milkwood
Tabernaemontana · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (18 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Milkwood, scientifically known as Tabernaemontana, is a versatile genus of flowering shrubs and trees celebrated in ethnobotany. Renowned for their fragrant blooms, these plants contain diverse alkaloids used globally in traditional medicine. They offer significant therapeutic potential for treating pain, inflammation, and various ailments across diverse ecological landscapes.
- Family
- Apocynaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Leaf · Stem
- Common names
- Milkwood
- Scientific synonyms
- Bonafousia · Leptopharyngia · 30 more
Names
Common Names
- milkwood
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Phrissocarpus
- Pterotaberna
- Sarcopharyngia
- Hazunta
- Oistanthera
- Leptopharyngia
- Pandaca
- Peschiera
- Bonafousia
- Capuronetta
- Clerkia
- Camerunia
- Protogabunia
- Muntafara
- Ochronerium
- Merizadenia
Scientific Names
Accepted name
TabernaemontanaSynonyms
- Bonafousia
- Leptopharyngia
- Anabata
- Woytkowskia
- Peschiera
- Phrissocarpus
- Muntafara
- Pandaca
- Pandacastrum
- Pagiantha
- Ochronerium
- Oistanthera
- Merizadenia
- Gabunia
- Hazunta
- Conopharyngia
- Domkeocarpa
- Codonemma
- Capuronetta
- Camerunia
- Pterotaberna
- Quadricasaea
- Protogabunia
- Anacampta
- Ervatamia
- Anartia
- Taberna
- Testudipes
- Stenosolen
- Stemmadenia
- Rejoua
- Sarcopharyngia
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Gentianales and the family Apocynaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by its specific 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 specific geographical distribution concentrated within the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing in the nation of Benin, contributing to the local biodiversity. Its presence extends to the Gambia, where it inhabits various ecological niches. The species is also documented throughout Ghana, marking another significant area of its range. Finally, its distribution continues through Guinea-Bissau and Guinea, completing its presence across these West African territories.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Creeping Laurel, contains various therapeutic compounds distributed throughout its structure. The stem-bark is often utilized in traditional medicine due to its concentration of alkaloids, which can exhibit significant biological activities. Additionally, the leaf extract is frequently studied and employed for its diverse pharmacological properties, serving as a key component in various medicinal preparations.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Tabernaemontana has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 16-Epivobasenal, 16-Epivobasine, Tronoharine, Vobasine.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| 16-Epivobasenal | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 16-Epivobasine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tronoharine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Vobasine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
16-Epivobasenal
- Journal of natural products
16-Epivobasine
- Journal of natural products
Tronoharine
- Journal of natural products
Vobasine
- Journal of natural products
Activities
Tabernaemontana has 5 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antinociceptive, Antiparasitic, Antiviral.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Anticancer | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antinociceptive | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiparasitic | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Tabernaemontana has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include abscess, back pain, earache, fever, indigestion.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| abscess | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| back pain | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| earache | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| indigestion | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| itching | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| vaginal discharge | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| stem-bark extract | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |