Casearia sylvestris var. lingua
Casearia sylvestris var. lingua, commonly known as "linguazinha" in Brazil, is a medicinal shrub valued in traditional folk medicine. Native to South American forests, this plant is frequently utilized for its therapeutic properties, particularly in treating inflammatory conditions, skin ailments, and digestive issues through various decoctions and extracts.
- Scientific name: Casearia sylvestris var. lingua
- Family: Salicaceae
- Native range: Southern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified under the order Malpighiales in the family Salicaceae. Specifically, the medicinal variety lingua is a member of 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, Casearia sylvestris var. lingua, is known by several regional common names depending on the linguistic context. In Portuguese, it is frequently referred to as língua-de-vaca, while in Spanish, it is commonly called lengua de vaca.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution primarily concentrated within the northern regions of South America. It can be found throughout the territories of French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. Additionally, its range extends into the country of Venezuela. Moving toward the western part of the continent, the species is also documented in Bolivia. Together, these locations define the natural habitat where this medicinal variety grows.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern South America | French Guiana | WCVP |
| Northern South America | Guyana | WCVP |
| Northern South America | Suriname | WCVP |
| Northern South America | Venezuela | WCVP |
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Colombia | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil West-Central | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Northeast | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Southeast | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil North | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known botanically as Casearia sylvestris var. lingua, is valued in traditional medicine primarily for its therapeutic properties derived from the stem bark. The bark is harvested from the woody stems and contains various bioactive compounds that are utilized in herbal preparations to treat various ailments. When processed, this specific part of the plant serves as the essential source of medicinal constituents, making the stem bark the most critical component for its pharmacological applications.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Casearia sylvestris var. lingua has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include narcissin, nitric oxide.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| narcissin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nitric oxide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Casearia sylvestris var. lingua has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antiprotozoal.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiprotozoal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Casearia sylvestris var. lingua has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Leishmania donovani.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Leishmania donovani | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |