Luehea paniculata
Luehea paniculata, commonly known as pau-mulato, is a versatile medicinal tree native to South American forests. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, its bark and leaves are traditionally utilized in folk medicine to treat inflammatory conditions, skin ailments, and digestive issues, offering significant potential for modern pharmacological research and development.
- Scientific name: Luehea paniculata
- Family: Malvaceae
- Native range: Southern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malvales, it is specifically situated in the family Malvaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement within the genus Luehea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Malvaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Luehea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Luehea paniculata, is known by several different common names depending on the region and language. In Portuguese, it is frequently referred to as pau de ferro, while in Spanish, it is commonly called palo de hierro.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations across the South American continent. In Northern South America, its presence has been documented in Suriname. Moving toward the western part of the continent, it can be found in both Bolivia and Peru. Within Brazil, its distribution is quite broad, spanning from the West-Central region to the Northeast. These various locations highlight the widespread natural range of Luehea paniculata.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern South America | Suriname | WCVP |
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Peru | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil West-Central | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Northeast | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Southeast | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil North | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil South | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Argentina Northeast | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Paraguay | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Luehea paniculata, utilizes various components for its medicinal properties, most notably its leaf and bark. The leaves are often harvested for their bioactive compounds, which are frequently used in traditional remedies to treat inflammatory conditions or skin ailments. Similarly, the bark of the tree contains essential chemical constituents that are extracted to prepare infusions or decoctions, serving as a vital part of its therapeutic application in folk medicine.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Luehea paniculata has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, rosmarinic acid, vitexin.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rosmarinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| vitexin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Luehea paniculata has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Candida albicans, fungal infections.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Candida albicans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fungal infections | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |