Croton cajucara

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Oxydectes cajucara
• Croton motilonorum
• Croton seputubensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales, it is further categorized under the family Euphorbiaceae. Ultimately, its scientific designation is placed within the genus Croton.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several distinct regions of the South American continent. In Northern South America, its presence is documented in both Suriname and Venezuela. The species also extends into Western South America, specifically inhabiting parts of Bolivia and Peru. Furthermore, its range includes the West-Central region of Brazil. Together, these locations highlight the diverse environmental settings where Croton cajucara can be found.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Croton cajucara is characterized by its ability to thrive across diverse environmental settings, ranging from highly modified landscapes to pristine natural ecosystems. It is commonly found in anthropized areas, where it demonstrates resilience to human-induced environmental changes. Furthermore, the species occupies critical forest niches, including coastal or riparian Atlantic forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria) and stable inland forest environments (Floresta de Terra Firme). This broad distributional range across different forest structures and disturbed habitats suggests a versatile ecological strategy that allows it to persist in both stable climax communities and more transitional or disturbed landscapes.

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Terra Firme

Life history

The life history of Croton cajucarua is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its ecosystem through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, the species is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting characteristics of both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms, which indicates that its perennating buds are located on aerial shoots well above the soil surface. This growth habit enables the plant to maintain a stable presence in its habitat over long durations, utilizing its elevated bud positions to survive seasonal variations and environmental shifts.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Croton cajucara is characterized by a woody growth form, functioning as a self-supporting tree that reaches an average height of 5 m, with a maximum potential height of up to 7 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte, remaining strictly terrestrial in its habitat. The plant is an independent organism, lacking any parasitic life strategy, and maintains a self-supporting structure rather than growing as a liana or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Plant height mean:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Croton cajucaru is characterized by its metabolic processes and nutrient acquisition strategies typical of many species within the Euphorbiaceae family. In terms of its symbiotic relationships and nutrient cycling, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for growth. Instead, it relies on the absorption of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system to support its vegetative development and the synthesis of secondary metabolites. Its physiological processes involve efficient photosynthesis and water regulation to thrive in its native ecological niches, utilizing various biochemical pathways to produce the bioactive compounds that define its medicinal properties.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Croton cajucara has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem.

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Croton cajucara has 21 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include trans-Dehydrocrotonin, Dehydrocrotonin, Diterpene, ARABINOGALACTAN, Arabinan.

trans-Dehydrocrotonin

1. Planta medica
2. Teratogenesis, carcinogenesis, and mutagenesis
3. Vascular pharmacology
4. Leukemia research
5. Diabetes, obesity & metabolism

Dehydrocrotonin

1. Leukemia research
2. Planta medica
3. Human & experimental toxicology

Diterpene

1. Vascular pharmacology
2. Planta medica

ARABINOGALACTAN

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Arabinan

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cajucarin A

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cajucarinolide

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

DHC

1. Planta medica

Galacturonic acid

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Activities

Croton cajucara has 9 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antinociceptive, Antiulcerogenic, Apoptotic, Clastogenic, Cytotoxic.

Antinociceptive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Planta medica

Antiulcerogenic

1. Planta medica

Apoptotic

1. Mutation research

Clastogenic

1. Mutation research

Cytotoxic

1. Mutation research

Gastroprotective

1. Vascular pharmacology

Genotoxic

1. Teratogenesis, carcinogenesis, and mutagenesis

Hypoglycemic

1. Vascular pharmacology

Hypolipidemic

1. Vascular pharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Croton cajucara has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include DNA damage, Sarcoma 180, apoptosis, gastric ulcer, gastric ulcers.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations