Petersianthus macrocarpus
Petersianthus macrocarpus, commonly known as the African mahogany or African nut tree, is a versatile medicinal plant native to tropical Africa. Renowned for its diverse pharmacological properties, various parts of the tree are utilized in traditional medicine to treat ailments ranging from skin infections to digestive and inflammatory issues.
- Scientific name: Petersianthus macrocarpus
- Family: Lecythidaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Petersianthus macrocarpus, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Ericales and the family Lecythidaceae. It is further identified by its specific genus, Petersianthus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ericales | WCVP |
| Family | Lecythidaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Petersianthus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Petersianthus macrocarpus, is known by several different common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In French, it is referred to as Essia, while in Turkish, it is commonly called Abale. In the Cerdinian language, it is identified as Ессия (Юра), and in Japanese, the name used is アバレ. Additionally, in the Akan language, the plant is known as Esia.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| fr | Essia | Wikidata |
| tr | Abale | Wikidata |
| ce | Ессия (Юра) | Wikidata |
| ja | アバレ | Wikidata |
| ak | Esia | Wikidata |
| fr | Abalé | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily located within the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is notably documented in the country of Ghana. It also grows naturally throughout the territory of Guinea. Additionally, the species can be found across the landscapes of Ivory Coast and Liberia. Finally, its distribution extends further east into Nigeria.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cabinda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Petersianthus macrocarpus, is utilized in traditional medicine through various components of its structure, most notably the stem bark and the general bark. The stem bark is frequently harvested for its bioactive compounds, which are believed to possess therapeutic properties when prepared as decoctions or extracts. The bark itself serves as a primary source of medicinal ingredients used to treat various ailments, making these specific parts essential to the plant's ethnobotanical value.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem bark | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Petersianthus macrocarpus has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3,3'-Dimethoxy ellagic acid, D-galactose, D-glucuronic acid, D-xylose, L-rhamnose.
- Total chemicals
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 3,3'-Dimethoxy ellagic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| D-galactose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| D-glucuronic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| D-xylose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| L-rhamnose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| petersaponin I | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Petersianthus macrocarpus has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiestrogenic, Estrogenic.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antiestrogenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Estrogenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Petersianthus macrocarpus has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Loa loa.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Loa loa | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |