Sassafras
Sassafras, commonly known as the aromatic tree of North America, has a storied history in herbal medicine. Renowned for its distinct scent and versatile roots, it has traditionally been used to support digestive health and circulation. Today, it remains a fascinating subject for those exploring natural botanical wellness.
- Scientific name: Sassafras
- Family: Lauraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Laurales and the family Lauraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Sassafras.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Laurales | WCVP |
| Family | Lauraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Sassafras | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as sassafras, is recognized by various regional names in Chinese-speaking areas. In simplified Chinese scripts used in mainland China, Singapore, and Hong Kong, it is referred to as 檫木属 (zh-hans, zh-cn, zh-hk) or 檫木属 (zh-sg), while in traditional Chinese scripts, it is written as 檫木屬 (zh-hant).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 檫木属 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 檫木屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 檫木屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 檫木属 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 檫木属 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 檫木屬 | Wikidata |
| pl | Sasafras | Wikidata |
| udm | Сассафрас | Wikidata |
| ru | Сассафрас | Wikidata |
| ca | Sassafràs | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations across several major regions in Asia and Europe. In Southeastern Europe, its presence can be specifically identified within Romania. Its distribution extends significantly into China, where it is found in both the South-Central and Southeast regions. Moving toward Eastern Asia, the species is also native to Taiwan. Finally, the plant can be located within the Indo-China region, specifically in Vietnam.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Europe | Romania | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Ontario | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Illinois | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Iowa | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Kansas | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Missouri | WCVP |
Chemicals
Sassafras has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include safrole.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| safrole | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Sassafras has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Chemopreventive, Genotoxic.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Chemopreventive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Genotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |