Serjania marginata
Serjaniia marginata, commonly known as the "fever tree" in some regions, is a versatile medicinal shrub widely used in traditional African medicine. Renowned for its potent bioactive compounds, it is frequently employed to treat malaria, skin infections, and digestive issues, offering significant therapeutic potential for modern pharmacological research.
- Scientific name: Serjania marginata
- Family: Sapindaceae
- Native range: Southern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Sapindales and the family Sapindaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Serjania.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Sapindales | WCVP |
| Family | Sapindaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Serjania | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Serjania marginata, is recognized by various vernacular names depending on the region and language. In English, it is commonly referred to as the Serjanias or simply by its scientific name in botanical contexts. In Swahili, the plant is known as mchanga wa mchanga, while in Hausa, it is called kwarin daka. These diverse common names reflect the plant's widespread presence and its integration into the traditional medicinal practices of different linguistic communities across Africa.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions of South America. In the western portion of the continent, it can be found within the borders of Bolivia. Its presence is particularly extensive in Brazil, where it spans multiple distinct ecological zones. Specifically, the species is recorded in the North, Northeast, and Southeast regions of Brazil. Additionally, it is widely distributed throughout the West-Central part of the country.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil West-Central | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Northeast | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Southeast | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil North | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil South | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Argentina Northeast | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Argentina Northwest | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Paraguay | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Serjania marginata, is a medicinal shrub known for its various therapeutic properties, with its leaves serving as a primary component in traditional treatments. These leaves are characterized by their distinct margin and are frequently harvested to prepare infusions or extracts used to address various ailments. Because the leaves contain concentrated bioactive compounds, they are the most vital part of the plant utilized in herbal medicine to promote healing and wellness.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Serjania marginata has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include saponins, proanthocyanidins, tannins.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| saponins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| proanthocyanidins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Serjania marginata has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Gastroprotective.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gastroprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Serjania marginata has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Helicobacter pylori.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Helicobacter pylori | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |