Butea superba
Butea superba, commonly known as Palash or Flame of the Forest, is a significant medicinal plant in Ayurveda. Renowned for its vibrant orange flowers, it possesses potent therapeutic properties. It is traditionally utilized to treat various ailments, including skin disorders, fever, and digestive issues, owing to its antioxidant qualities.
- Scientific name: Butea superba
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Asia-Tropical
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, falling into the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Butea and the specific species superba.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Butea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Butea superba, is recognized by various regional names across different languages. In Vietnam, it is known as Gièng gièng đẹp, while in Malayalam, it is called വള്ളിച്ചമത. In Thailand, the species is referred to as กวาวเครือแดง, and in Persian, it is written as بوتیا سوپربا. Additionally, in Kannada, it is commonly called ಮುತ್ತುಗದ ಬಳ್ಳಿ.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| vi | Gièng gièng đẹp | Wikidata |
| ml | വള്ളിച്ചമത | Wikidata |
| th | กวาวเครือแดง | Wikidata |
| fa | بوتیا سوپربا | Wikidata |
| kn | ಮುತ್ತುಗದ ಬಳ್ಳಿ | Wikidata |
| arz | بوتيا سوبربا | Wikidata |
| ko | 부테아 수페르바 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several regions in South and Southeast Asia. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in both India and Bangladesh. Its presence extends further into the Indo-China region, covering multiple countries. Specifically, it is documented to inhabit the landscapes of Cambodia and Laos. Additionally, the species is also distributed throughout Myanmar.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Thailand | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as flames of the forest, is valued in traditional medicine for its therapeutic properties derived from specific components. The medicinal application primarily focuses on the tubers, which are processed and utilized for their bioactive compounds. Furthermore, the dried herb is frequently employed in various formulations to harness its healing potential.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| tubers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried herb | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Butea superba has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (-)-epicatechin, Prunetin, yohimbine.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| (-)-epicatechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Prunetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| yohimbine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Butea superba has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiestrogenic, Estrogenic.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antiestrogenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Estrogenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Butea superba has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include aphrodisiacs, cancers, dementia, depression, gastric cancer.
- Total uses
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aphrodisiacs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dementia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| depression | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastric cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hepatocellular carcinoma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ovarian cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| urinary bladder cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |