Tephrosia purpurea subsp. dunensis
Tephrosia purpurea subsp. dunensis, commonly known as sand pea, is a resilient coastal shrub prized for its medicinal properties. Thriving in sandy environments, this subspecies contains bioactive compounds used in traditional remedies to treat skin ailments and inflammation. Its unique ability to stabilize dunes makes it ecologically vital and pharmacologically significant.
- Scientific name: Tephrosia purpurea subsp. dunensis
- Family: Fabaceae
- 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 Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Tephrosia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Tephrosia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions in Africa and the surrounding islands. In East Tropical Africa, its presence is recorded in both Kenya and Tanzania. Moving southward, the species is also found within South Tropical Africa, specifically in Malawi and Mozambique. Additionally, its range extends into the Western Indian Ocean, where it inhabits Madagascar. Together, these locations highlight the diverse habitats this medicinal subspecies occupies.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Malawi | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Madagascar | WCVP |
| Arabian Peninsula | Yemen | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Tephrosia purpurea subsp. dunensis, is primarily utilized for its medicinal properties through the use of its aerial parts. These above-ground components, which include the stems, leaves, and flowers, contain the bioactive compounds necessary for its therapeutic applications. In traditional practices, these aerial parts are often collected, dried, and processed to create various remedies, making them the most significant portion of the plant for pharmacological use.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Tephrosia purpurea subsp. dunensis has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include apollinin, demeapollinin, epi-tephroapollin G, glabratephrin, glabratephrinol.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| apollinin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| demeapollinin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epi-tephroapollin G | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glabratephrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glabratephrinol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pseudosemiglabrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Tephrosia purpurea subsp. dunensis has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Neuroprotective.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Neuroprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |