Ceiba pentandra
Java cotton
Ceiba pentandra, commonly known as the Kapok tree, is a majestic tropical giant renowned for its diverse medicinal properties. Beyond its economic value, various parts of this tree—including the bark, leaves, and seeds—are utilized in traditional medicine to treat inflammation, skin ailments, and digestive issues across many cultures.
- Scientific name: Ceiba pentandra
- Family: Malvaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Malvales, and the family Malvaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Ceiba.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Malvaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Ceiba | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Ceiba pentandra, is known by various regional names across different Chinese linguistic contexts. In Simplified Chinese, it is referred to as 吉贝 (zh-hans) and 吉贝 (zh-cn), and it carries the same name in Singapore (zh-sg). In Traditional Chinese contexts, it is identified as 吉貝 (zh-hant) and 吉貝 (zh-hk).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 吉贝 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 吉貝 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 吉貝 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 吉贝 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 吉贝 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 吉貝 | Wikidata |
| jv | Kapuk | Wikidata |
| pl | Puchowiec pięciopręcikowy | Wikidata |
| eu | Kapok | Wikidata |
| qu | Lupuna | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Ceiba pentandra, exhibits a specific geographical distribution within the West Tropical Africa region. It is documented to grow naturally in the nation of Benin. Furthermore, its presence extends to the territories of Burkina and Gambia. The species also inhabits parts of Ghana within this tropical belt. Finally, its range includes the coastal area of Guinea-Bissau.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Ceiba pentandra, is a massive tropical tree where various anatomical components are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The robust stem serves as the structural foundation of the tree, while the bark is frequently harvested for medicinal preparations. Specifically, the stem barks are often used in traditional remedies to treat various ailments, and the root bark is similarly valued for its unique bioactive compounds. Additionally, the leaves are commonly employed in decoctions or topical applications, ensuring that almost every significant part of the plant contributes to its medicinal profile.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem barks | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Ceiba pentandra has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-catechin, 2,7-dimethoxy-5-isopropyl-3-methyl-8,1-naphthalene carbolactone, 2-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-7-methoxy-3-methyl-8,1-naphthalene carbolactone, 5,3'-dihydroxy-7,4',5'-trimethoxyisoflavone, 7-hydroxycadalene.
- Total chemicals
- 14
- Scientific sources
- 14
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| (+)-catechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2,7-dimethoxy-5-isopropyl-3-methyl-8,1-naphthalene carbolactone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-7-methoxy-3-methyl-8,1-naphthalene carbolactone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5,3'-dihydroxy-7,4',5'-trimethoxyisoflavone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 7-hydroxycadalene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-sitosterol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-sitosterol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cis-clovamide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glochidioboside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| mangiferin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Ceiba pentandra has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiapoptotic, Antioxidant, Nephroprotective.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antiapoptotic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Nephroprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Ceiba pentandra has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include diabetes mellitus, leishmaniasis.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leishmaniasis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |