creosote bush
Larrea tridentata · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (522 studies) · ★★★★★
Creosote bush, scientifically known as Larrea tridentata, is a resilient evergreen shrub native to the arid landscapes of the American Southwest. Renowned for its distinctive, pungent aroma and medicinal properties, it has been used for centuries by indigenous cultures to treat skin ailments, inflammation, and various respiratory conditions.
Names
Common Names
- chaparral
- creosote
- creosote-bush
- Greasewood
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- gobernadora
- hediondilla
German:
- Kreosotbusch
- Kreosotstrauch
- Kreosotbusch
French:
- Arbre à créosote
- Créosotier
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Larrea tridentataSynonyms
- Guaiacum mexicanum
- Larrea divaricata var. arenaria
- Larrea tridentata subsp. glutinosa
- Covillea tridentata
- Larrea glutinosa
- Larrea mexicana
- Larrea divaricata subsp. tridentata
- Schroeterella glutinosa
- Neoschroetera tridentata
- Neoschroetera glutinosa
- Larrea tridentata var. glutinosa
- Schroeterella tridentata
- Covillea glutinosa
- Zygophyllum tridentatum
- Larrea tridentata var. arenaria
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Zygophyllales and placed in the family Zygophyllaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Larrea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Zygophyllales | WCVP |
| Family | Zygophyllaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Larrea | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant, known as Larrea tridentata, is widely distributed across several key regions of the American West. In the Southwestern United States, it can be found extensively throughout the state of Arizona. Its presence also extends across the desert landscapes of California and Nevada. Additionally, this species thrives within the arid environments of Utah. Finally, its range reaches into the South-Central United States, specifically covering the state of New Mexico.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern U.S.A. | Arizona | WCVP |
| Southwestern U.S.A. | California | WCVP |
| Southwestern U.S.A. | Nevada | WCVP |
| Southwestern U.S.A. | Utah | WCVP |
| South-Central U.S.A. | New Mexico | WCVP |
| South-Central U.S.A. | Texas | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northeast | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as creosote bush, possesses distinct morphological features that contribute to its medicinal properties. The stems are woody and often become gnarled and branched as the plant ages, providing a sturdy structural framework. Its leaves are small, resinous, and evergreen, coated in a waxy substance that helps the plant retain moisture in arid environments. Collectively, the aerial parts of Larrea tridentata are highly valued in traditional medicine, as the resins found on the surface of the foliage and stems contain bioactive compounds used for their antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects.| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aerial parts | Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stems | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Larrea tridentata has 72 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include NORDIHYDROGUAIARETIC ACID, 1-HEXEN-3-ONE, 1-Hepten-3-one, 2-HEPTANONE, 2-Undecanone.
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| NORDIHYDROGUAIARETIC ACID | Journal of AOAC International (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1-HEXEN-3-ONE | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1-Hepten-3-one | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-HEPTANONE | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-Undecanone | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ALPHA-PINENE | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ALUMINUM | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alanine Aminotransferase | Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ash | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BETA-PINENE | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Larrea tridentata has 418 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antiviral, Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, (-)-Chronotropic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| Anticancer | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-Chronotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-Inotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ACE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AChE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AP-1-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acaricide | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Larrea tridentata has 16 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include fulminant hepatic failure, HIV-1, Trichinella spiralis, cancer, cholelithiasis.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fulminant hepatic failure | JAMA (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HIV-1 | Journal of chromatography. A (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Trichinella spiralis | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | Journal of traditional and complementary medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cholelithiasis | Revista de gastroenterologia de Mexico (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cirrhosis | Archives of internal medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| contact dermatitis | Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| edema | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hepatitis | Archives of internal medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| human immunodeficiency virus | Journal of traditional and complementary medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| methanol extracts | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cellulose hydrogel films enriched with LT | BioMed research international (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| LT cellulose films | BioMed research international (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Larrea tridentata tincture | Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| botanical dietary supplement | Archives of internal medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| botanical extracts | Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cellulose hydrogels | BioMed research international (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanolic extracts | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |