and medicinal value, while the individual fruit serves as a key source of bioactive compounds. Within these structures, the seeds are highly valued and frequently used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments. Additionally, the structural parts of the tree are significant, as the stems provide a robust foundation for the plant, and the stem-barks are commonly harvested to prepare decoctions or extracts used in healing processes.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| fruit | Veterinary research communications (and other 9 sources) | ★★★★☆ |
| seed | Veterinary research communications (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stem | RSC advances (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| root | BMC complementary and alternative medicine (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | RSC advances (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Balanites aegyptiaca has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3-Hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-propanone, BALANITIN 7, Hyperoside, Isoquercitrin, Isorhamnetin-3-O-robinobioside.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-propanone | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BALANITIN 7 | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hyperoside | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Isoquercitrin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Isorhamnetin-3-O-robinobioside | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Methyl ether | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Myricetol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| N-trans-Feruloyltyramine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Quercetol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
3-Hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-propanone
- Fitoterapia
BALANITIN 7
- International journal of oncology
Hyperoside
- Natural product research
Isoquercitrin
- Natural product research
Isorhamnetin-3-O-robinobioside
- Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
Isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside
- Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
Methyl ether
- Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
Myricetol
- Natural product research
N-trans-Feruloyltyramine
- Fitoterapia
Quercetol
- Natural product research
Activities
Balanites aegyptiaca has 14 reported activities identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Anthelmintic, Anticancer, Antiepileptic, Antifungal.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | RSC advances (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | Parasitology research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiepileptic | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimutagenic | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiparasitic | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiplasmodial | Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antipsychotic | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Balanites aegyptiaca has 31 reported medicinal uses identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Candida albicans, antidiabetic, jaundice, Candida, Fasciola gigantica.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Candida albicans | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antidiabetic | Journal of food biochemistry (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| jaundice | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fasciola gigantica | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gram-negative bacteria | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gram-positive bacteria | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HDL-cholesterol | Journal of hazardous materials (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Herpes simplex virus | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| LDL-cholesterol | Journal of hazardous materials (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Balanites aegyptiaca kernels | International journal of oncology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Extracts of the root barks | BMC complementary and alternative medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extract of mesocarps of the fruits | Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| crude methanolic extracts | Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| date extract | Veterinary research communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dichloromethane extract of the stem-barks | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanol extract of the root | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanolic extract of the epicarps | Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanolic extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca barks | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extract | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |