Home > Herbs > Raphia Hookeri

Ivory Coast raffia palm

Raphia hookeri · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Sparse (14 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆

Ivory Coast raffia palm, scientifically known as Raphia hookeri, is a versatile medicinal plant native to West African tropical forests. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, it is traditionally used to treat skin ailments, inflammatory conditions, and digestive issues. Its leaves and stems provide essential bioactive compounds used in herbal remedies.

Family
Arecaceae
Native range
Africa
Parts used
Fruit
Common names
Raphia Palm · Wine Palm · 1 more
Scientific synonyms
Sagus Hookeri · Raphia Angolensis · 6 more

Names

Common Names

Regional and Traditional Names

German:

  • Raffiapalme

French:

  • Palmier Raphia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Raphia hookeri

Synonyms

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Raphia hookeri, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Arecales. Furthermore, it is a member of the family Arecaceae and is situated within the genus Raphia.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Arecales WCVP
Family Arecaceae WCVP
Genus Raphia WCVP

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Benin. Its range also extends into the nation of Gambia. Additionally, the species is present in Ghana and Guinea. Finally, its geographical presence includes the Ivory Coast.

Region Area Source
West Tropical Africa Benin WCVP
West Tropical Africa Gambia 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

Plant Parts

This plant, Raphia hookeri, possesses various components that are utilized for their therapeutic properties, particularly the fruit mesocarp. The fleshy middle layer of the fruit, known as the mesocarp, is often the primary part harvested for medicinal applications. In traditional practices, this specific part of the fruit is processed to extract bioactive compounds that are believed to aid in various health treatments.
Plant Part Sources Consensus
fruit Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Raphia hookeri has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CA, FE, Flavonoids, MG, Saponins.

Chemicals reported in Raphia hookeri
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
CA 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
FE 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Flavonoids 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
MG 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Saponins 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Tannins 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
ascorbic acid 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
cholesterol 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
niacin 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
p- 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

CA

  1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

FE

  1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Flavonoids

  1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

MG

  1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Saponins

  1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Tannins

  1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

ascorbic acid

  1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

cholesterol

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

niacin

  1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

p-

  1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM