Cedrela odorata
Cigar-box wood
Cedrela odorata, commonly known as Spanish cedar, is a majestic tropical tree valued for its aromatic timber and medicinal properties. Traditionally used in folk medicine, its bark and leaves possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and insecticidal qualities, offering diverse therapeutic applications across various cultures to treat skin ailments and respiratory issues.
- Scientific name: Cedrela odorata
- Family: Meliaceae
- 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 organized under the order Sapindales and the family Meliaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Cedrela.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Sapindales | WCVP |
| Family | Meliaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cedrela | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Cedrela odorata, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In Haitian Creole, it is called Sèd, while in Portuguese, it is known as Cedro-cheiroso. In Chinese, the plant is identified as 西班牙柏木 across several linguistic variations, including Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), and the Cantonese variant used in Hong Kong (zh-hk).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ht | Sèd | Wikidata |
| pt | Cedro-cheiroso | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 西班牙柏木 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 西班牙柏木 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 西班牙柏木 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 西班牙柏木 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 西班牙柏木 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 西班牙柏木 | Wikidata |
| pl | Cedrzyk wonny | Wikidata |
| qu | Kanuwa ruya | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in countries such as Gambia and Guinea. Moving toward the center of the continent, it is found within West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically in Cameroon and the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Its range also extends significantly eastward into the region of East Tropical Africa. Notably, its presence is confirmed in Kenya, demonstrating its ability to thrive in diverse tropical environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Uganda | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Eswatini | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Northern Provinces | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Spanish cedar, derives much of its medicinal and commercial value from its durable wood. The wood is highly prized not only for its fragrant, aromatic properties but also for its traditional uses in various healing practices. Due to its natural resistance to decay and the presence of specific essential oils within the timber, the wood is often utilized in traditional medicine to address certain ailments, though it is most frequently celebrated for its structural and aromatic qualities.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| wood | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cedrela odorata has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include gedunin.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| gedunin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cedrela odorata has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifungal, Antimalarial.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cedrela odorata has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Pityriasis versicolor, Plasmodium falciparum, Pneumocystis pneumonia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans.
- Total uses
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 9
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Pityriasis versicolor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plasmodium falciparum | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pneumocystis pneumonia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Porphyromonas gingivalis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Streptococcus mutans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| athlete's foot | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leishmaniasis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| onychomycosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |