low-veld toadtree
Tabernaemontana elegans · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (39 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Low-veld toadtree, scientifically known as Tabernaemontana elegans, is a versatile evergreen shrub native to African subtropical regions. Renowned for its glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers, this medicinal plant is deeply embedded in traditional healing practices, where its various parts are utilized to treat diverse ailments and inflammatory conditions.
- Family
- Apocynaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Leaf · Root
- Common names
- Low-Veld Toadtree · Lowveld Toadtree · 1 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Leptopharyngia Elegans · Conopharyngia Elegans
Names
Common Names
- low-veld toadtree
- Lowveld Toadtree
- Warty Toadtree
Regional and Traditional Names
German:
- Zierlicher Krötenbaum
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Tabernaemontana elegansSynonyms
- Leptopharyngia elegans
- Conopharyngia elegans
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Gentianales, falling into the family Apocynaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Tabernaemontana.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Apocynaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Tabernaemontana | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of the African continent. In Northeast Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Somalia. Its presence extends into East Tropical Africa, specifically within the countries of Kenya and Tanzania. Moving southward, the species is also documented in South Tropical Africa. Within this southern region, the plant is located in both Malawi and Mozambique.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Somalia | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Malawi | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Zimbabwe | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Eswatini | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Northern Provinces | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Tabernaemontana elegans, utilizes various components for its biological functions and traditional medicinal applications. The roots are often studied for their chemical properties, while the leaves serve as the primary site for photosynthesis and are frequently used in herbal preparations. The stems provide the necessary structural support and vascular transport to sustain the plant's growth. Notably, unlike many bulbous flowering plants, this species does not develop bulbs, relying instead on its woody stem and root systems to maintain its life cycle.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Journal of nematology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | Journal of natural products (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | Journal of nematology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Tabernaemontana elegans has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CORONARIDINE, Compound 7, Conodurine, Dregamine, Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| CORONARIDINE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Compound 7 | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Conodurine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Dregamine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pachysiphine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tabernaemontanine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tabersonine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| vinblastine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
CORONARIDINE
- Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
Compound 7
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Conodurine
- Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
Dregamine
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids
- International journal of molecular sciences
Pachysiphine
- The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology
Tabernaemontanine
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Tabersonine
- The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology
vinblastine
- Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
Activities
Tabernaemontana elegans has 4 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antibacterial, Antihypertensive, Antitumor.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Anticancer | The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihypertensive | The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Tabernaemontana elegans has 17 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Helicobacter pylori, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, antihypertensive, cancer.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Helicobacter pylori | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mycobacterium smegmatis | Microorganisms (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antihypertensive | The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colon cancer | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colorectal cancer | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastric cancer | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastric ulcers | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastrointestinal diseases | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Crude methanol and water extracts | Human & experimental toxicology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethyl acetate extract | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lipophilic extracts | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |