black-olive
Terminalia buceras · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (9 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Black-olive, scientifically known as Terminalia buceras, is a versatile medicinal tree widely distributed across tropical regions. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, various parts of the plant, including the bark and fruit, are traditionally used to treat diverse ailments, offering significant potential in natural pharmacology and holistic wellness practices.
Names
Common Names
- black-olive
- Antigua whitewood
- Geometry tree
- bullet tree
- oxhorn bucida
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Cacho de toro
- Ciriam
- Gri-gri
- Olivo negro
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Terminalia bucerasSynonyms
- Buceras bucida
- Myrobalanus buceras
- Bucida buceras
- Bucida ophiticola
- Bucida palustris
- Bucida subinermis
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 ordered under Myrtales and falls into the family Combretaceae. Finally, it is specifically identified by its 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 exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning from North America into various regions of Mexico. In the Southeastern United States, its presence is specifically noted within the state of Florida. Moving into Mexico, it can be found throughout the central territories of the country. The species also extends across the Mexican Gulf coastal areas and into the Southwest. Additionally, its distribution reaches into the Southeast portion of Mexico, completing its regional footprint.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Florida | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Central | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
| Central America | Belize | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | Guatemala | WCVP |
| Central America | Honduras | WCVP |
| Central America | Nicaragua | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Terminalia buceras, is highly valued in traditional medicine, particularly for the bioactive compounds found within its foliage. The leaf extracts are the primary focus of therapeutic application, as they contain various phytochemicals such as tannins, flavonoids, and saponins that exhibit significant biological activities. These extracts are often utilized in herbal preparations to exploit their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, making them a vital component in treating various ailments.| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf extracts | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Terminalia buceras has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3-hydroxyminimiflorin, 3-methoxyminimiflorin, Buceracidin A, Buceracidin B, Clerodane Diterpenes.
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 3-hydroxyminimiflorin | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3-methoxyminimiflorin | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Buceracidin A | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Buceracidin B | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Clerodane Diterpenes | Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| minimiflorin | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| mundulinol | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Terminalia buceras has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotoxic | Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Aqueous extracts | Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaf extracts | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |