Brucea
Brucea, commonly known as Brucea javanica or the Brucea plant, is a medicinal shrub native to Southeast Asia. Renowned in traditional medicine, it contains potent bioactive alkaloids used to treat various ailments, including intestinal parasites, malaria, and skin infections. Its unique pharmacological properties continue to inspire modern scientific research.
- Scientific name: Brucea
- Family: Simaroubaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales, it falls under the family Simaroubaceae. Finally, the specific taxonomic classification of this medicinal plant is defined by the genus Brucea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Sapindales | WCVP |
| Family | Simaroubaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Brucea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant is known by various names depending on the language and region, including the Chinese designations 鸦胆子属 (zh-hans), 鴉膽子屬 (zh-hant), 鴉膽子屬 (zh-hk), and 鸦胆子属 (zh), as well as the Finnish name Pirskomarjat (fi).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 鸦胆子属 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 鴉膽子屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 鴉膽子屬 | Wikidata |
| zh | 鸦胆子属 | Wikidata |
| fi | Pirskomarjat | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 鸦胆子属 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 鸦膽子屬 | Wikidata |
| ar | كوثم | Wikidata |
| fr | Brucea (Simaroubaceae) | Wikidata |
| ru | Brucea (Simaroubaceae) | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, belonging to the genus Brucea, exhibits a specific geographical range across West Tropical Africa. Its presence is documented in several distinct nations within this lush region. Specifically, it can be found growing in the territories of Benin and Ghana. The distribution further extends to the coastal and inland areas of Guinea and Ivory Coast. Additionally, the plant is known to inhabit the landscape of Liberia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
Activities
Brucea has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antileukemic, Antimalarial.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antileukemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Brucea has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include leukemia, malaria.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leukemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |