Bridelia cathartica
Bridelia cathartica, commonly known as the "Wild Bridelia," is a versatile medicinal plant found across tropical Asia. Renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, it is traditionally used to treat digestive ailments, skin infections, and inflammatory conditions. Its bioactive compounds offer significant potential for developing modern pharmacological treatments and remedies.
- Scientific name: Bridelia cathartica
- Family: Phyllanthaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales, falling under the family Phyllanthaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Bridelia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Phyllanthaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Bridelia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Bridelia cathartica, is referred to by the common name Blousoetbessie in Afrikaans (af).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| af | Blousoetbessie | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found specifically within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its presence extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, where it inhabits Ethiopia, Somalia, and the regions of Sudan and South Sudan. Furthermore, the species is documented in the East Tropical Africa region, particularly in Kenya. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's widespread occurrence across diverse tropical environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Somalia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Angola | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Malawi | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Zambia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Bridelia cathartica, possesses various components that are utilized in traditional medicine, with specific attention often directed toward its therapeutic properties. Among the utilized elements, the rootbarks are particularly notable for their medicinal value. These rootbarks are often harvested to prepare decoctions or extracts, which are used in various cultural practices to treat different ailments, reflecting the significant role this plant plays in ethnobotanical applications.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| rootbarks | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Bridelia cathartica has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include iron.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| iron | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Bridelia cathartica has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Bridelia cathartica has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Plasmodium falciparum.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Plasmodium falciparum | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |