Pterocarpus mildbraedii
Pterocarpus mildbraedii, commonly known as the African Rosewood, is a significant medicinal plant native to tropical African regions. Renowned for its diverse pharmacological properties, various parts of this woody species are utilized in traditional medicine to treat inflammatory conditions, skin ailments, and infections, offering valuable ethnobotanical insights.
- Scientific name: Pterocarpus mildbraedii
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Pterocarpus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Pterocarpus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Pterocarpus mildbraedii, is known by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context in which it is found. In English, it is frequently referred to as the mildbraedii padauk, while in French, it is called padouk de mildbraedii. Within local African contexts, particularly among those who utilize its medicinal properties, it is known as mbe (in Igbo) and also as n'do (in some other regional dialects).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant, Pterocarpus mildbraedii, is primarily found across the West Tropical Africa region. Its natural habitat extends through several distinct countries within this tropical belt. Specifically, it can be located in the territories of Benin and Ghana. The species also thrives within the borders of Guinea and the Ivory Coast. Finally, its geographical range includes the nation of Liberia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| 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 Tropical Africa | Togo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Pterocarpus mildbraedii, utilizes various components for its medicinal properties, most notably its leaves and stems. The leaves are frequently harvested and processed to create decoctions or infusions used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments. Additionally, the stems (often referred to in botanical contexts as the woody parts or limbs) are also significant, as they contain specific bioactive compounds that contribute to the plant's overall therapeutic potential.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Harms | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Pterocarpus mildbraedii has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, polyphenols.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Pterocarpus mildbraedii has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cardioprotective.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cardioprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Pterocarpus mildbraedii has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cardiovascular disease, hepatic cancer, inflammation.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cardiovascular disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hepatic cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |