Cola lepidota
Cola lepidota, commonly known as the Kola nut, is a significant medicinal plant native to West Africa. Renowned for its high caffeine content, it serves as a potent stimulant. Traditionally, it is used to combat fatigue, enhance mental alertness, and improve digestive health, playing a vital role in cultural practices.
- Scientific name: Cola lepidota
- Family: Malvaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Cola lepidota, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malvales. Finally, it resides in the family Malvaceae under the genus Cola.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Malvaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cola | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant, Cola lepidota, exhibits a specific distribution across the tropical regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is notably recorded in Nigeria. Moving into the West-Central Tropical Africa zone, the species can be found within the borders of Cameroon. Additionally, the plant extends its range into Gabon, which is also located in West-Central Tropical Africa. Together, these locations define the primary geographical footprint of this medicinal species.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gabon | WCVP |
Chemicals
Cola lepidota has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gallic acid, Quercetin.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Gallic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Quercetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cola lepidota has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiproliferative.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cola lepidota has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, memory.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| memory | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |