Musa × paradisiaca
Musa paradisiaca
Musa × paradisiaica, commonly known as the banana, is a versatile tropical plant valued for both nutrition and medicine. Beyond its edible fruit, various parts are utilized in traditional healing to treat digestive issues, inflammation, and skin ailments. Its rich nutrient profile makes it a vital staple in global wellness.
- Scientific name: Musa × paradisiaca
- Family: Musaceae
- 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 Zingiberales, it is classified under the family Musaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Musa.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Zingiberales | WCVP |
| Family | Musaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Musa | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Musa × paradisiaca, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In German, it is called the Dessertbanane, while in Basque, it is known as the Bananondo. In Vietnamese, the plant is called chuối tiêu, and in Galician, it is referred to as the Bananeira. Finally, in Russian, it is known as банан райский.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Dessertbanane | Wikidata |
| eu | Bananondo | Wikidata |
| vi | chuối tiêu | Wikidata |
| gl | Bananeira | Wikidata |
| ru | банан райский | Wikidata |
| ceb | Musa paradisiaca | Wikidata |
| it | Musa ×paradisiaca | Wikidata |
| qu | Puquchi | Wikidata |
| gsw | Dessertbanane | Wikidata |
| nah | Zapalōtl | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Musa × paradisiaca, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions in Africa. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found within the borders of Burkina, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea. Moving further south into West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence extends into the Central African Republic. These locations highlight the plant's reliance on specific tropical climates found within these nations. Consequently, its range is concentrated within these distinct West and Central African territories.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Chad | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| Middle Atlantic Ocean | Ascension | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, scientifically known as Musa × paradisiaca, offers various therapeutic benefits depending on the specific component utilized. While many parts of the banana plant are used in traditional medicine, the fruit peels are particularly noted for their bioactive properties. These peels are rich in polyphenols, carotenoids, and dietary fibers, which can be applied topically to soothe skin irritations or consumed to aid digestive health and provide antioxidant support.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fruit peels | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Musa × paradisiaca has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cycloeucalenone.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cycloeucalenone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Musa × paradisiaca has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |