Griffonia simplicifolia
Griffonia simplicifolia, commonly known as African grape, is a medicinal shrub native to West Africa. It is highly valued for its seeds, which are a potent natural source of 5-HTP. This precursor to serotonin is widely used to support mood regulation, sleep quality, and healthy appetite management naturally.
- Scientific name: Griffonia simplicifolia
- 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. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Griffonia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Griffonia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Griffonia simplicifolia, is referred to by various common names across different languages and regions. In Persian, it is called گریفونیا سیمپلیسیفولیا, while in Arabic, it is known as غريفونية بسيطة الأوراق. The Egyptian Arabic dialect uses the name غريفونيه بسيطة الاوراق, and in Japanese, it is transliterated as グリフォニア・シンプリシフォリア. Additionally, in Russian, it is commonly identified as Schotia simplicifolia.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| fa | گریفونیا سیمپلیسیفولیا | Wikidata |
| ar | غريفونية بسيطة الأوراق | Wikidata |
| ja | グリフォニア・シンプリシフォリア | Wikidata |
| arz | غريفونيه بسيطة الاوراق | Wikidata |
| ru | Schotia simplicifolia | Wikidata |
| ru | Bandeiraea simplicifolia | Wikidata |
| de | Afrikanische Schwarzbohne | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, its natural habitat includes the country of Benin. It can also be found growing within the borders of Ghana. Furthermore, the species is documented in Ivory Coast and Liberia. Finally, the geographical range extends into Nigeria, completing its presence in these tropical areas.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Togo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gabon | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Griffonia simplicifolia, is a woody shrub native to West Africa, and its primary medicinal value is concentrated within its seeds. These small, dark seeds are harvested from the plant's pods and are a rich natural source of 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), a chemical precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Because the seeds contain this essential compound, they are widely utilized in dietary supplements to support mood regulation, sleep quality, and appetite control.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Griffonia simplicifolia has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 5-HTP, 5-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxyethyl) indole, 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan, 5-hydroxyindole-3-carbaldehyde, 5-hydroxytryptamine.
- Total chemicals
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 12
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 5-HTP | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxyethyl) indole | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-hydroxyindole-3-carbaldehyde | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-hydroxytryptamine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyrtioerectine B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyrtiosulawesine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| linoleic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oleic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| palmitic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Griffonia simplicifolia has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include depression.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| depression | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |