Crotalaria juncea
Brown hemp
Crotalaria juncea, commonly known as sunn hemp, is a versatile legume celebrated for its multifaceted medicinal and agricultural benefits. Rich in alkaloids and essential nutrients, it is traditionally utilized to treat inflammation, skin ailments, and digestive issues. Beyond medicine, its rapid growth makes it an exceptional green manure crop.
- Scientific name: Crotalaria juncea
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Europe
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 organized into the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, it is categorized under the genus Crotalaria.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Crotalaria | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Crotalaria juncea, is recognized by various regional common names across different languages and cultures. In Hindi, it is referred to as सनई (sanai), while in Indonesian, it is called Orok-orok. In Vietnamese, the plant is known as lục lạc sợi, and in Chinese, it is identified as 菽麻 (shū má). Additionally, in Swedish, it is commonly called Sunnhampa.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| hi | सनई | Wikidata |
| id | Orok-orok | Wikidata |
| vi | lục lạc sợi | Wikidata |
| zh | 菽麻 | Wikidata |
| sv | Sunnhampa | Wikidata |
| pa | ਸਣ | Wikidata |
| ja | サンヘンプ | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 太陽麻 | Wikidata |
| bn | শনপাট | Wikidata |
| su | Orok-orok | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple continents and climatic zones. In Eastern Europe, its presence can be documented within the territory of Ukraine. Moving toward the African continent, it is found across Northern Africa, specifically in Libya. The species also thrives in West Tropical Africa, where it is native to Burkina. Furthermore, its range extends to other West Tropical African nations such as Ghana and Guinea-Bissau.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Europe | Ukraine | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Libya | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Togo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gabon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as sunn hemp, possesses various components that can be utilized for different purposes, though the seeds are particularly noteworthy in traditional medicinal contexts. While the leaves and stems are often valued for their nitrogen-fixing capabilities in agriculture, the seeds are frequently studied for their specific phytochemical properties. In certain traditional practices, these seeds are processed to harness their bioactive compounds, which are believed to contribute to the plant's overall therapeutic profile.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Crotalaria juncea has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (NH4)2SO4, 2-amino-5-hydroxyhexanoic acid, Iron, alanine, ash.
- Total chemicals
- 11
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| (NH4)2SO4 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-amino-5-hydroxyhexanoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Iron | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| alanine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ash | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leucine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lysine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phosphorus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| serine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| starch | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Crotalaria juncea 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 | ★☆☆☆☆ |