Gundelia tournefortii
Gundelia tournefortii, commonly known as thistle or "Gundelia," is a resilient, thorny perennial herb native to the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions. Valued for its nutritional density and medicinal properties, this plant is traditionally utilized to treat various ailments, including digestive issues, inflammation, and certain metabolic disorders.
- Scientific name: Gundelia tournefortii
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Gundelia tournefortii, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asterales. It is a member of the Asteraceae family and is specifically categorized under the genus Gundelia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Gundelia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Gundelia tournefortii, is recognized by various regional common names depending on the language. In Hebrew, it is called עכובית הגלגל, while in Arabic, it is referred to as عكوب جبلي. In Turkish, the plant is known as Kenger, and in Azerbaijani, it is called Turnefor qundeliyası. Additionally, in French, it is commonly known as Akoub.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| he | עכובית הגלגל | Wikidata |
| ar | عكوب جبلي | Wikidata |
| tr | Kenger | Wikidata |
| az | Turnefor qundeliyası | Wikidata |
| fr | Akoub | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several distinct regions of the Middle East and North Africa. In Northern Africa, its presence can be specifically identified within the borders of Algeria. Moving into Western Asia, the species is found on the island of Cyprus. It also inhabits the mountainous and coastal terrains of the Lebanon-Syria region. Finally, its geographical range extends through Palestine and into the Sinai Peninsula.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Algeria | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Cyprus | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Lebanon-Syria | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Palestine | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Sinai | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Türkiye | WCVP |
Chemicals
Gundelia tournefortii has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include apigenin 7 glucoside, caffeic acid, cinnamic acid, epicatechin, flavonoid.
- Total chemicals
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 9
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| apigenin 7 glucoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| caffeic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cinnamic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epicatechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gallic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hydroxybenzoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| p-coumaric acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| salicylic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Gundelia tournefortii has 13 reported activities identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatoprotective, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antiplatelet.
- Total activities
- 13
- Scientific sources
- 14
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatoprotective | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiplatelet | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiseptic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Apoptotic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cardioprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Emetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Gundelia tournefortii has 14 reported medicinal uses identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include bronchitis, diarrhea, kidney stones, liver diseases, chest pain.
- Total uses
- 14
- Scientific sources
- 18
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| bronchitis | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kidney stones | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| liver diseases | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chest pain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammations | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| iron overload | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lung cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| mumps | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |