Ilex guayusa
Ilex guaicuensis, commonly known as Guayusa, is a powerful stimulant plant native to the Amazon rainforest. Renowned for its high caffeine and antioxidant content, it is traditionally brewed into a revitalizing tea. This sacred botanical provides sustained energy, enhances mental clarity, and offers significant metabolic and digestive health benefits.
- Scientific name: Ilex guayusa
- Family: Aquifoliaceae
- Native range: Southern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Aquifoliales, falling into the family Aquifoliaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Ilex.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Aquifoliales | WCVP |
| Family | Aquifoliaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Ilex | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across the diverse landscapes of Northern and Western South America. In the northern region, it can be found growing within the borders of Venezuela. Its range extends into Western South America, where it is commonly located in Colombia and Ecuador. Furthermore, the species is widely distributed throughout the territories of Peru. Finally, the geographical reach of this medicinal plant also includes the nation of Bolivia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern South America | Venezuela | WCVP |
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Colombia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Ecuador | WCVP |
| Western South America | Peru | WCVP |
Chemicals
Ilex guayusa has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include caffeine, terpenes.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| caffeine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Ilex guayusa has 5 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Phytohormonal, Psychoactive.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Phytohormonal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Psychoactive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Ilex guayusa has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include diabetes mellitus, hyperphagia, polydipsia.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperphagia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polydipsia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |