Prosopis cineraria
Ghaf
Prosopis cineraria, commonly known as Khejri, is a vital multipurpose tree native to the arid regions of India. Renowned for its resilience, it plays a crucial role in desert ecosystems. Its leaves, pods, and bark offer significant medicinal properties, providing nourishment and healing benefits to local communities and livestock.
- Scientific name: Prosopis cineraria
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is specifically identified by the genus Prosopis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Prosopis | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Prosopis cineraria, is known by various regional names across different languages in India. In Hindi, it is commonly referred to as खेजड़ी, while in Gujarati, it is called ખીજડો. In Marathi, it is known as शमी, and in Telugu, it is referred to as జమ్మి చెట్టు. Additionally, in Tamil, the plant is called વનંì.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| hi | खेजड़ी | Wikidata |
| gu | ખીજડો | Wikidata |
| mr | शमी | Wikidata |
| te | జమ్మి చెట్టు | Wikidata |
| ta | வன்னி | Wikidata |
| or | ଶମୀ | Wikidata |
| pnb | جنڈ | Wikidata |
| ml | വന്നി | Wikidata |
| pa | ਜੰਡ | Wikidata |
| kn | ಬನ್ನಿ | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several arid regions of Western Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. In the area of Western Asia, it can be found growing in both Afghanistan and Iran. Its presence extends into the Arabian Peninsula, where it is common throughout the various Gulf States. Specifically, the species is well-documented in the nation of Kuwait. Additionally, the plant is naturally distributed within the borders of Oman.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Asia | Afghanistan | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Iran | WCVP |
| Arabian Peninsula | Gulf States | WCVP |
| Arabian Peninsula | Kuwait | WCVP |
| Arabian Peninsula | Oman | WCVP |
| Arabian Peninsula | Saudi Arabia | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Pakistan | WCVP |
| Malesia | Jawa | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Prosopis cinerea, is a versatile medicinal species where various components offer significant health benefits. The leaves and the broader aerial parts of the tree are frequently utilized in traditional remedies to treat various ailments due to their bioactive compounds. Furthermore, the leaf extracts and the essential oils derived from the plant possess potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, the seed is also recognized for its therapeutic potential, making the entire structure of the plant a valuable resource in herbal medicine.- Total parts
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 10
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| seed | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| essential oils | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Branches | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Prosopis cineraria has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include vitexin, Vitexin, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| vitexin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Vitexin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| caffeic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorogenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ferulic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| myricitrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| palmitic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| protocatechuic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rhoifolin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| vanillin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Prosopis cineraria has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Expectorant.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Expectorant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Prosopis cineraria has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Acute myeloid leukemia, Chronic myeloid leukemia, asthma, conjunctivitis.
- Total uses
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Acute lymphoblastic leukemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acute myeloid leukemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chronic myeloid leukemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| asthma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| conjunctivitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leukemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wound healing | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |