Cordia africana
Cordia africana, commonly known as the African Cordia, is a versatile evergreen tree native to tropical Africa. Highly valued in traditional medicine, its bark, leaves, and roots are utilized to treat ailments ranging from digestive issues to inflammation. This resilient species also holds significant ecological and cultural importance.
- Scientific name: Cordia africana
- Family: Boraginaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. It is specifically categorized under the genus Cordia as Cordia africana.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Boraginales | WCVP |
| Family | Boraginaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cordia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Cordia africana, is referred to by various common names across different languages and regions. In Amharic, it is called ዋንዛ (am), while in Azerbaijani, it is known as Afrika kordiyası (az). In Kinyarwanda, the plant is called Umuvugangoma (rw), and in Arabic, it is identified as سبستان أفريقي (ar). Additionally, in Afrikaans, it is referred to as Grootblaarpieringbessie (af).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| am | ዋንዛ | Wikidata |
| az | Afrika kordiyası | Wikidata |
| rw | Umuvugangoma | Wikidata |
| ar | سبستان أفريقي | Wikidata |
| af | Grootblaarpieringbessie | Wikidata |
| he | ונזה | Wikidata |
| ja | コルディア・アフリカーナ | Wikidata |
| ha | Alilliba | Wikidata |
| fi | afrikankarhepuu | Wikidata |
| arz | سبستان افريقى | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its distribution includes the nations of Guinea, Mali, and Nigeria. Moving toward the center of the continent, it is also found within West-Central Tropical Africa. Specifically, its range extends into Burundi and the Central African Republic. This diverse geographical spread highlights the plant's ability to thrive in various tropical environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Chad | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Eritrea | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Cordia africana, is a versatile medicinal species where various components are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The leaf and the broader collection of leaves are frequently harvested to prepare traditional remedies, often processed into a fine leaf powder for topical or internal applications. Additionally, the roots are highly valued in ethnobotanical practices, contributing to the plant's significant medicinal profile. Whether using the whole Leaf or specific extracts, each part plays a crucial role in its traditional healing uses.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 6
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf powder | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cordia africana has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include tannins, chloroform, flavonoids, phenols, steroids.
- Total chemicals
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 9
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| tannins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chloroform | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| steroids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| trilinolein | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triterpenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cordia africana has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cordia africana has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria, diarrhea, liver diseases, schistosomiasis.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| malaria | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| liver diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| schistosomiasis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |