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Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Catha inermis
• Dillonia abyssinica
• Celastrus tsaad
• Celastrus edulis
• Methyscophyllum glaucum
• Trigonotheca serrata
• Hartogia thea
• Catha glauca

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Catha edulis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Celastrales and the family Celastraceae. Its taxonomic lineage concludes with the genus Catha.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it is notably found within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward the Horn of Africa, its presence is established in the Northeast Tropical regions of Eritrea and Ethiopia. The species also extends into the coastal areas of Somalia. Finally, its geographical range encompasses the territories of both Sudan and South Sudan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Catha edulis is characterized by a broad vertical distribution across diverse montane and sub-montane landscapes. This species thrives across a significant altitudinal gradient, occupying habitats ranging from low-lying areas at a minimum elevation of 350 m AMSL to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 3200 m AMSL. Throughout its natural range, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 2050 m AMSL, suggesting a strong ecological preference for mid-to-high altitude zones where specific temperature and moisture regimes are prevalent.

Elevational range max:

3200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2050 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

350 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Catha edulis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. Its physiological rhythm is marked by its deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes seasonal shedding of its foliage.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Catha edulis is characterized by a woody growth form that can manifest as both a tree and a shrub. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with a minimum height of 0.1 m and a maximum height reaching up to 11 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 11 m. Furthermore, the plant is categorized as self-supporting rather than a climber.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

11 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Catha edulis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process that utilizes the Calvin cycle for carbon fixation without the specialized adaptations found in C4 or CAM plants. The morphological dimensions of its foliage play a significant role in its physiological efficiency, with leaves typically exhibiting a mean length of 9.5 cm and a range spanning from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 12 cm. The leaf width shows similar variability, maintaining a mean of 3 cm with values ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 4 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, relying instead on the availability of nitrogen within the soil substrate for its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length mean:

9.5 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Catha edulis is characterized by the production of small, delicate flowers and highly uniform seed structures. The flowers exhibit a modest size, with lengths typically ranging from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.3 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds that demonstrate remarkable consistency in weight; the seed mass is measured at a constant 0.00168 g, with no variation observed between the minimum, mean, and maximum recorded values. This high degree of uniformity in seed mass suggests a very stable reproductive output regarding the energetic investment per seed.

Flower length max:

0.3 cm

Flower length min:

0.2 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.00168 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Catha edulis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Catha edulis has 39 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cathine, Cathinone, (+)-Cathine, (-)-Cathinone, (-)-Norephedrine.

Cathine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Medecine tropicale : revue du Corps de sante colonial

Cathinone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Medecine tropicale : revue du Corps de sante colonial
3. The American journal of Chinese medicine

(+)-Cathine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(-)-Cathinone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(-)-Norephedrine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

1-PHENYL-1,2-PROPANEDIONE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

2,4-dimethyl-5-phenyloxazolidine

1. Planta medica

4-methyl-2-(trans-1-pentenyl)-5-phenyloxazolidine

1. Planta medica

8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine

1. Chemico-biological interactions

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Catha edulis has 280 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Stimulant, Antidepressant, Hepatotoxic, Acidulant, Adrenergic.

Stimulant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidepressant

1. Dr. Duke
2. CNS & neurological disorders drug targets

Hepatotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenergic

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Catha edulis has 17 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Parkinson's disease, anemia, anorectic, anorexia, appetite suppressants.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations