Mitracarpus hirtus
Tropical girdlepod
Mitracarpus hirtus, commonly known as the hairy mitracarp, is a distinctive medicinal shrub native to various tropical regions. Renowned for its diverse pharmacological properties, this plant is traditionally utilized in folk medicine to treat ailments ranging from skin inflammations to digestive issues, offering significant potential for modern therapeutic research.
- Scientific name: Mitracarpus hirtus
- Family: Rubiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Gentianaales and the family Rubiaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Mitracarpus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Rubiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Mitracarpus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Mitracarpus hirtus, is referred to by various names depending on the language and region. In English, it is commonly called the tropical girdlepod, while in Chinese, its names vary slightly by region, being known as 盖裂果 (zh-cn), 盖裂果 (zh), and 蓋裂果 (zh-tw). Additionally, in the Fulani language, it is known as Gududal (ff).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-tw | 蓋裂果 | Wikidata |
| zh | 盖裂果 | Wikidata |
| ff | Gududal | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 盖裂果 | Wikidata |
| en | tropical girdlepod | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning both Atlantic islands and the African mainland. In the Macaronesian region, its presence is specifically noted in Cape Verde. Moving to the continent, it is found across several areas of West Tropical Africa. Specifically, its range includes the nations of Benin, Burkina, and Gambia. Finally, the distribution extends further south to include Ghana.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Mitracarpus hirtus, possesses several distinct morphological features that are utilized in its medicinal applications. The aerial parts of the species serve as the primary component for various therapeutic preparations. Within these structures, the inflorescence plays a vital role in the plant's reproductive cycle, often studied for its specific chemical properties. Furthermore, the leaves are a key diagnostic feature, particularly when examining the mature leaves, which exhibit the full development of their characteristic shape and texture necessary for consistent medicinal potency.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 9
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| inflorescences | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflorescence | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mature leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Mitracarpus hirtus has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include anthraquinones, benzo[g]isoquinoline-5,10-dione, coumarins, flavonoids, triterpene acid.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| anthraquinones | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| benzo[g]isoquinoline-5,10-dione | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coumarins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triterpene acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wighteone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Mitracarpus hirtus has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Mitracarpus hirtus has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Helicobacter pylori, cancer, eczema.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Helicobacter pylori | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| eczema | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |