Sclerocarya birrea
Sclerocarya birrea, commonly known as the Jackalberry tree, is a resilient medicinal plant native to Southern Africa. Renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, various parts of the tree—including bark, leaves, and fruit—are utilized in traditional medicine to treat ailments ranging from digestive issues to inflammatory conditions and infections.
- Scientific name: Sclerocarya birrea
- Family: Anacardiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Sapindales and the family Anacardiaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Sclerocarya, with the species name being birrea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Sapindales | WCVP |
| Family | Anacardiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Sclerocarya | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant is known by various names across different languages and cultures. In Polish, it is referred to as Marula (pl), and in Udmurt, it is called Марула (udm). In Hausa, it is known as Danya (ha), while in French, it is commonly called Marula (fr), and in Hebrew, the name is מרולה (he).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pl | Marula | Wikidata |
| udm | Марула | Wikidata |
| ha | Danya | Wikidata |
| fr | Marula | Wikidata |
| he | מרולה | Wikidata |
| lbe | Марула | Wikidata |
| af | Maroela | Wikidata |
| et | maruula-elevandiõunapuu | Wikidata |
| de | Marula-Baum | Wikidata |
| ny | Mfula | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily found throughout the region of West Tropical Africa. Its presence is documented in the nation of Benin, where it grows in specific local habitats. It also inhabits the landscapes of Burkina and the Gambia. Furthermore, the species can be located within the borders of Ghana. Finally, its geographical range extends to the coastal areas of Guinea-Bissau.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mauritania | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Sclerocarya birrea, possesses various components that are utilized for their medicinal properties. The stem serves as the structural foundation of the plant, while the bark covering it is often harvested for therapeutic use. Specifically, the stem bark is frequently employed in traditional remedies to treat various ailments. The plant also features numerous leaves, and when studying its botanical structure, one can examine the individual leaf to understand its morphological characteristics.- Total parts
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 9
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem bark | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Sclerocarya birrea has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 20 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include tannins, flavonoids, polyphenols, Catechin, GST.
- Total chemicals
- 14
- Scientific sources
- 20
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| tannins | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Catechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| GST | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gallic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Vidarabine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthraquinones | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| catechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coumarins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Sclerocarya birrea has 8 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Anticonvulsant, Antihyperglycemic, Antihypertensive.
- Total activities
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticonvulsant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihyperglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihypertensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antinociceptive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiplasmodial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Sclerocarya birrea has 15 reported medicinal uses identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Diabetes mellitus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Salmonella typhi, asthma, cardiovascular diseases.
- Total uses
- 15
- Scientific sources
- 16
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes mellitus | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mycobacterium tuberculosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Salmonella typhi | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| asthma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cardiovascular diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dyslipidemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gout | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |