balloon-pea
Lessertia frutescens · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Sparse (87 studies) · ★★☆☆☆
Balloon-pea, scientifically known as Lessertia frutescens, is a resilient shrub native to the arid landscapes of South Africa. Characterized by its unique, inflated seed pods, this plant offers significant ethnobotanical interest. Researchers explore its diverse chemical properties, seeking potential therapeutic applications within traditional medicinal practices and modern pharmacology.
Names
Common Names
- balloon-pea
- cancerbush
- duckplant
- Balloon Pea
- Camphor bush
- Dead Man's Tree
- Scarlet Balloon Pea
- Turkey Flower
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Sutherlandia frutescens
German:
- Ballonerbse
- Sutherlandia frutescens
- Ballonerbse
French:
- Sutherlandia frutescens
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Lessertia frutescensSynonyms
- Sutherlandia frutescens
- Colutea frutescens
- Colutia frutescens
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales. Finally, its taxonomic journey concludes in the family Fabaceae under the genus Lessertia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Lessertia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across several distinct regions of the African continent. In East Tropical Africa, its presence is specifically noted within the borders of Kenya. Moving toward the southern portion of the continent, it can be found inhabiting the territory of Botswana. The species also grows within the Cape Provinces and the mountainous nation of Lesotho. Finally, its distribution extends further into the arid landscapes of Namibia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Botswana | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Cape Provinces | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Lesotho | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Namibia | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Free State | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Northern Provinces | WCVP |
| Australia | New South Wales | WCVP |
| Australia | South Australia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Lessertia frutescens, possesses several distinct components that are of interest in botanical and pharmacological studies. The vibrant green leaves serve as a primary site for nutrient production, while the sturdy stems provide the structural integrity necessary to support the plant's growth. Reproduction is facilitated through its seeds, which ensure the continuation of the species across its natural habitat. Below the surface, the roots provide essential anchorage and nutrient absorption to sustain the organism. Furthermore, scientific investigations often utilize methanol leaf extracts to isolate specific bioactive compounds, exploring the plant's potential therapeutic properties through concentrated chemical analysis.| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| field leaves | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanol leaf extracts | Life (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots/bulbs | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stems | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Lessertia frutescens has 35 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include L-canavanine, canavanine, Cardiac Glycosides, Flavonoids, SUTHERLANDIOSIDE B.
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| L-canavanine | South African journal of botany : official journal of the South African Association of Botanists = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir plantkunde : amptelike tydskrif van die Suid-Afrikaanse Genootskap van Plantkundiges (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| canavanine | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Cardiac Glycosides | Life (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| SUTHERLANDIOSIDE B | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate | BioFactors (Oxford, England) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 8-Methoxyvestitol | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ALDOSTERONE | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cavanine | Journal of plant physiology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cortisol | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Lessertia frutescens has 12 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Neuroprotective, Adaptogenic, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anticancer | Life (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | Behavioural neurology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Adaptogenic | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antistress | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Lessertia frutescens has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include High Blood Pressure, Parkinson's disease, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, antidiabetic, antioxidant.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| High Blood Pressure | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Parkinson's disease | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antidiabetic | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| drought | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| salt | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| salt stress | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stomach ulcers | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aqueous extract | PloS one (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extract | Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extracts | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| water extracts | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 70% ethanol (SFE) extracts | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aqueous extracts | Journal of pharmacy & pharmaceutical sciences : a publication of the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Societe canadienne des sciences pharmaceutiques (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Extracts | Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Extracts of in vitro leaves | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| S. frutescens methanol extract | Cell biology international (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| SF ethanol extracts | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |