Cnidoscolus aconitifolius
Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, commonly known as chaya, is a nutrient-dense perennial shrub native to Mexico. Renowned for its exceptional protein, vitamin, and mineral content, this "superfood" offers significant medicinal potential. When properly prepared, it serves as a sustainable dietary staple, providing vital health benefits and supporting overall nutritional wellness.
- Scientific name: Cnidoscolus aconitifolius
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Native range: Asia-Tropical
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Malpighiales and the family Euphorbiaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement within the genus Cnidoscolus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cnidoscolus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, is known by various regional names across different languages and cultures. In Thailand, it is commonly referred to as คะน้าเม็กซิโก or ชายา, while in Japan, it is recognized as チャヤ. Additionally, in the Malayalam language, it is called മരച്ചീര.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| th | คะน้าเม็กซิโก | Wikidata |
| ja | チャヤ | Wikidata |
| ml | മരച്ചീര | Wikidata |
| th | ชายา | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across both the Americas and the Pacific regions. Within the Americas, its presence is documented in several distinct areas of Mexico, including the Central, Northeast, and Gulf regions. Moving across the ocean, its distribution extends into the Malesia zone, specifically within the Philippines. Furthermore, the species can be found in the South-Central Pacific, notably inhabitating the Line Islands. This wide-reaching distribution highlights the plant's ability to thrive in varied tropical environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Malesia | Philippines | WCVP |
| South-Central Pacific | Line Is. | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Central | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northeast | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
| Central America | Belize | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | El Salvador | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as chaya, utilizes various components for its medicinal and nutritional purposes. The most prominent part is the large, green leaves, which are widely consumed as a nutrient-dense food source once properly cooked. While a single leaf can provide significant vitamins, the entire collection of the leaf mass serves as a primary dietary staple. Beyond the foliage, the sturdy stem supports the plant's rapid growth, and the root barks are sometimes investigated for their specific bioactive properties in traditional applications.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Root Barks | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cnidoscolus aconitifolius has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include saponins, 5'-adenosine monophosphate, alanyl-tyrosine, cardiac glycosides, gallic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 13
- Scientific sources
- 14
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| saponins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5'-adenosine monophosphate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| alanyl-tyrosine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cardiac glycosides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gallic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| l-glutamic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leucyl-aspartyl-glutamine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leucyl-glycyl-proline | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pyroglutamic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cnidoscolus aconitifolius has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cnidoscolus aconitifolius has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant, breast cancer, cancer, lung cancer, pain.
- Total uses
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lung cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |