Casearia arborea
Casearia arborea, commonly known as the "tree of life" in certain tropical regions, is a versatile medicinal plant valued in traditional ethnobotany. Renowned for its diverse bioactive compounds, it is frequently utilized to treat inflammation, skin ailments, and digestive issues, offering significant potential for modern pharmacological research and development.
- Scientific name: Casearia arborea
- Family: Salicaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Salicaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Casearia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Salicaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Casearia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Casearia arborea, is referred to by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In English, it is frequently called the wood rose, while in Portuguese, it is known as pau-de-casaria or casaria. In Spanish, the species is commonly identified as palo de casaria.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical presence across various regions of Mexico. In the northern parts of its range, it can be found throughout the Mexico Southwest. It also populates the coastal areas of the Mexico Gulf and extends into the Mexico Southeast. Moving further south, its distribution continues into Central America, specifically within Belize. Finally, the species reaches its southern limits in Costa Rica.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
| Central America | Belize | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | Guatemala | WCVP |
| Central America | Nicaragua | WCVP |
| Central America | Panamá | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Cuba | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Dominican Republic | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Casearia arborea, possesses various components that contribute to its medicinal profile, with particular attention often directed toward its subterranean structures. While the leaves and bark are frequently utilized in traditional practices, the roots serve as a vital part of the organism's biological system, anchoring the tree and absorbing essential nutrients from the soil. In certain ethnobotanical applications, extracts derived from the roots may be studied for their potential therapeutic properties, reflecting the complex chemical composition found throughout the entire plant.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Casearia arborea has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include casearborin A, casearborin B, casearborin C, casearborin D, casearborin E.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| casearborin A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| casearborin B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| casearborin C | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| casearborin D | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| casearborin E | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cucurbitacin B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |