Juniperus procera
Juniperus procera, commonly known as the African Pencil Cedar, is an evergreen conifer native to the high-altitude forests of East Africa. Renowned for its impressive height and timber quality, this resilient species plays a vital ecological role in forest ecosystems and holds significant value in traditional medicinal practices.
- Scientific name: Juniperus procera
- Family: Cupressaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Pinidae, it is categorized under the order Pinales. Finally, it is classified within the family Cupressaceae under the genus Juniperus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Pinidae | WCVP |
| Order | Pinales | WCVP |
| Family | Cupressaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Juniperus | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant is distributed across several distinct regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its presence extends significantly into Northeast Tropical Africa as well. Specifically, it inhabits the territories of Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. Finally, the species is also located within the borders of Somalia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Djibouti | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Eritrea | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Somalia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Uganda | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Malawi | WCVP |
Chemicals
Juniperus procera has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 24 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ferruginol, gallic acid, quercetin, tannic acid, 2-imino-6-nitro-2H-1-benzopyran-3-carbothiamide.
- Total chemicals
- 19
- Scientific sources
- 24
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ferruginol | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| gallic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-imino-6-nitro-2H-1-benzopyran-3-carbothiamide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Quinolone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Retinol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coumarin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hesperidin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Juniperus procera has 7 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antigout, Antimicrobial.
- Total activities
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antigout | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Juniperus procera has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Mycobacterium intracellulare, Ovarian Cancer, antioxidant, breast cancer, colon cancer.
- Total uses
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 9
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Mycobacterium intracellulare | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ovarian Cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colon cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperglycemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| liver cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatism | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |