Erythrina mildbraedii
Erythrina mildbraedii, commonly known as the coral tree, is a significant medicinal plant native to tropical Africa. Renowned for its vibrant blooms, it holds profound ethnobotanical value. Various parts of the tree are traditionally utilized to treat ailments ranging from inflammation and fever to digestive issues and skin infections.
- Scientific name: Erythrina mildbraedii
- 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 falls under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Erythrina, with its species name being mildbraedii.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Erythrina | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Erythrina mildbraedii, is known by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In English, it is frequently referred to as the Coral Tree, a name that reflects its striking floral appearance. Within local African languages, it is identified by specific regional names such as mshindombe in Swahili and ndiba in certain Bantu dialects. These diverse names highlight the plant's integration into both the botanical landscape and the traditional knowledge systems of the areas where it grows.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant is native to the diverse landscapes of West Tropical Africa. Its presence is specifically documented within the borders of Ghana. Furthermore, the species can be found growing across the terrain of Guinea. It also extends its range into the coastal regions of the Ivory Coast and Liberia. Finally, the distribution reaches inland to include the country of Mali.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | 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 |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Togo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gabon | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Erythrina mildbraedii, possesses various components that are utilized for their therapeutic potential in traditional medicine. Specifically, both the root bark and the stem bark are recognized for their medicinal properties, often being harvested and prepared for different pharmacological applications. While the root bark is frequently sought for its concentrated bioactive compounds, the stem bark serves as another vital source of healing elements within the plant's structural anatomy.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| root bark | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Erythrina mildbraedii has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include abyssinin II, erythrinin B, eryvarin B, fraxidin, parvisoflavone B.
- Total chemicals
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| abyssinin II | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| erythrinin B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| eryvarin B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fraxidin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| parvisoflavone B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| scandenone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| scoparone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Erythrina mildbraedii has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Erythrina mildbraedii has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include obesity, type-2 diabetes.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| obesity | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| type-2 diabetes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |