Balanites maughamii
Balanites maugamii, commonly known as the Desert Date, is a resilient medicinal plant native to arid African regions. Renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, it is utilized in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, including skin conditions and digestive issues, thanks to its rich concentration of bioactive compounds.
- Scientific name: Balanites maughamii
- Family: Zygophyllaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further categorized under the order Zygophyllales and the family Zygophyllaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific 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 exhibits a specific distribution across the African continent, spanning both East and South Tropical Africa. In the East Tropical region, its presence is recorded in Kenya and Tanzania. Moving toward the southern part of the continent, its range extends into South Tropical Africa. Specifically, it can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Malawi and Mozambique. Additionally, the species is documented to grow within the borders of Zambia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Malawi | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Zambia | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Zimbabwe | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Caprivi Strip | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Eswatini | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Northern Provinces | WCVP |
Chemicals
Balanites maughamii has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include condensed tannins, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| condensed tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |