Maprounea africana
Maprounea africana, commonly known as the African Maprounea, is a significant medicinal shrub native to tropical Africa. Widely utilized in traditional medicine, its various parts—including leaves, bark, and seeds—possess potent bioactive properties. It is frequently employed to treat skin ailments, inflammatory conditions, and various gastrointestinal disorders.
- Scientific name: Maprounea africana
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Euphorbiaceae and is identified by the genus Maprounea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Maprounea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Maprounea africana, is referred to by several common names depending on the linguistic context. In Chinese, it is identified as 非洲头序桕 (zh), 非洲头序桕 (zh-hans), and 非洲头序桕 (zh-cn).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 非洲头序桕 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 非洲头序桕 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 非洲头序桕 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is distributed across several distinct regions within the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is specifically noted in Benin and Nigeria. Moving into the West-Central Tropical Africa zone, the species can be found in the Central African Republic. It also inhabits the territory of Cameroon within this same central region. Finally, its geographical range extends further into the Congo.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gabon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Angola | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Malawi | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Maprounea africana, possesses various components that are utilized for their therapeutic properties in traditional medicine. The roots are often employed in decoctions to treat various ailments, while the root bark is specifically harvested for its potent medicinal extracts. Additionally, the leaves are frequently used, either prepared as teas or applied topically, to address diverse health concerns.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Maprounea africana has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include koumbalone A, koumbalone B, maprounic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| koumbalone A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| koumbalone B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| maprounic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Maprounea africana has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Spasmolytic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Spasmolytic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Maprounea africana has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Entamoeba histolytica, human immunodeficiency virus-1.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Entamoeba histolytica | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| human immunodeficiency virus-1 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |