Macaranga occidentalis
Macaranga occidentalis · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (7 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Macaranga occidentalis, scientifically known as Macaranga occidentalis, is a versatile tropical shrub valued in traditional medicine. Renowned for its bioactive properties, this plant is frequently utilized to treat various ailments, including skin inflammation and digestive issues. Its unique chemical composition makes it a significant subject for pharmacological research.
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Leaf
- Common names
- Not available
- Scientific synonyms
- Macaranga Preussii · Tanarius Occidentalis · 1 more
Names
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Macaranga occidentalisSynonyms
- Macaranga preussii
- Tanarius occidentalis
- Mappa occidentalis
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Malpighiales and the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Macaranga, specifically as the species Macaranga occidentalis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Macaranga | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific range across the African continent within tropical regions. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Nigeria. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, the species can be found in Cameroon. Furthermore, its distribution extends to the islands located within the Gulf of Guinea. Together, these locations define its primary geographical footprint in the tropics.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Macaranga occidentalis, utilizes its leaves as a primary component in various traditional medicinal practices. The leaves are typically large, heart-shaped, and serve as the most significant part of the plant used for therapeutic purposes. In many folk medicine traditions, these leaves are prepared through decoctions or topical applications to treat skin ailments or inflammatory conditions, making them the focal point for extracting the plant's bioactive properties.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Macaranga occidentalis has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Coumarine, Flavonoids, Isomacarangin, Schweinfurthin B, Steroids.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Coumarine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Isomacarangin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Schweinfurthin B | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Steroids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triterpene | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Coumarine
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
Flavonoids
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
Isomacarangin
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
Schweinfurthin B
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
Steroids
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
triterpene
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| crude extract | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fractions | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| n-butanol (n-BuOH) fraction | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |