Buddha belly plant
Jatropha podagrica · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (30 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Buddha belly plant, scientifically known as Jatrophia podagrica, is a striking succulent celebrated for its unique, swollen trunk and glossy leaves. Native to tropical regions, this ornamental marvel is highly valued in traditional medicine for its diverse healing properties, often utilized to treat various ailments through its potent bioactive compounds.
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Native range
- Asia-Tropical
- Parts used
- Fruit · Root
- Common names
- Guatemalan-Rhubarb · Bottle-Euphorbia · 6 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Not available
Names
Common Names
- Guatemalan-rhubarb
- bottle-euphorbia
- goutstalk nettlespurge
- purgingnut
- white-rhubarb
- Buddha belly plant
- Gout Stalk
- Guatemalan rhubarb
Regional and Traditional Names
German:
- Guatemalarhabarber
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Jatropha podagricaTaxonomical 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 Malpighiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Euphorbiaceae within the genus Jatropha.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Jatropha | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across various tropical and subtropical regions. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in India. Its range extends into the Northwestern Pacific, specifically around the Caroline Islands. Additionally, it is present in the North-Central Pacific, including the islands of Hawaii. Finally, the species is located in Mexico, spanning both the Mexico Gulf and the Mexico Southwest regions.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Northwestern Pacific | Caroline Is. | WCVP |
| North-Central Pacific | Hawaii | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | El Salvador | WCVP |
| Central America | Guatemala | WCVP |
| Central America | Honduras | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Jatropha podagrica, possesses various anatomical components that are often studied for their biological properties. The sturdy stem bark serves as a protective outer layer for the plant's vascular system, while the succulent stalks provide the necessary structural support and transport mechanisms for nutrients. Beneath the soil, the roots anchor the plant and facilitate the absorption of water and essential minerals from the earth. Finally, the plant produces a specialized fruit that plays a crucial role in its reproductive cycle and seed dispersal.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| fruit | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Jatropha podagrica has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Fraxetin, Corchoionoside C, Corilagin, Corillagin, Fraxin.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Fraxetin | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Corchoionoside C | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Corilagin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Corillagin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fraxin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gallic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hovetrichoside C | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Isobiflorin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| METHYL GALLATE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| PHILLYGENIN | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Fraxetin
- Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
Corchoionoside C
- Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
Corilagin
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
Corillagin
- Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
Fraxin
- Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
Gallic acid
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
Hovetrichoside C
- Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
Isobiflorin
- Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
METHYL GALLATE
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
PHILLYGENIN
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
Activities
Jatropha podagrica has 4 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antiprotozoal.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiprotozoal | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Jatropha podagrica has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include snake envenomation, tumor cell lines.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| snake envenomation | Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tumor cell lines | Phytochemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| ethyl acetate extract of the stem bark | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extracts | The Journal of veterinary medical science (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fresh fruit | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| herbal preparation | Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |