Dichrocephala integrifolia
Dichrocepala integrifolia, commonly known as the African mahogany or wild mahogany, is a versatile medicinal plant native to tropical Africa. Renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, its leaves and bark are traditionally utilized in folk medicine to treat ailments ranging from skin infections to gastrointestinal issues and inflammation.
- Scientific name: Dichrocephala integrifolia
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and order Asterales, it falls into the family Asteraceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Dichrocephala and the species name Dichrocephala integrifolia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Dichrocephala | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Dichrocraphela integrifolia, is known by various common names across different linguistic contexts. In Chinese, it is frequently referred to as 鱼眼草 (yú yǎn cǎo) or 蚯疽草 (qiū jū cǎo), and it is also commonly called 茯苓菜 (fú líng cài). These names, including the specific regional designations 鱼眼草 and 茯苓菜 used in mainland China (zh-cn) and Taiwan (zh-tw), reflect its traditional identification within various herbal practices.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 鱼眼草 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 茯苓菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 鱼眼草 | Wikidata |
| zh | 蚯疽草 | Wikidata |
| zh | 茯苓菜 | Wikidata |
| zh | 鱼眼菊 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning across two major continental regions. In Southeastern Europe, its presence is documented in Italy and the European portion of Türkiye. Moving toward the African continent, it is widely distributed throughout West Tropical Africa. Specifically, the species can be found within the borders of Benin, Ghana, and Guinea. This wide distribution highlights the plant's ability to thrive in varied ecological environments across these regions.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Türkiye-in-Europe | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Dichrocraphela integrifolia, utilizes its leaves as a primary component in traditional medicinal practices. These leaves are characterized by their integral margins and are frequently harvested to prepare infusions or decoctions used to treat various ailments. Because the leaves contain the bioactive compounds necessary for therapeutic effects, they serve as the most essential part of the plant for medicinal application.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Dichrocephala integrifolia has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Methyl stearate, alpha-amyrin, epifriedelanol, stearic acid, stigmasta-7,22-dien-3-ol.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Methyl stearate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| alpha-amyrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epifriedelanol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stearic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stigmasta-7,22-dien-3-ol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tritetracontane | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Dichrocephala integrifolia has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, Antiaging, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anthelmintic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiaging | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Dichrocephala integrifolia has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include family planning, oxidative stress, typhoid fever.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| family planning | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| typhoid fever | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |