Gliricidia sepium
Quickstick
Gliricidia sepium, commonly known as quickstick or madre de cacao, is a versatile tropical legume prized for its medicinal and agricultural benefits. Renowned for its nitrogen-fixing properties, it is also utilized in traditional medicine to treat skin ailments, parasites, and various inflammatory conditions, serving as a vital multipurpose resource.
- Scientific name: Gliricidia sepium
- 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. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Gliricidia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Gliricidia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Gliricidia sepium, is known by various regional names across different languages and cultures. In Indonesia, it is commonly referred to as Gamal (id), while in Malayalam, it is called ശീമക്കൊന്ന (ml). The Nahuatl name for this species is Cacahuanāntli (nah), and in Thai, it is known as แคฝรั่ง (th). Additionally, in Tagalog, the plant is identified as Kakawate (tl).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| id | Gamal | Wikidata |
| ml | ശീമക്കൊന്ന | Wikidata |
| nah | Cacahuanāntli | Wikidata |
| th | แคฝรั่ง | Wikidata |
| tl | Kakawate | Wikidata |
| jv | Klérésédhé | Wikidata |
| zh | 南洋櫻 | Wikidata |
| bn | শারঙ্গ | Wikidata |
| fi | rusotuonenpuu | Wikidata |
| mr | गिरीपुष्प | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Gliricidia sepium, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. It is found within the borders of Benin, where it thrives in local ecosystems. The species also extends its range into Burkina, contributing to the region's biodiversity. Furthermore, its presence is noted in Ghana and Guinea, marking its widespread utility in these areas. Finally, the plant is also documented to grow within Nigeria, completing its regional footprint.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Uganda | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Gliricidia sepium, possesses various parts that are utilized for different medicinal and practical purposes. The green, pinnate leaves are frequently used in traditional medicine to treat skin ailments and inflammatory conditions. The bark is often decocted to manage ailments such as digestive issues or fever, while the roots are valued for their potent properties in treating various internal infections. Internally, the sturdy heart wood provides structural integrity to the plant and is sometimes studied for its unique chemical composition. Additionally, the plant produces legume fruits that, while less commonly used in primary medicinal preparations, contribute to the overall biological lifecycle and nutrient cycling of the species.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 7
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| heart wood | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Gliricidia sepium has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 4-C-methyl-myo-inositol, flavonoids, glucose, glucuronic acid, saponins.
- Total chemicals
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 4-C-methyl-myo-inositol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glucose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glucuronic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stigmastanol glucoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| xylose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Gliricidia sepium has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Gliricidia sepium has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include catalepsy, headache, menorrhagia, rheumatism, scabies.
- Total uses
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| catalepsy | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| headache | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| menorrhagia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatism | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| scabies | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| toothache | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wounds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |