Derris
Derris, commonly known as the rot rot plant, is a genus of climbing shrubs native to tropical regions. Renowned for its potent insecticidal properties, extracts from its roots have long been used to control lice and mosquitoes. This versatile botanical offers significant value in both traditional medicine and natural pest control.
- Scientific name: Derris
- Family: Fabaceae
- 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, it falls under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, the medicinal specimen is categorized under the genus Derris.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Derris | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, belonging to the genus Derris, is known by various regional names across different languages and cultures. In Chinese contexts, it is referred to as 鱼藤属 (zh-hans), 魚藤屬 (zh-hant), and 魚藤屬 (zh-hk). In Indonesia, it is commonly known as Tuba (id), while in Javanese, it is called Jenu (jv).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 鱼藤属 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 魚藤屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 魚藤屬 | Wikidata |
| id | Tuba | Wikidata |
| jv | Jenu | Wikidata |
| vi | Chi Thuốc cá | Wikidata |
| cs | kožnatec | Wikidata |
| zh | 鱼藤属 | Wikidata |
| bg | дерис | Wikidata |
| fa | دریس | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad presence across several key regions within the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its distribution includes the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward the northeast, it can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Somalia. The plant also extends through East Tropical Africa, specifically within the territories of Kenya and Tanzania. Finally, its range reaches into South Tropical Africa, where it is located in Mozambique.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Somalia | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Eswatini | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Madagascar | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Derris, is highly valued in various applications, particularly for the extraction of its specialized components. While the roots are often studied for their insecticidal properties, the seed oil derived from the plant plays a significant role in its medicinal and industrial utility. This oil is frequently utilized in traditional formulations and modern topical treatments, leveraging the unique biochemical profile inherent to the plant's reproductive structures.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seed oil | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Derris has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include coumarins, glycosides, isoflavones.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| coumarins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glycosides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoflavones | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Derris has 4 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antifungal, Antihyperglycemic.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihyperglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Derris has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, psoriasis.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| psoriasis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |