Olea europaea subsp. africana
Olea europaea subsp. africana, commonly known as the African olive, is a resilient evergreen shrub native to various African landscapes. Renowned for its potent medicinal properties, this subspecies is traditionally utilized for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial qualities, offering significant therapeutic potential in managing diverse health conditions.
- Scientific name: Olea europaea subsp. africana
- Family: Oleaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Lamiales and the family Oleaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Olea, specifically as the subspecies Olea europaea subsp. africana.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Oleaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Olea | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of the African continent. Within West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found in Burundi and Rwanda. Its range also extends further into the Democratic Republic of the Congo within that same western-central zone. Moving toward Northeast Tropical Africa, the species is present in Djibouti. Finally, its distribution continues through the country of Eritrea.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Djibouti | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Eritrea | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Somalia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
Chemicals
Olea europaea subsp. africana has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include acetone, oleuropein.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| acetone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oleuropein | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Olea europaea subsp. africana has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| malaria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |