Croton gratissimus var. gratissimus
Croton gratissimus gratissimus
Croton gratissimus var. gratissimus, commonly known as the "wild croton," is a versatile medicinal shrub native to tropical regions. Renowned for its bioactive compounds, it is traditionally utilized in folk medicine to treat skin ailments, inflammation, and digestive issues, offering significant therapeutic potential for modern pharmacological research and development.
- Scientific name: Croton gratissimus var. gratissimus
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Malpighiales and the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Croton under the specific variety Croton gratissimus var. gratissimus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Croton | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant is known by the common name Croton gratissimus gratislimus in English.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| en | Croton gratissimus gratissimus | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is documented across several diverse nations, including the country of Benin. Furthermore, it can be found growing within the borders of Burkina and Gambia. The species also extends its range into Ghana, demonstrating its regional prevalence. Finally, its habitat includes the territory of Guinea, completing its documented West African range.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Croton gratissimus var. gratissimus, possesses various components that are utilized for their medicinal properties. The stem bark is often harvested for its chemical compounds, which can be processed for therapeutic applications. The leaves are perhaps the most commonly used part, frequently prepared as decoctions or poultices to treat various ailments. Additionally, the fruits serve as a key reproductive component of the plant, containing seeds that are central to its biological life cycle.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem bark | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Croton gratissimus var. gratissimus has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hypoglycemic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |