Cissus populnea
Cissus populnea, commonly known as the Devil's Ivy or Sacred Creeper, is a versatile medicinal climbing plant native to tropical regions. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, it is widely utilized in traditional medicine to treat inflammation, skin ailments, and digestive issues, offering significant pharmacological potential for modern healthcare.
- Scientific name: Cissus populnea
- Family: Vitaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Vitales, falling under the family Vitaeaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Cissus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Vitales | WCVP |
| Family | Vitaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cissus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Cissus populnea, is known by several different names depending on the local language. In Fulfulde (ff), it is referred to as Gubuwol, while in Bamana (bm), it is called Nkaro, and in Kanuri (kai), it is known as Cagadleerè.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ff | Gubuwol | Wikidata |
| bm | Nkaro | Wikidata |
| kai | Cagadleerè | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known scientifically as Cassia populnea, exhibits a specific distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. Within this part of the continent, it can be found growing in the nation of Benin. Its presence is also documented in the territory of Burkina. Furthermore, the species extends its reach into the countries of Gambia and Ghana. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant includes 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 | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mauritania | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Cassia populnea (often referred to as Caesalpinia populnea), utilizes its stem bark as a significant component in traditional medicinal practices. The bark is characterized by its texture and chemical composition, which are frequently harvested to prepare decoctions or powders used to treat various ailments. In many herbal formulations, the stem bark is valued for its potential therapeutic properties, playing a crucial role in the plant's overall medicinal profile.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Stem Bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cissus populnea has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ascorbic acid, carotenoids, triterpenoids.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ascorbic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| carotenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triterpenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cissus populnea has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cissus populnea has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include bacterial diseases, trypanosomiasis.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| bacterial diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| trypanosomiasis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |