Canavalia gladiata
Cana Valiia gladiata, commonly known as the sword-leafed plant, is a remarkable medicinal species valued for its unique therapeutic properties. Renowned in traditional herbal medicine, this plant offers significant bioactive compounds. Understanding its botanical characteristics and healing potential is essential for exploring its role in modern natural pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Canavalia gladiata
- Family: Fabaceae
- 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 Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Canavalia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Canavalia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Canavalia gladiata, is known by various regional names across different languages. In Chinese, it is referred to as 红刀豆 (zh-hans), 紅刀豆 (zh-hant), and 紅刀豆 (zh-hk). In German, the species is called Schwertbohne, while in Japanese, it is commonly known as ナタマメ.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 红刀豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 紅刀豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 紅刀豆 | Wikidata |
| de | Schwertbohne | Wikidata |
| ja | ナタマメ | Wikidata |
| ml | വാളമര | Wikidata |
| pl | kanawalia szablasta | Wikidata |
| vi | Đậu kiếm | Wikidata |
| es | haba espada | Wikidata |
| zh | 刀豆 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical range concentrated across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is noted within the borders of Guinea. Moving into the West-Central Tropical Africa region, the species can be found in Burundi. Its distribution continues through this central zone to include Rwanda and the Congo. Finally, the plant is also documented as occurring within the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Zambia | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Zimbabwe | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Northern Provinces | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Canavalia gladiata, utilizes various anatomical structures for its survival and medicinal properties. The robust stems provide the necessary structural support for the climbing growth habit, while the extensive roots anchor the plant and absorb essential nutrients from the soil. The reproductive cycle is driven by the development of its seeds, which progress from initial formation to the stage of maturing seeds. Once these maturing seeds are fully developed, they serve as the primary unit for propagation, ensuring the continuation of the species through the dispersal of the viable seed.- Total parts
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 11
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seed | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| maturing seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| legume seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| germinated seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit pericarps | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Immature sword bean pods | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Canavalia gladiata has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include L-DOPA, aspartic acid, canavalin, canavalioside, concanavalin A.
- Total chemicals
- 16
- Scientific sources
- 16
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| L-DOPA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aspartic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| canavalin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| canavalioside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| concanavalin A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glutamic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| guanidinooxyamine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| guanidinooxypropylamine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Canavalia gladiata has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Canavalia gladiata has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Cucumber mosaic virus, Potyvirus, Tobacco mosaic virus, cancer, flatulence.
- Total uses
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cucumber mosaic virus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Potyvirus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tobacco mosaic virus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flatulence | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sinus infection | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |