Dialium guineense
Dialium guineense, commonly known as the velvet tamarind, is a versatile medicinal plant native to tropical Africa. Renowned for its nutrient-rich pods, it is extensively used in traditional medicine to treat ailments ranging from digestive issues to respiratory infections, offering significant pharmacological potential for modern therapeutic applications.
- Scientific name: Dialium guineense
- 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 is ordered under Fabales and falls into the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Dialium.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Dialium | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Dialium guineense, is recognized by various common names depending on the language and region. In French and Wolof, it is referred to as Solom, while in Chinese, it is known as both 羅望子李 and 黑羅望子. Additionally, in Hausa, the plant is called Tsamiyar biri.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| fr | Solom | Wikidata |
| wo | Solom | Wikidata |
| zh | 羅望子李 | Wikidata |
| ha | Tsamiyar biri | Wikidata |
| zh | 黑羅望子 | Wikidata |
| zh | 几内亚酸荚 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across various regions within West Tropical Africa. Specifically, it can be found growing in the country of Benin. Its presence is also well-documented throughout the territory of Burkina. Furthermore, the species inhabits parts of the Gambia and Ghana. Finally, its geographical range extends into 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 | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Dialium guineense, is a versatile medicinal resource where various components are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The leaves are often employed in decoctions to treat ailments such as fever or skin conditions, while the stem bark is frequently harvested to prepare infusions used for addressing gastrointestinal issues or inflammatory conditions. The fleshy pulp surrounding the fruit is not only edible but also contains bioactive compounds that contribute to its nutritional and medicinal value. Within the fruit, the seeds are sometimes processed for specific traditional remedies, and even the root is utilized in various herbal preparations to treat different systemic disorders.- Total parts
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 7
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pulp | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit pulp | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Dialium guineense has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, saponins.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| proanthocyanidins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Dialium guineense has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Dialium guineense has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include fever, headache, peptic ulcers, ulcer.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fever | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| headache | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| peptic ulcers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ulcer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |