Ipomoea purga
Ipomoea purga, commonly known as Hawaiian bindweed, is a versatile medicinal plant native to the Pacific Islands. Renowned for its potent purgative properties, it has been used traditionally to treat digestive ailments. Today, researchers explore its bioactive compounds for potential applications in pharmacology and holistic wellness treatments.
- Scientific name: Ipomoea purga
- Family: Convolvulaceae
- Native range: Asia-Tropical
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Solanales and the family Convolvulaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Ipomoea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Solanales | WCVP |
| Family | Convolvulaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Ipomoea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Ipomoea purga, is recognized by various common names across different languages. In Georgian, it is referred to as იალაპა, while in German, it is called Jalape. In Polish, the plant is known as Wilec przeczyszczający, and in both Bulgarian and Russian, it is identified as ялапа.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ka | იალაპა | Wikidata |
| de | Jalape | Wikidata |
| pl | Wilec przeczyszczający | Wikidata |
| bg | ялапа | Wikidata |
| ru | ялапа | Wikidata |
| cs | povijnice počistivá | Wikidata |
| sk | jatalpa preháňavá | Wikidata |
| eo | Jalapo | Wikidata |
| ar | أثمان مسهل | Wikidata |
| arz | اثمان مسهل | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution spanning across diverse regions. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in India. Its presence extends significantly into Mexico, where it is located in the central territories. Furthermore, it is distributed throughout the northeast regions of Mexico. Finally, the species also inhabits the coastal areas of the Mexico Gulf.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Central | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northeast | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Ipomoea purga, is highly valued in traditional medicine primarily for its specific botanical components. The most significant part used for therapeutic purposes is the jalap root, which is harvested and processed to extract potent purgative compounds. This root contains various alkaloids and glycosides that are utilized to stimulate bowel movements, making it a key ingredient in many historical medicinal preparations.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| jalap root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Ipomoea purga has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include convolvulinic acid, jalapinolic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| convolvulinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| jalapinolic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Ipomoea purga has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |