Simarouba amara
Simarouba amara, commonly known as Marupá, is a versatile medicinal tree native to the Amazon rainforest. Renowned for its potent bioactive compounds, it is traditionally used in folk medicine to treat inflammation, fever, and skin ailments. Its bark and leaves offer significant therapeutic potential in modern pharmacological research.
- Scientific name: Simarouba amara
- Family: Simaroubaceae
- Native range: Northern 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 Simaroubaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Simarouba.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Sapindales | WCVP |
| Family | Simaroubaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Simarouba | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Simarouba amara, is recognized by various regional and linguistic common names across different parts of the world. In India, it is referred to as लक्ष्मी तरु in Hindi and ലക്ഷ്മിതരു in Malayalam. In the Netherlands, it is associated with the name Simarouba glauca, while in Arabic-speaking regions, it is called قصب مر/ سماروبه. Additionally, in Indonesia, it is commonly known as Marupa.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| hi | लक्ष्मी तरु | Wikidata |
| ml | ലക്ഷ്മിതരു | Wikidata |
| nl | Simarouba glauca | Wikidata |
| ar | قصب مر/ سماروبه | Wikidata |
| id | Marupa | Wikidata |
| ml | Simarouba glauca | Wikidata |
| es | Simarouba amara var. opaca | Wikidata |
| es | Simarouba glauca | Wikidata |
| es | Simarouba amara var. typica | Wikidata |
| es | Simarouba opaca | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across several key regions of North and Central America. Within Mexico, it can be found spanning from the central territories to the Gulf coast. Its presence also extends into the southwest regions of Mexico. Additionally, the species is distributed throughout the southeast portion of the country. Finally, its natural habitat reaches into Central America, specifically within Belize.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Mexico Central | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
| Central America | Belize | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | El Salvador | WCVP |
| Central America | Guatemala | WCVP |
| Central America | Honduras | WCVP |
| Central America | Nicaragua | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Simarouba amara, is a medicinal species where various components are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The medicinal compounds are often extracted from the bark and the stems, which are frequently used in traditional remedies to treat ailments such as fever or digestive issues. Additionally, the stem provides structural support and serves as a source for decoctions, while the fruits may also be harvested for specific medicinal applications. Together, these parts—the stems, bark, and fruits—contribute to the plant's significant ethnobotanical value.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Simarouba amara has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2'-acetylglaucarubinone, glaucarubinone, 13,18-dehydroglaucarubinone, ailanthinone, holacanthone.
- Total chemicals
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 9
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 2'-acetylglaucarubinone | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glaucarubinone | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 13,18-dehydroglaucarubinone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ailanthinone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| holacanthone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| niloticin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quassinoid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Simarouba amara has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Entamoeba histoLYtica, Plasmodium berghei.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Entamoeba histoLYtica | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plasmodium berghei | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |