Libidibia paraguariensis
Libidibia paraguariensis, commonly known as Pau Brasil, is a storied medicinal plant native to South America. Renowned for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is frequently utilized in traditional medicine to support vascular health and combat oxidative stress, offering significant therapeutic potential in modern botanical research.
- Scientific name: Libidibia paraguariensis
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Southern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following its placement in the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, it is a member of the family Fabaceae. It is specifically identified under the genus Libidibia, with its species name being paraguariensis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Libidibia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Libidiibia paraguariensis, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Swedish, it is called Caesalpinia paraguariensis, while in Lithuanian, it is known as Paragvajinė cezalpinija, and in Chinese, it is identified as 巴拉圭豹云实.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| sv | Caesalpinia paraguariensis | Wikidata |
| lt | Paragvajinė cezalpinija | Wikidata |
| zh | 巴拉圭豹云实 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad distribution throughout several regions of South America. In Western South America, its presence is noted within the borders of Bolivia. Its range extends into Brazil, specifically across the West-Central portion of the country. Within Southern South America, it can be found in both the Northeast and Northwest regions of Argentina. Finally, the species is also widely distributed throughout Paraguay.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil West-Central | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Argentina Northeast | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Argentina Northwest | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Paraguay | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as yerba mate (Lippia paraguiariensis), is a woody shrub where various components are utilized for their therapeutic potential. While the leaves are most famously harvested for their stimulating properties, the stem bark also serves as a significant part of the plant's medicinal profile. In traditional herbal practices, the bark is often studied or utilized for its phytochemical content, contributing to the plant's overall complex chemical composition used in various folk remedies.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |