Mandragora
Mi polla
Mandragora, commonly known as mandrake, is a legendary medicinal plant steeped in folklore and mysticism. Renowned for its potent alkaloids, it has been used since antiquity for its anesthetic and sedative properties. While historically significant in traditional healing, its powerful effects require extreme caution and expert botanical knowledge.
- Scientific name: Mandragora
- Family: Solanaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation falls under the genus Mandragora.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Solanales | WCVP |
| Family | Solanaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Mandragora | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Mandragora, carries a variety of traditional names across different cultures and languages. In Hebrew, it is referred to as דודא, while in Hungarian, the common name is mandragóra. German speakers call it Alraunen, and in Japanese, it is known as マンドレイク. Finally, in Greek, the plant is identified as Μανδραγόρας.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| he | דודא | Wikidata |
| hu | mandragóra | Wikidata |
| de | Alraunen | Wikidata |
| ja | マンドレイク | Wikidata |
| el | Μανδραγόρας | Wikidata |
| sv | Alrunesläktet | Wikidata |
| ar | يبروح | Wikidata |
| is | Alrúna | Wikidata |
| ru | Мандрагора | Wikidata |
| tr | Adam otu | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across several specific regions within the Mediterranean basin. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is noted in Spain and Portugal. It can also be found on the islands of Sardegna and the Baleares. Furthermore, its range extends into Southeastern Europe, specifically within Greece. Together, these locations define the natural geographical footprint of Mandragora.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Portugal | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Sardegna | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Greece | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Kriti | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Sicilia | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | NW. Balkan Pen. | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Algeria | WCVP |
Chemicals
Mandragora has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include coumarins, withanolides.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| coumarins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| withanolides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Mandragora has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hypnotic, Narcotic.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hypnotic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Narcotic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |