Cordia americana
Cordia americana, commonly known as cherry velvet tree, is a versatile medicinal shrub native to the Americas. Renowned for its soft, velvety foliage, this plant is traditionally utilized in various cultures to treat skin ailments, inflammatory conditions, and digestive issues, offering a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals for healing.
- Scientific name: Cordia americana
- Family: Boraginaceae
- Native range: Southern America
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 is further categorized under the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cordia, specifically as the species Cordia americana.
| 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 americana, is recognized by several regional names depending on the language and location. In Arabic, it is referred to as سبستان أمريكي.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ar | سبستان أمريكي | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several regions of South America. In Western South America, it can be found specifically within the borders of Bolivia. Its presence in Brazil is extensive, spanning the West-Central, Southeast, and South regions. Additionally, the species extends into the southern part of the continent. Specifically, it is located in the Northeast region of Argentina.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil West-Central | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Southeast | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil South | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Argentina Northeast | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Argentina Northwest | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Paraguay | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Uruguay | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Cordia americana, possesses various components that are utilized for their medicinal properties, specifically the leaves and the bark. The leaves are often harvested and prepared in different ways to treat ailments such as inflammation or digestive issues, depending on the traditional practice. Similarly, the bark is a significant part of the plant used in decoctions or infusions, frequently valued for its therapeutic potential in managing various health conditions.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cordia americana has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include neolignans, rosmarinic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| neolignans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rosmarinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cordia americana 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
Cordia americana has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include herpes simplex virus type 1, wounds.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| herpes simplex virus type 1 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wounds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |