Erythrina
Coraltrees
Erythrina, commonly known as coral trees, comprises a diverse genus of flowering shrubs and trees celebrated for their vibrant blooms. Beyond their ornamental beauty, many species possess significant ethnobotanical value. They are widely studied for their bioactive alkaloids, which offer potential medicinal properties in treating neurological and inflammatory conditions.
- Scientific name: Erythrina
- 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 Erythrina.
| 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, belonging to the genus Erythrina, is known by various names across different languages and regions. In Chinese, it is referred to as 刺桐属 (zh-hans), 刺桐屬 (zh-hant), or 刺桐屬 (zh-hk), while in West Frisian, it is called Eritrino (eo), and in Polish, it is known as koralodrzew (pl).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 刺桐属 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 刺桐屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 刺桐屬 | Wikidata |
| eo | Eritrino | Wikidata |
| pl | koralodrzew | Wikidata |
| ru | Эритрина | Wikidata |
| ca | Eritrina | Wikidata |
| de | Korallenbäume | Wikidata |
| vi | Chi Vông nem | Wikidata |
| te | ఎరిత్రినా | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across several distinct global regions. In Northern Africa, its presence is noted within the borders of Egypt. The species also extends into Macaronesia, where it can be found in both Cape Verde and Madeira. Moving toward West Tropical Africa, the plant is distributed through the territories of Benin and Burkina. Together, these locations highlight a broad geographical spread spanning multiple continents.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Madeira | WCVP |
| 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 |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the coral tree, possesses various components that are utilized in traditional medicine. The stem bark is frequently harvested for its chemical properties and is often prepared in decoctions to treat various ailments. Additionally, the roots are highly valued in many cultures, where they are processed to extract bioactive compounds used in the treatment of inflammation and other medicinal purposes.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Erythrina has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include isoflavones, apigenin, daidzein, genistein, isoflavans.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| isoflavones | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| apigenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| daidzein | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| genistein | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoflavans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| luteolin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Erythrina has 7 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antioxidant, Antiplasmodial, Antiviral.
- Total activities
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiplasmodial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anxiolytic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Sedative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Erythrina has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include HIV, inflammation, Candida albicans, Plasmodium falciparum, SARS-CoV-2.
- Total uses
- 11
- Scientific sources
- 13
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| HIV | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plasmodium falciparum | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| SARS-CoV-2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bacteria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| obesity | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |