Diploknema butyracea
Diploknema butyracea, commonly known as the "butter tree," is a versatile medicinal plant native to tropical Africa. Renowned for its nutrient-rich seeds and bark, it offers significant therapeutic potential. Traditionally used to treat various ailments, this plant serves as a vital resource in ethnobotanical studies and natural pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Diploknema butyracea
- Family: Sapotaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ericales, falling into the family Sapotaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Diploknema, and species name, butyracea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ericales | WCVP |
| Family | Sapotaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Diploknema | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Diploknemma butyracea, is known by various names depending on the region and language. In Chinese, it is referred to as 藏榄 (zh-hans/zh), 藏欖 (zh-hant), and 藏欖 (zh-hk), while in Nepal, its common name is चिउरी (ne).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 藏榄 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 藏欖 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 藏欖 | Wikidata |
| ne | चिउरी | Wikidata |
| zh | 藏榄 | Wikidata |
| sd | چڪنو گل | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 藏榄 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 藏欖 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, its presence is specifically noted within the high-altitude terrain of Tibet. Moving into the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found in the lush landscapes of Assam. It is also widely distributed throughout the East Himalaya and the West Himalaya regions. Finally, its geographical range extends into the mountainous territory of Nepal.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | West Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Andaman Is. | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Diploknemma butyracea, is a significant medicinal and economic resource, particularly noted for the high lipid content found within its specialized structures. While various parts of the tree may be utilized, the seeds are the most vital component, as they contain a large amount of vegetable fat often referred to as "vegetable butter." These seeds are harvested and processed to extract oil, which serves not only as a base for medicinal ointments and topical applications but also as a valuable source of nutrition and industrial raw material.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Diploknema butyracea has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, ascorbic acid, fat, glycosides, tannins.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ascorbic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fat | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glycosides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Diploknema butyracea has 4 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antifungal.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Diploknema butyracea has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include asthma, rheumatism, skin, ulcer.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| asthma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatism | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| skin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ulcer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |