Pentaclethra macroloba
Pentaclethrha macroloba, commonly known as the "climbing tree," is a versatile medicinal plant widely utilized in traditional African medicine. Renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, various parts of this species are employed to treat inflammatory conditions, skin ailments, and gastrointestinal issues, offering significant potential for modern pharmacological research.
- Scientific name: Pentaclethra macroloba
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Southern America
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. It is specifically identified by its genus, Pentaclethrra, and its species name, Pentaclethrra macroloba.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Pentaclethra | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Pentaclethra macroloba, is known by various regional names across its native habitats. In English, it is frequently referred to as the African mahogany or the African teak, reflecting the quality of its timber. In French, it is commonly called acajou d'Afrique, while in Portuguese, it is known as pau-preto. Additionally, in certain local contexts, it may be referred to as mafounga.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several regions of Central America and the Caribbean. Within Central America, its presence is documented in the nations of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panamá. Moving toward the Caribbean, the species can be found inhabiting the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Additionally, its range extends to the various islands comprising the Windward Islands. Consequently, the geographical footprint of Pentaclethra macrolobia spans multiple diverse island ecosystems.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | Nicaragua | WCVP |
| Central America | Panamá | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Trinidad-Tobago | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Windward Is. | WCVP |
| Northern South America | French Guiana | WCVP |
| Northern South America | Guyana | WCVP |
| Northern South America | Suriname | WCVP |
| Northern South America | Venezuela | WCVP |
| Western South America | Colombia | WCVP |
Chemicals
Pentaclethra macroloba has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ash, phosphorus, sodium, tannin, zinc.
- Total chemicals
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ash | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phosphorus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sodium | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| zinc | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Pentaclethra macroloba has 4 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiinflammatory, Antimicrobial, Emollient, Moisturizing.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antiinflammatory | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Emollient | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Moisturizing | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Pentaclethra macroloba has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Acinetobacter baumannii, wound infection.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Acinetobacter baumannii | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wound infection | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |