Mitragyna inermis
Mitragyna inermis, commonly known as the African Mitragyna, is a medicinal shrub native to tropical African regions. Renowned for its diverse pharmacological properties, this plant contains bioactive alkaloids used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation, fever, and pain, offering significant potential for modern drug development and therapeutic research.
- Scientific name: Mitragyna inermis
- Family: Rubiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Mitragyna inermis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Gentianales. Finally, it is a member of the Rubiaceae family and is situated within the genus Mitragyna.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Rubiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Mitragyna | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Mitragyna inermis, is referred to by various traditional names depending on the linguistic group. In the Wolof language, it is commonly called Xoos, while in the Dagbani language, it is known as Shɛɣu, and in the Bemba language, it is referred to as Jun.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| wo | Xoos | Wikidata |
| dag | Shɛɣu | Wikidata |
| bm | Jun | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known scientifically as Mitragyna inermis, is primarily located within the West Tropical Africa region. Its specific geographical presence includes the nation of Benin, where it grows in local ecosystems. The species is also documented throughout Burkina and the Gambia. Furthermore, its distribution extends into the territories of Ghana and Guinea-Bissau. These combined locations highlight its importance across various West African landscapes.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| West Tropical Africa | Mauritania | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Mitragyna inermis, is a medicinal species where various anatomical components are utilized for their therapeutic potential. The lush green leaves are frequently harvested to prepare concentrated leaf extracts, which are often studied for their bioactive compounds. Additionally, the twigs and the rugged stem bark serve as important sources of traditional remedies, often being processed into fine powders for medicinal applications.- Total parts
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 7
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| twigs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| powders | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Mitragyna inermis has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, arjungenin, condensed tannins, ellagic acid, stilbenes.
- Total chemicals
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| arjungenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| condensed tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ellagic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stilbenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Mitragyna inermis has 4 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, Antimalarial, Antioxidant, Antiviral.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anthelmintic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Mitragyna inermis has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria, Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, liver diseases.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| malaria | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Malaria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plasmodium falciparum | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| liver diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |