Cymbopogon giganteus
Cymbopogon giganteus, commonly known as Giant Lemongrass, is a perennial grass prized for its potent aromatic properties. Native to tropical regions, this medicinal plant is rich in essential oils. It is widely utilized in traditional medicine for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and digestive benefits, offering a natural approach to wellness.
- Scientific name: Cymbopogon giganteus
- Family: Poaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Poales, it is a member of the family Poaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Cymbopogon.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Poales | WCVP |
| Family | Poaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cymbopogon | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Cymbopogon giganteus, is recognized by various regional names depending on the linguistic context. In the ha language, it is known as Tsaure, while in Arabic, it is referred to as إذخر عملاق. Furthermore, it is called Mopele mɔɣu in dagbani and is known as Musowaa in bm.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ha | Tsaure | Wikidata |
| ar | إذخر عملاق | Wikidata |
| dag | Mopele mɔɣu | Wikidata |
| bm | Musowaa | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed throughout the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, it can be found growing in the country of Benin. Its natural habitat also extends into the territory of Burkina. Furthermore, the species is documented to exist within the borders of Gambia and Ghana. Finally, its geographical range includes the coastal nation of Guinea-Bissau.
| 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-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mauritania | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Cymbopogon giganteus, is a perennial grass that is primarily valued for the therapeutic properties found within its leaves. These long, slender, and linear leaves are the most significant part of the plant used in traditional medicine, as they contain essential oils that provide aromatic and healing benefits. When harvested and processed, the leaves serve as the main source for extracting compounds used to treat various ailments, making them the most vital component of the species.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cymbopogon giganteus has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include cis-carveol, cis-p-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol, cis-p-mentha-2,8-dienol, epicatechin, flavonoids.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cis-carveol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cis-p-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cis-p-mentha-2,8-dienol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epicatechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| limonene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| luteolin 8-C-glucosid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| trans-carveol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| trans-p-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| trans-p-mentha-2,8-dienol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cymbopogon giganteus has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Plasmodium falciparum, fevers, headaches.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Plasmodium falciparum | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fevers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| headaches | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |