Dolichandra unguis-cati
Cat's claw creeper
Dolichaandrast unguis-cati, commonly known as Cat's Claw, is a powerful woody vine native to the Amazon rainforest. Renowned in traditional medicine, this botanical powerhouse contains bioactive oxindole alkaloids. It is widely utilized for its potent anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, and antioxidant properties, offering significant therapeutic potential for various health conditions.
- Scientific name: Dolichandra unguis-cati
- Family: Bignoniaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales, it is classified under the family Bignoniaceae and is specifically identified by the genus Dolichaandras.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Bignoniaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Dolichandra | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Dolichaandra unguis-cati, is referred to by various common names across different languages and regions. In French, it is called Liane patate, while in Spanish, it is known as Macfadyena unguis-cati. Its names reflect its physical characteristics in other tongues as well, such as Kattklo in Swedish, مخلب القط in Arabic, and 猫爪藤 in Chinese, all of which translate to meanings related to the "cat's claw."| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| fr | Liane patate | Wikidata |
| es | Macfadyena unguis-cati | Wikidata |
| sv | Kattklo | Wikidata |
| ar | مخلب القط | Wikidata |
| zh | 猫爪藤 | Wikidata |
| pt | Macfadyena unguis-cati | Wikidata |
| ru | Макфадиена когтеносная | Wikidata |
| el | Μπιγκόνια η ονυχωτή | Wikidata |
| th | เหลืองชัชวาล | Wikidata |
| arz | مخلب القط | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans across several distinct oceanic and continental regions. Within the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found growing in the Comoros islands. Its range extends to the Indian Subcontinent, where it is documented in Bangladesh. In the Australian region, the species is present in both New South Wales and Queensland. Finally, its presence is noted in the Southwestern Pacific, specifically within New Caledonia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Australia | New South Wales | WCVP |
| Australia | Queensland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Pacific | New Caledonia | WCVP |
| North-Central Pacific | Hawaii | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Central | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northeast | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northwest | WCVP |
Activities
Dolichandra unguis-cati has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |