Swietenia mahagoni
Small-leaved mahogany
Swietenia mahagoni, commonly known as mahogany, is a majestic tropical tree valued for its durable timber and diverse medicinal properties. Historically utilized in traditional practices, its bark and leaves possess antioxidant and antimicrobial qualities. Researchers continue exploring its bioactive compounds for potential therapeutic applications in modern herbal medicine.
- Scientific name: Swietenia mahagoni
- Family: Meliaceae
- 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 Sapindales, it is classified under the family Meliaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Swietenia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Sapindales | WCVP |
| Family | Meliaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Swietenia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Swietenia mahagoni, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In Chinese, it is known as 小叶桃花心木 (zh-hans), 小葉桃花心木 (zh-hant), and 小葉桃花心木 (zh-hk). In Javanese, it is called Mahoni (jv), while in Polish, it is referred to as Mahoniowiec właściwy (pl).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 小叶桃花心木 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 小葉桃花心木 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 小葉桃花心木 | Wikidata |
| jv | Mahoni | Wikidata |
| pl | Mahoniowiec właściwy | Wikidata |
| vi | Dái ngựa | Wikidata |
| fa | درخت ماهون | Wikidata |
| fr | Acajou des Antilles | Wikidata |
| ro | Mahon | Wikidata |
| pnb | وسٹ انڈین مہاگنی | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found growing in Mauritius and Réunion. Its presence extends significantly into China, specifically within the South-Central areas. Furthermore, it is widely distributed across the southeastern parts of China. Finally, the species is also native to the tropical island of Hainan.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Andaman Is. | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Swietenia mahagoni, utilizes various components for both biological reproduction and potential medicinal application. The leaves are typically large and elliptical, serving as the primary site for photosynthesis to support the tree's growth. For reproduction, the tree produces woody capsules that eventually release winged seeds, which are designed to be dispersed by the wind. Each individual seed contains the essential genetic material necessary to germinate a new mahogany tree, continuing the life cycle of this valuable species.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seed | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Swietenia mahagoni has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1-acetyl-4,4-bis[4-(3-bromopropoxy)-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl] piperidine, SmE, anthraquinone, flavonoids, glycosides.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 1-acetyl-4,4-bis[4-(3-bromopropoxy)-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl] piperidine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| SmE | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthraquinone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glycosides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| imidazole-4,5-d2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triterpenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Swietenia mahagoni has 7 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antitumor.
- Total activities
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Astringent | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Swietenia mahagoni has 19 reported medicinal uses identified across 20 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Enterobacter aerogenes.
- Total uses
- 19
- Scientific sources
- 20
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| malaria | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aspergillus flavus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aspergillus niger | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Enterobacter aerogenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Proteus vulgaris | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Salmonella enterica | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| amoebiasis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |