barbasco

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• barbasco

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Paullinia pendulifolia
• Paullinia angusta
• Paullinia africana
• Pancovia heckelii
• Paullinia hostmannii
• Tondin surinamensium
• Cururu pinnata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Sapindales and the family Sapindaceae. Finally, the medicinal species is identified by the genus Paullinia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found throughout the region of West Tropical Africa. Its natural range includes the country of Benin, where it grows in specific local habitats. It can also be located within the borders of Burkina Faso. Furthermore, the species is distributed across Gambia and Ghana. Finally, its geographical presence extends to the nation of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pauliniia pinnata is characterized by its preference for forest environments, where it integrates into the complex structural layers of the woodland ecosystem. This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal adaptability, occupying a diverse range of vertical niches within its landscape. Its distribution extends from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1450 m AMSL, allowing it to inhabit various ecological zones ranging from lowland tropical or subtropical forests to higher-altitude montane forest habitats.

Elevational range max:

1450 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Paulinnia pinnata is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist across multiple growing seasons. In terms of its ecological structure and growth habit, the plant is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically identified under both phanerophyte life form categories, which indicates that its perennating buds are elevated well above the ground level on woody stems. This life form strategy enables the species to survive unfavorable environmental conditions by protecting its regenerative tissues in elevated structures, contributing to its long-term survival in its natural habitat.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Paullinia pinnata is characterized by its growth habit as an obligatory climbing liana, functioning as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. This woody plant typically grows in terrestrial environments, reaching a minimum height of 2.5 meters, with an average height of approximately 6 meters, and can extend to a maximum height of 8 meters. As a terrestrial liana, it relies on external support to ascend, rather than being self-supporting or epiphytic.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height mean:

6 m

Plant height min:

2.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Paullinia pinnata is characterized by its metabolic processes and specialized nutrient acquisition strategies. As a climbing woody vine, its physiological development is heavily geared toward rapid vertical growth to access sunlight, utilizing specialized tendrils that respond to thigmotropic stimuli. Regarding its interaction with soil nutrients, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with rhizobia or actinomycetes necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, meaning it relies entirely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system. Its carbon assimilation is driven by photosynthetic pathways typical of tropical woody climbers, which support the high energy demands of its extensive vascular tissue and structural expansion.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Paullinia pinnata is characterized by a specific phenological cycle and specialized seed characteristics. The flowering period is highly variable, though it can be observed across various months, with specific observations noting a flowering window centered around March. The plant produces dry fruits that facilitate a complex dispersal strategy. Its dispersal syndrome is primarily zoochorous, specifically utilizing endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals. The seeds themselves are uniform in their physical dimensions, maintaining a consistent seed volume of 520 mm³ and a mean seed mass of 0.21064 g, with the minimum and maximum mass values also recorded at 0.21064 g.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Mar

Fruit dryness :

dry

Seed mass mean:

0.21064 g

Seed volume max:

520 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Paullinia pinnata has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, stem.

Leaf

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Journal of medicinal food

Root

1. Planta medica

Stem

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Chemicals

Paullinia pinnata has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2-hydroxycarbamoyl-4-methyl-pentanoic acid, Epicatechin, Flavonoid, Flavonoids, Friedelin.

2-hydroxycarbamoyl-4-methyl-pentanoic acid

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Epicatechin

1. Planta medica

Flavonoid

1. Journal of medicinal food

Flavonoids

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Friedelin

1. SpringerPlus

Methylinositol

1. SpringerPlus

Nimbolinin D

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Pheophorbide a

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Proanthocyanidin

1. Journal of medicinal food

Saponins

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Activities

Paullinia pinnata has 5 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Antibacterial, Cytotoxic.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. SpringerPlus

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anthelmintic

1. Planta medica

Antibacterial

1. SpringerPlus

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Conditions

Paullinia pinnata has 11 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, cancer, Ancylostoma caninum, Caenorhabditis elegans, anemia.

Inflammation

1. Heliyon
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of tropical medicine

Cancer

1. Heliyon
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ancylostoma caninum

1. Planta medica

Caenorhabditis elegans

1. Planta medica

Anemia

1. Pharmacognosy research

Angiogenesis

1. Heliyon

Infectious diseases

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Oxidative stress

1. Heliyon

Pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Paullinia pinnata has 9 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Extracts, Leaves extract, PP, extracts, leaf extract.

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaves extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Pp

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extracts

1. Heliyon

Leaf extract

1. SpringerPlus

Methanol extract of its leaves

1. Journal of medicinal food

Methanol extracts from the leaves

1. Journal of medicinal food

Methanol extracts of the leaves and stems

1. SpringerPlus

Stems extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine