Pterocarpus santalinus
Red sandalwood
Pterocarpus santalinus, commonly known as the Santa Linus tree, is a significant medicinal plant native to specific tropical regions. Renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, this species is frequently utilized in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, offering valuable bioactive compounds that contribute to modern pharmacological research and herbal treatments.
- Scientific name: Pterocarpus santalinus
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Asia-Tropical
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 falls under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Pterocarpus, which includes the medicinal species Pterocarpus santalinus.
| 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 santalinus, is known by various common names across different languages and regions. In Chinese, it is referred to as 小叶紫檀 (zh-hans), 小葉紫檀 (zh-hant), and 小葉紫檀 (zh-hk). In Malayalam, the species is called രക്തചന്ദനം (ml), while in Japanese, it is known as コウキ (ja).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 小叶紫檀 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 小葉紫檀 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 小葉紫檀 | Wikidata |
| ml | രക്തചന്ദനം | Wikidata |
| ja | コウキ | Wikidata |
| mr | रक्तचंदन | Wikidata |
| te | ఎర్రచందనం | Wikidata |
| ru | Сандаловое дерево | Wikidata |
| ne | रक्तचन्दन | Wikidata |
| ta | செஞ்சந்தனம் | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the Indian Subcontinent. It is native to the diverse landscapes found throughout India, where it thrives in various ecological niches. Furthermore, the species can be found growing within the borders of Bangladesh. Its presence also extends across the waters to the island nation of Sri Lanka. Consequently, these three countries represent the primary natural habitats for Pterocarpus santalinus.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Pterocarpus santalinus, is a valuable medicinal species where various components contribute to its therapeutic profile. The dense, reddish heartwood is perhaps the most sought-after part, prized for its unique chemical properties and traditional uses. The leaves are also utilized in various herbal preparations, while the bark provides essential compounds often used in topical or systemic treatments. In horticultural and propagation studies, stem cuttings are frequently employed to cultivate new specimens, a process that often involves the successful formation of a callus to facilitate root development and ensure the survival of the plant.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 12
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| heartwood | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem cuttings | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| callus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Pterocarpus santalinus has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 7,3'-dimethylorobol, calocedrin, flavonoids, isoflavone, isoliquiritigenin.
- Total chemicals
- 18
- Scientific sources
- 18
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 7,3'-dimethylorobol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| calocedrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoflavone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoliquiritigenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isorhamnetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lignan | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| liquiritigenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lupane | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pterolinus K | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Pterocarpus santalinus has 11 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antihyperglycemic.
- Total activities
- 11
- Scientific sources
- 12
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihyperglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diaphoretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Purgative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Pterocarpus santalinus has 16 reported medicinal uses identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, allergy, atopic dermatitis, boils, cancer.
- Total uses
- 16
- Scientific sources
- 17
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| inflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| allergy | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| atopic dermatitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| boils | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coughs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastric mucosa | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| infection | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammatory breast cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| liver | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |