smooth mesquite
Neltuma laevigata · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (8 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Smooth mesquite, scientifically known as Neltuma laevigatą, is a versatile medicinal plant prized for its therapeutic properties. Found in arid landscapes, its bark and roots offer potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Traditionally used to treat digestive ailments and skin irritations, this resilient species remains a cornerstone of ethnobotanical study.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native range
- Northern America
- Parts used
- Leaves · Cotyledon Proteins
- Common names
- Smooth Mesquite
- Scientific synonyms
- Acacia Laevigata · Neltuma Michoacana · 1 more
Names
Common Names
- smooth mesquite
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Algarrobo
- Mezquite Blanco
- mesquite
- mezquite
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Neltuma laevigataSynonyms
- Acacia laevigata
- Neltuma michoacana
- Prosopis laevigata
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and the genus Neltuma.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Neltuma | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant is primarily located within the South-Central United States, specifically found in the state of Texas. Its range extends significantly into Mexico, where it is widely distributed across several key regions. In the central part of the country, it thrives throughout Mexico Central. Furthermore, the species can be located in the areas of Mexico Northeast and Mexico Gulf. Finally, its geographical presence is also noted within the Mexico Southwest region.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South-Central U.S.A. | Texas | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Central | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northeast | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Neltuma laevigata (commonly known as the Brazil nut tree), possesses distinct morphological and biochemical characteristics across its various components. The leaves are large, compound, and arranged in a way that maximizes sunlight absorption for the massive canopy, playing a vital role in the tree's photosynthetic efficiency. While the tree is primarily known for its massive trunk and structural wood, which provides the necessary support for its immense height in the rainforest, the internal biological complexity extends to its seeds. Within these seeds, the cotyledon proteins serve as a critical nutrient reservoir, providing the essential amino acids and energy required for the developing embryo to thrive during germination.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | Tropical biomedicine (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cotyledon proteins | Foods (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wood | Drug and chemical toxicology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Neltuma laevigata has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include n-Hexane.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| n-Hexane | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
n-Hexane
- Journal of helminthology
Activities
Neltuma laevigata has 3 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | Foods (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Foods (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | Foods (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| aqueous | Heliyon (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic extract of the leaves | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic leaf extract | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic plant extracts | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wood extract | Drug and chemical toxicology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |