Casearia sylvestris
Casearia sylvestris, commonly known as "cascão" in Brazil, is a versatile medicinal shrub native to South American forests. Renowned for its bioactive properties, it is frequently utilized in traditional medicine to treat inflammatory conditions, skin ailments, and digestive issues, offering significant therapeutic potential for modern pharmacological research and development.
- Scientific name: Casearia sylvestris
- Family: Salicaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It further descends through the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales, eventually placing it in the family Salicaceae. Specifically, Casearia sylvestris is identified 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 sylvestris, is recognized by several different common names in Portuguese, including Guaçatonga, Língua de Tiú, Lingua de Tiú, and Casearia sylvestri.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pt | Guaçatonga | Wikidata |
| pt | Língua de Tiú | Wikidata |
| pt | Lingua de Tiú | Wikidata |
| pt | Casearia sylvestri | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad presence across several distinct regions within the country of Mexico. It can be found growing throughout the central part of Mexico, serving as a key component of that local flora. Its distribution also extends into the northeast, covering a significant portion of that territory. Furthermore, the species is present in the Gulf region, flourishing in those specific environmental conditions. Finally, the plant's range reaches the northwest and southwest areas, completing its extensive geographical footprint.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Mexico Central | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northeast | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
| Central America | Belize | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | El Salvador | WCVP |
| Central America | Guatemala | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Casearia sylvestris, utilizes various anatomical structures for its medicinal properties, most notably its leaves. In traditional herbal applications, the leaf is frequently harvested to prepare infusions or decoctions, as the bioactive compounds are concentrated within the green tissue. Furthermore, the leaves and the slender twigs are often collected together during foraging, as both parts can contain essential secondary metabolites used in folk medicine.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 9
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| twigs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Casearia sylvestris has 22 reported phytochemicals identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr.
- Total chemicals
- 22
- Scientific sources
- 22
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Br | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ca | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cl | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Co | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cr | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fe | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| La | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mg | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mn | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Casearia sylvestris has 12 reported activities identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifungal, Antitumor, Antiulcer, Analgesic, Antihyperlipidemic.
- Total activities
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 17
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antifungal | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antiulcer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihyperlipidemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiparasitic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproteolytic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiprotozoal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Casearia sylvestris has 21 reported medicinal uses identified across 29 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include ulcers, wounds, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, pain.
- Total uses
- 21
- Scientific sources
- 29
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ulcers | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| wounds | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastrointestinal disorders | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pain | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| snakebites | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leishmaniasis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Schistosoma mansoni | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Schistosomiasis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |