Centaurea sinaica
Centaurea sinaica, commonly known as Sinai Centaury, is a rare medicinal herb native to the Sinai Peninsula. Valued in traditional medicine, this plant possesses significant therapeutic properties, particularly for treating digestive ailments and inflammation. Its unique botanical profile makes it a subject of interest for pharmacological research and conservation.
- Scientific name: Centaurea sinaica
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls into the order Asterales and is a member of the family Asteraceae. Specifically, it is identified by its genus, Centaurea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Centaurea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Centaurea sinaica, is recognized by several distinct common names depending on the linguistic context. In Arabic, it is referred to by the specific name قنطريون سينائي, and it is also commonly known as المراار.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ar | قنطريون سينائي | Wikidata |
| ar | المرار | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution spanning parts of Northern Africa and Western Asia. In Northern Africa, its presence is primarily documented within the borders of Egypt. Moving into Western Asia, the species can be found across the territories of Iraq and the Lebanon-Syria region. It is also naturally occurring throughout Palestine. Finally, its range extends into the unique landscape of the Sinai Peninsula.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Iraq | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Lebanon-Syria | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Palestine | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Sinai | WCVP |
| Arabian Peninsula | Gulf States | WCVP |
| Arabian Peninsula | Kuwait | WCVP |
| Arabian Peninsula | Saudi Arabia | WCVP |
| Arabian Peninsula | Yemen | WCVP |
Activities
Centaurea sinaica has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antitumor.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |