Rinorea welwitschii
Rinorea welwitschii, commonly known as the African Rinorea, is a significant medicinal shrub native to tropical African rainforests. Renowned for its diverse pharmacological potential, this plant is traditionally utilized in various cultures to treat ailments ranging from skin infections to inflammatory conditions, offering promising insights for modern phytotherapy.
- Scientific name: Rinorea welwitschii
- Family: Violaceae
- Native range: Africa
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 placed in the order Malpighiales and the family Violaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Rinorea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Violaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Rinorea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Rinorea welwitschii, is known by various regional names depending on the linguistic context. In English, it is commonly referred to as the Welwitschia Rinorea, while in Portuguese, it is known as Rinorea-de-welwitsch. In French, the species is called Rinorea de Welwitsch, and in Swahili, it is identified as Mwarobaini-wa-welwitsch.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Within this geographical area, it can be found growing in the nation of Ghana. Its presence extends further into the coastal landscapes of Guinea and the Ivory Coast. Additionally, the species is documented throughout the forests of Liberia. Finally, the distribution of this medicinal plant concludes its regional range in Nigeria.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gabon | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Rinorea welwitschii, is a medicinal species where the stem-bark plays a significant role in its traditional therapeutic applications. The stem-barks are often harvested to extract bioactive compounds used in various folk remedies to treat specific ailments. By utilizing the bark from the woody stems, practitioners can access the concentrated phytochemicals necessary for its medicinal potency.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem-barks | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Rinorea welwitschii has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include alpinumisoflavone, di-O-methylalpinumisoflavone.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| alpinumisoflavone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| di-O-methylalpinumisoflavone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |