Strychnos boonei
Strychnos boonei, commonly known as the "climbing strychnine," is a woody climber native to tropical African forests. Renowned in ethnobotany, this species contains potent bioactive alkaloids. While traditionally utilized in folk medicine for various ailments, its high toxicity necessitates careful handling and precise application in pharmacological studies.
- Scientific name: Strychnos boonei
- Family: Loganiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianales, it is classified under the family Loganiaceae and is specifically identified by the genus Strychnos.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Loganiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Strychnos | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Strychnos boonei, is known by various names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In English, it is commonly referred to as the Strychnos boonei, while in Swahili, it is known as mshindili. In the local context of the Tumbuka language, the plant is called mbelembe.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution concentrated within the tropical regions of Africa. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Nigeria. Its range extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, where it is documented in the Central African Republic. Furthermore, the species is present in the West-Central Tropical African nations of Cameroon and Congo. Finally, its geographical footprint includes the country of Gabon.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gabon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Uganda | WCVP |
Chemicals
Strychnos boonei has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include strychnine.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| strychnine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |