Breonadia salicina
Breonadia salicina, commonly known as willow, is a versatile medicinal plant prized for its therapeutic properties. Rich in salicin, it has been used historically to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and manage fevers. This resilient species remains a cornerstone in traditional herbal medicine and serves as a natural precursor to aspirin.
- Scientific name: Breonadia salicina
- Family: Rubiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Gentianales and is a member of the Rubiaceae family. Specifically, its taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Breonadia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Rubiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Breonadia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant is known by various names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Portuguese and Spanish, it is referred to as Breonadia, while in Asturian, it also carries the name Breonadia. In Afrikaans, the plant is commonly called Mingerhout, and in Arabic, it is known as صومل.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pt | Breonadia | Wikidata |
| es | Breonadia | Wikidata |
| af | Mingerhout | Wikidata |
| ast | Breonadia | Wikidata |
| ar | صومل | Wikidata |
| bm | Gɔnjɛ | Wikidata |
| ha | Breonadia | Wikidata |
| es | Adina galpinii | Wikidata |
| es | Adina lasiantha | Wikidata |
| es | Adina lasiantha var. parviflora | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Benin. Its range also extends into the territories of Burkina and Ghana. Furthermore, the species is documented to occur in the Ivory Coast. Finally, its geographical presence includes the nation of Mali.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Togo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Chad | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Breonna dia salicina, possesses various components that are utilized for their medicinal properties. The leaves are a primary source of therapeutic compounds, and when processed into leaf extracts, they provide concentrated bioactive substances. Additionally, the stem bark contains significant phytochemicals, while the root serves as another vital part of the plant's medicinal profile. Each part, from the individual leaf to the structural foundation, contributes to the overall healing potential of the species.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 6
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaf extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Breonadia salicina has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, caffeic acid, catechin, d-galactopyranose, ellagic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 16
- Scientific sources
- 16
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| caffeic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| catechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| d-galactopyranose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ellagic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fructose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glucose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hexadecane | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hydroxycinnamic acids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Breonadia salicina has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Aspergillus niger, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella sonnei.
- Total uses
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Aspergillus niger | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus subtilis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Shigella sonnei | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fevers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |