kikul oil plant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• toothbrushtree
• Tooth-Bush Tree
• mustard-tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Brassicales, it is classified under the family Salvadoraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Salvadora and the specific species Salvadora persica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several regions of the African continent. In Northern Africa, it can be found growing in the territories of Algeria and Egypt. Its presence continues through the North African landscapes of Libya and Morocco. Furthermore, the species extends into West Tropical Africa, specifically within the borders of Burkina. This distribution highlights the plant's ability to thrive in diverse environments across the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Salvadora persica is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse and often harsh environments, ranging from coastal saline settings to inland terrestrial zones. It thrives in a variety of habitats, including coral areas close to the sea, the edges of mangrove ecosystems, and sandy dunes, demonstrating a high tolerance for salt and shifting substrates. Beyond its maritime associations, the species is also found in dry bushland, grasslands, and along riverbanks, showcasing its ability to survive in both arid and riparian niches. This plant typically occupies an elevational range spanning from a minimum of 30 m AMSL to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL, allowing it to colonize various topographical gradients within its distribution.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Habitat :

on coral close to the sea, mangrove edges, sand dunes, also in dry bushland and grassland, along rivers

Life history

The life history of Salvadora persica is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habit, the species exhibits characteristics of both phanerophyte and chamaemphyte life forms, reflecting its ability to maintain woody structures at varying heights depending on the specific environmental conditions and niche it occupies. Furthermore, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional throughout much of its life cycle rather than shedding all leaves seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Salvadora persica is characterized by its robust and woody growth habit, functioning as a self-supporting structure that does not require climbing assistance. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, growing instead as an independent organism without parasitic dependencies. The plant displays a versatile growth form, manifesting as both a shrub and a tree. In terms of stature, its height is quite variable, ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of approximately 9.14 meters, with an average plant height of roughly 5 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

9.144111192 m

Plant height mean:

5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Salvadora persica is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutritional processes, most notably through its photosynthetic pathway, which follows the C3 mechanism. This carbon fixation strategy dictates how the plant manages gas exchange and energy production within its leaf tissues. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition capabilities, Salvadora persica is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Salvadora persica is characterized by a complex biotic pollination process involving various agents. The pollination syndrome is primarily biotic, with insects playing a crucial role, specifically through the involvement of bees. The flowering period is quite extensive and variable, typically beginning in March and reaching its conclusion in July, though the cycle can fluctuate across different months. Once fertilization occurs, the plant produces seeds that exhibit significant variation in mass; the individual seed mass ranges from a minimum of 0.01906 g to a maximum of 0.2703 g, with an overall mean seed mass of approximately 0.08016 g.

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Jul

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.2703 g

Seed mass mean:

0.08016 g

Seed mass min:

0.01906 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Salvadora persica has 5 reported plant parts identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf, stem, fruit, seed.

Root

1. Acta odontologica Scandinavica
2. BMC biochemistry
3. Microbios
4. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
5. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Leaf

1. International journal of biological macromolecules
2. Environmental science and pollution research international
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Stem

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Environmental science and pollution research international
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fruit

1. International journal of nanomedicine
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Seed

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Chemicals

Salvadora persica has 44 reported phytochemicals identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Benzyl nitrile, polyphenols, 3-Pyridine carboxaldehyde, Antioxidants.

Flavonoids

1. Nutrients
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. RSC advances

Benzyl nitrile

1. Natural product research
2. Environmental science and pollution research international

polyphenols

1. Nutrients
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

3-Pyridine carboxaldehyde

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Antioxidants

1. Nutrients

BETA-CARYOPHYLLENE

1. Natural product research

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. International journal of nanomedicine

Ca(2+)

1. Environmental and experimental botany

Carotenoid

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Carotenoids

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Activities

Salvadora persica has 19 reported activities identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Analgesic, Anticonvulsant.

Antibacterial

1. Microbios
2. Natural product research
3. Scientific reports
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antimicrobial

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. International journal of nanomedicine
3. Indian journal of dental research : official publication of Indian Society for Dental Research
4. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. International journal of nanomedicine
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Analgesic

1. Heliyon
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Anticonvulsant

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antimycotic

1. Microbios
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antiplaque

1. Microbios
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Anthelmintic

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Anticancer

1. International journal of nanomedicine

Anticaries

1. Microbios

Medicinal Uses

Salvadora persica has 31 reported medicinal uses identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include gingivitis, COVID-19, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations