Hintonia latiflora
Hintonia latiflora, commonly known as the cinchona-like plant or cinchona-of-the-Amazon, is a remarkable medicinal shrub native to South American rainforests. Renowned for its potent alkaloids, particularly cinchonine, it has been traditionally utilized for treating malaria, fevers, and digestive ailments, offering significant pharmacological potential in modern botanical studies.
- Scientific name: Hintonia latiflora
- Family: Rubiaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Gentianales. It is a member of the Rubiaceae family and is classified under the genus Hintonia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Rubiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Hintonia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Hintonia latiflora, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Chinese, it is called 胰岛素木 (zh) or 胰岛素木 (zh-CN), reflecting its medicinal properties. In Arabic, it is identified as هينتونيا لاتيفلورا (arz), while in German, it is known as either Mexikanischer Fieberrindenbaum (de) or Copalcchi (de).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 胰岛素木 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 胰岛素木 | Wikidata |
| arz | هينتونيا لاتيفلورا | Wikidata |
| de | Mexikanischer Fieberrindenbaum | Wikidata |
| de | Copalchi | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across various regions throughout the nation of Mexico. Its presence can be identified in the central part of the country, specifically within Mexico Central. Additionally, it inhabits the diverse landscapes found in Mexico Northeast and Mexico Northwest. The species also extends its range into the areas categorized as Mexico Southwest. Finally, the geographical reach of this medicinal plant includes the tropical and subtropical zones of Mexico Southeast.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Mexico Central | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northeast | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
| Central America | El Salvador | WCVP |
| Central America | Guatemala | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Hintonia latiflora, is a medicinal species where various components are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The leaves are often a primary focus in traditional applications, but the structural elements of the plant also hold significant value. Specifically, the stem bark and the general bark of the tree contain essential bioactive compounds. When practitioners collect the stem-bark, they are tapping into the plant's natural chemical defenses, which are vital to its medicinal profile.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem-bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Hintonia latiflora has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 4-phenylcoumarins, chlorogenic acid, coutareagenin, desoxycordifolinic acid, thielavin A.
- Total chemicals
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 13
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 4-phenylcoumarins | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| chlorogenic acid | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| coutareagenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| desoxycordifolinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| thielavin A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| thielavin J | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| thielavin K | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ursolic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| vermelhotin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Hintonia latiflora has 5 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antihyperglycemic, Antimalarial, Gastroprotective, Hypoglycemic.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihyperglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gastroprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Hintonia latiflora has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antidiabetic, antihyperglycemic, diabetes mellitus, gastric ulcers, gastrointestinal disorders.
- Total uses
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antihyperglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastric ulcers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastrointestinal disorders | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperglycemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |