buttontree
Terminalia anogeissiana · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (333 studies) · ★★★★★
Buttontree, scientifically known as Terminalia anosperma (often referred to as Terminalia anosperma or anogeissiana), is a versatile medicinal powerhouse found across tropical Africa. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, various parts of this tree—including the bark, leaves, and fruit—are traditionally used to treat ailments ranging from skin infections to digestive issues.
Names
Common Names
- buttontree
- dindiga-tree
- ghattitree
- gum-ghatti
- Indian Sumac
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Terminalia anogeissianaSynonyms
- Anogeissus latifolia
- Conocarpus latifolius
- Anogeissus latifolia var. glabra
- Anogeissus latifolia var. tomentosa
- Anogeissus latifolia var. villosa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Myrtales, it is classified under the family Combretaceae. It is further identified by its specific genus, Terminalia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Myrtales | WCVP |
| Family | Combretaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Terminalia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across several regions within the Indian Subcontinent. It can be found growing in the diverse landscapes of India and its neighbor, Bangladesh. The species also extends its reach into the mountainous terrain of Nepal. Furthermore, it is documented to inhabit the specific environmental zones of the West Himalaya. Finally, its geographical presence continues southwards into the island nation of Sri Lanka.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | West Himalaya | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Terminalia anogeissus, offers various therapeutic components that are utilized in traditional medicine. The bark is highly valued for its medicinal properties, often used to treat ailments related to the digestive system and skin. Additionally, the tree produces a resinous substance known as Gum ghatti, which is frequently employed in herbal formulations for its healing and soothing qualities.| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| bark | Malaria journal (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gum ghatti | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Terminalia anogeissiana has 45 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include arabinose, galactose, rhamnose, xylose, Tannin.
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| arabinose | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| galactose | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| rhamnose | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| xylose | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Tannin | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ellagic acid | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glucuronic acid | Chemistry & biodiversity (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| mannose | Chemistry & biodiversity (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-Leucocyanidin | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3,3',4-tri-O-methylflavellagic acid | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Terminalia anogeissiana has 270 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 11B-HSD-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ACE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ATPase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Abortifacient | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acetylcholinergic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Adrenocorticotrophic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ALE | Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gum ghatti | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark-EAE | Malaria journal (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |