Entada africana
Entada africana, commonly known as the African Dream Bean, is a robust woody climber native to tropical Africa. Renowned for its large, impressive pods, this medicinal plant is deeply embedded in traditional healing practices, where its roots and bark are utilized to treat various ailments, including inflammation and digestive issues.
- Scientific name: Entada africana
- Family: Fabaceae
- 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 Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and is specifically identified by the genus Entada. As a member of the Entada africana species, it occupies a distinct position within this hierarchical taxonomic structure.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Entada | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Entada africana, is referred to by various names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Fulfulde (ff), it is called Faɗo waanduuhi, while in Dagbani (dag), it is known as Ʒugulikɔŋga. In Chinese, the plant is identified as 非洲榼藤 across several notations, including Traditional Chinese (zh), Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), and the specific regional designation for Mainland China (zh-cn).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ff | Faɗo waanduuhi | Wikidata |
| dag | Ʒugulikɔŋga | Wikidata |
| zh | 非洲榼藤 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 非洲榼藤 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 非洲榼藤 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across several regions within West Tropical Africa. It can be found growing in the territory of Benin. The species also extends its range into Burkina. Additionally, its presence is documented in Gambia and Ghana. Finally, the geographical reach of this medicinal plant includes 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 | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mauritania | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Entada africana, is a woody climber whose various components hold significant therapeutic potential. The stem bark and the roots are frequently utilized in traditional medicine for their potent bioactive properties. Specifically, the root is often processed to isolate various compounds, while scientific studies have focused on the efficacy of methanolic extracts derived from these tissues to evaluate their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Additionally, the leaf extract is recognized for its diverse pharmacological applications, contributing to the plant's overall reputation as a versatile medicinal resource.- Total parts
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 7
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem bark | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Entada africana has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3',4',7-trihydroxyflavone, 5,7-dihydroxychromen-4-one, Triterpenes, acacic acid, aromadendrin.
- Total chemicals
- 17
- Scientific sources
- 17
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 3',4',7-trihydroxyflavone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5,7-dihydroxychromen-4-one | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Triterpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acacic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aromadendrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| catechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dihydrokaempferol-7-O-glucoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| echinocystic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethyl gallate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Entada africana has 7 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antinociceptive, Antiviral.
- Total activities
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 9
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antinociceptive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Entada africana has 20 reported medicinal uses identified across 24 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria, liver diseases, wounds, Chikungunya virus infection, Hepatitis B virus.
- Total uses
- 20
- Scientific sources
- 24
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| malaria | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| liver diseases | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wounds | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chikungunya virus infection | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatitis B virus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatitis C virus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Vibrio cholerae | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antiviral | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |