Pongamia
Pongamia pinnata · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Moderate (147 studies) · ★★★☆☆
Pongamia, scientifically known as Pongamia pinnata, is a versatile, nitrogen-fixing legume widely distributed across tropical regions. Renowned for its medicinal properties, it is used in traditional healing to treat skin ailments, inflammation, and infections. Its oil is also highly valued in biofuels and sustainable organic pesticide formulations.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Leaf · Seeds
- Common names
- Not available
- Scientific synonyms
- Millettia Pinnata · Galedupa Pinnata · 2 more
Names
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Pongamia pinnataSynonyms
- Millettia pinnata
- Galedupa pinnata
- Cytisus pinnatus
- Cajum pinnatum
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. Finally, it is identified by its genus name, Pongamia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Pongamia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several diverse regions within the African continent. In Northern Africa, its range extends into the country of Egypt. Moving toward the center of the continent, it is found throughout West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically in the DR Congo. Its distribution also covers Northeast Tropical Africa, including both Sudan and South Sudan. Finally, the species is well-established in East Tropical Africa, spanning across Tanzania and Uganda.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Uganda | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Rodrigues | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Karanja, offers a variety of therapeutic components that are utilized in traditional medicine. The seeds are highly valued for producing a potent oil used to treat skin diseases and as a natural pesticide. The leaf and the broader collection of leaves are often processed into pastes or decoctions to address inflammatory conditions and various dermatological issues. Additionally, the stem bark is frequently employed for its astringent properties, while the roots are utilized in specific herbal formulations to treat ailments such as fever and digestive disturbances.| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| seeds | Biotechnology for biofuels and bioproducts (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaves | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| bark | Ancient science of life (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | Journal of natural products (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chewing sticks | Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried leaves | Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flower extract | Microbial pathogenesis (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | Phytochemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Pongamia pinnata has 33 reported phytochemicals identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Karanjin, CHLOROFORM, Flavonoid, PETROLEUM ETHER, Pongamol.
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Karanjin | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| CHLOROFORM | Indian journal of experimental biology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoid | Biotechnology for biofuels and bioproducts (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| PETROLEUM ETHER | Indian journal of experimental biology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pongamol | Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pongapin | Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bis(2-methylheptyl)phthalate | Virus research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chalcone | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| FLAVONE | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fatty acids | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Pongamia pinnata has 25 reported activities identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antiplasmodial.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antiplasmodial | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | Indian journal of experimental biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AntiHIV | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Pongamia pinnata has 31 reported medicinal uses identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include HIV-1, Hepatitis B virus, MRSA, Parkinson's disease, Streptococcus mutans.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| HIV-1 | Bioinformation (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatitis B virus | Bioinformation (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| MRSA | Ancient science of life (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Parkinson's disease | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Streptococcus mutans | Pharmacognosy magazine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| White Spot Syndrome Virus | Virus research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antiseptic | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| blood coagulation | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf extract | Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oil | Journal of veterinary medicine. A, Physiology, pathology, clinical medicine (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 50% EtOH syrup of the bark | Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aqueous extracts from leaf | Bioinformation (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aqueous extracts from roots | Bioinformation (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aqueous extracts from seed | Bioinformation (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ethanolic extract of Pongamia pinnata (PPEt) leaves | Toxicology mechanisms and methods (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extracts | Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extracts of the seed coat | Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chewing sticks/toothbrushes | Pharmacognosy magazine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |