Quassia
Quassia, commonly known as bitterwood, is a medicinal plant native to tropical regions. Renowned for its intense bitterness, it has been utilized in traditional medicine for centuries. Its extracts are often employed to treat digestive issues, act as a tonic, and provide antimicrobial properties, making it a fascinating botanical specimen.
- Scientific name: Quassia
- Family: Simaroubaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales. Finally, it resides in the family Simaroubaceae and is categorized under the genus Quassia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Sapindales | WCVP |
| Family | Simaroubaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Quassia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across several tropical regions. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found specifically within the borders of Guinea. Its presence extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, including the Congo and the islands of the Gulf of Guinea. Moving into the Asian continent, the species is also located within the Indo-China region. Specifically, it thrives in the territories of both Myanmar and Vietnam.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
| Malesia | Jawa | WCVP |
| Malesia | Philippines | WCVP |
| Northwestern Pacific | Caroline Is. | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Central | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
Activities
Quassia has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |