Maytenus truncata
Maytenus truncata, commonly known as the "espina de mico," is a versatile medicinal shrub native to South American landscapes. Renowned for its potent bioactive compounds, it is traditionally utilized in folk medicine to treat skin ailments, inflammation, and digestive issues, offering significant therapeutic potential for modern pharmacological research.
- Scientific name: Maytenus truncata
- Family: Celastraceae
- Native range: Southern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Celastrales, it is further classified under the family Celaestraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Maytenus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Celastrales | WCVP |
| Family | Celastraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Maytenus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Maytenus truncata, is referred to by several common names depending on the language and region. In Chinese, it is known as 刺肿美登木, a name that is also used in its simplified forms, zh-hans and zh-cn.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 刺肿美登木 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 刺肿美登木 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 刺肿美登木 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the South American continent. In Western South America, it can be found growing within the borders of Bolivia. Its range also extends significantly into the country of Brazil. Specifically, the species is documented to inhabit the Northeast region of Brazil. These locations define the primary geographical footprint of Maytenus truncata.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Northeast | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Maytenus truncata, possesses various components that are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The medicinal potential is often concentrated in the leaves, which are frequently processed to create a potent leaf extract for medicinal applications. Beyond the individual leaf, other structural elements like the stem and the root bark also play significant roles in the plant's biological profile, with the bark often being a primary source for extracting bioactive compounds.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 9
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| root bark | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaf Extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Maytenus truncata has 10 reported activities identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antioxidant, Antiulcerogenic, Abortifacient, Antacid.
- Total activities
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 15
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antiulcerogenic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Abortifacient | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antacid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticonvulsant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiulcer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypnotic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Teratogenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Maytenus truncata has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include tumors, ulcers.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| tumors | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ulcers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |