Tiliacora acuminata

Tiliacora acuminata, commonly known as Balsam pear or Kraton, is a climbing woody vine native to Southeast Asian rainforests. Highly valued in traditional medicine, its leaves and fruits possess potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, making it a vital botanical resource for treating various ailments and promoting wellness.

  • Scientific name: Tiliacora acuminata
  • Family: Menispermaceae
  • Native range: Asia-Tropical

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Ranunculales and the family Menispermaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by its genus, Tiliacora.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Ranunculales WCVP
Family Menispermaceae WCVP
Genus Tiliacora WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Tiliacora acuminata, is recognized by several regional common names across different languages. In Bengali, it is referred to as কালিলতা (bn), while in Odia, it is known as କଳାଜଟି ଲଇ (or), and in Malayalam, it is called കൊടപ്പാറവള്ളി (ml).
Language Common Name Source
bn কালিলতা Wikidata
or କଳାଜଟି ଲଇ Wikidata
ml കൊടപ്പാറവള്ളി Wikidata

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within the Indian Subcontinent. It can be found growing naturally in the diverse landscapes of India and Bangladesh. Its presence is also well-documented throughout the country of Nepal. Furthermore, the species extends its range southward into the tropical environments of Sri Lanka. Finally, it is known to inhabit the specific ecological zones of the West Himalaya.

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
Indo-China Myanmar WCVP
Indo-China Vietnam WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, known scientifically as Tiliacora acuminata, utilizes its various structures for growth, but it is specifically the root that holds significant importance in traditional medicinal practices. The root serves as a vital part of the plant's anatomy, often being harvested and processed to extract bioactive compounds used in herbal remedies. In many therapeutic applications, the root is prepared in decoctions or powders to address various health concerns, reflecting its functional role both in the plant's biological life cycle and in its medicinal utility.
Total parts
1
Scientific sources
1
Plant Part Sources Confidence
root 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Activities

Tiliacora acuminata has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antitumor.

Total activities
3
Scientific sources
3

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Confidence
Antibacterial 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antioxidant 1 ★☆☆☆☆
Antitumor 1 ★☆☆☆☆