Croton gratissimus
Lavender croton
Croton gratissimus, commonly known as the "Wild Croton," is a versatile medicinal shrub found across tropical regions. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, it is frequently utilized in traditional medicine to treat skin ailments, inflammatory conditions, and gastrointestinal issues, offering a rich source of bioactive compounds for pharmacological research.
- Scientific name: Croton 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. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Euphorbiaceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Croton.
| 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, known scientifically as Croton gratissimus, is referred to by various names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Afrikaans, it is called Laventelkoorsbessie, while in French, it is recognized under several different designations including Croton zambesicus, Oxydectes gratissima, Croton amabilis, and Croton antunesii.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| af | Laventelkoorsbessie | Wikidata |
| fr | Croton zambesicus | Wikidata |
| fr | Oxydectes gratissima | Wikidata |
| fr | Croton amabilis | Wikidata |
| fr | Croton antunesii | Wikidata |
| fr | Croton microbotryus | Wikidata |
| fr | Croton welwitschianus | Wikidata |
| fr | Oxydectes amabilis | Wikidata |
| fr | Oxydectes welwitschiana | Wikidata |
| fr | Oxydectes zambesica | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin and Burkina Faso. Additionally, its presence extends to the country of Gambia. The species is also documented to inhabit parts of Ghana. Finally, its geographical range includes the nation of Guinea.
| 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 gratissimum, is highly valued in traditional medicine, particularly through the use of its foliage. The leaf serves as the primary medicinal component, often harvested to prepare a potent herbal tea. When these leaves are steeped, the resulting infusion is frequently used to treat various ailments, ranging from digestive issues to inflammatory conditions, making this part of the plant essential to its therapeutic application.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Herbal Tea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Croton gratissimus has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 4-methylumbelliferone glucuronide, 8-prenylnaringenin, Phlorizin, caffeic acid, caffeine.
- Total chemicals
- 13
- Scientific sources
- 13
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 4-methylumbelliferone glucuronide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 8-prenylnaringenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Phlorizin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| caffeic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| caffeine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| catechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cembranolide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonol 3-O-D-galactoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gallic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypericin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Croton gratissimus has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic, Hepatoprotective.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Croton gratissimus has 19 reported medicinal uses identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Bacillus cereus, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, HIV, Leishmania donovani.
- Total uses
- 19
- Scientific sources
- 19
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Bacillus cereus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cryptococcus neoformans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HIV | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leishmania donovani | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plasmodium falciparum | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus epidermidis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |