Red cedar

Toona ciliata · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Sparse (39 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆

Red cedar, scientifically known as Toona ciliata, is a majestic tropical tree prized for its immense timber and medicinal properties. Native to Australia and Southeast Asia, it offers significant therapeutic benefits, particularly in traditional medicine, where its bark and wood are utilized to treat various ailments and skin conditions.

Family
Meliaceae
Native range
Africa
Parts used
Aqueous Extract · Flowers
Common names
Chinese Mahogany · Red Cedar · 5 more
Scientific synonyms
Cedrela Toona Var. Latifolia · Swietenia Toona · 87 more

Names

Common Names

Regional and Traditional Names

Spanish:

  • Cedrela toona var. stracheyi
  • Toona febrifuga var griffithiana
  • Cedrela toona var pubinervis
  • Cedrela mollis
  • Cedrela toona var. gamblei
  • Toona mollis
  • Cedrela toona var. yunnanensis
  • Cedrela kingii var. birmanica
  • Cedrela toona var stracheyi
  • Toona kingii
  • Cedrela toona var nepalensis
  • Toona sureni var. cochinchinensis
  • Cedrela toona var. sublaxiflora
  • Toona febrifuga var. cochinchinensis
  • Cedrela toona var. nepalensis
  • Toona microcarpa

French:

  • Cèdre rouge d'Australie
  • Acajou indien
  • Cèdre rouge d'Australie

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Toona ciliata

Synonyms

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Sapindales, it is classified under the family Meliaceae. Its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Toona, where it is known as Toona ciliata.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Sapindales WCVP
Family Meliaceae WCVP
Genus Toona WCVP

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found inhabiting the islands within the Gulf of Guinea. The species is also documented growing in the West-Central Tropical African nation of Rwanda. Moving toward East Tropical Africa, its presence is noted in the countries of Kenya and Uganda. Finally, its geographical range extends further south to include Tanzania within the East Tropical African region.

Region Area Source
West-Central Tropical Africa Gulf of Guinea Is. WCVP
West-Central Tropical Africa Rwanda WCVP
East Tropical Africa Kenya WCVP
East Tropical Africa Tanzania WCVP
East Tropical Africa Uganda WCVP
South Tropical Africa Malawi WCVP
South Tropical Africa Mozambique WCVP
Southern Africa KwaZulu-Natal WCVP
Southern Africa Northern Provinces WCVP
Middle Atlantic Ocean St.Helena WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Terminalia arjuna (also known as Terminalia catappa or related species often referred to in medicinal contexts as Terminalia cata, though Terminalia arjuna is the primary medicinal reference for similar profiles), utilizes various components for therapeutic purposes. The medicinal properties are distributed throughout its structural anatomy, ranging from the woody twigs and sturdy stems to the expansive roots that anchor the tree. The stem bark is particularly valued in traditional medicine for its healing compounds, while the fibrous tress or textural elements of the plant contribute to its overall botanical profile.
Plant Part Sources Confidence
aqueous extract Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
flowers Frontiers in plant science (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
heart wood Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
leaves Frontiers in plant science (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
oils Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
roots Frontiers in plant science (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
stem bark Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
stems Frontiers in plant science (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
tress Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
twigs Bioorganic chemistry (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Toona ciliata has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 12alpha-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one, Cedrelone, Coumarins, Dyscusin C, Flavonoids.

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
12alpha-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one Die Pharmazie (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Cedrelone Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Coumarins Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Dyscusin C Natural product research (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Flavonoids Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Girinimbine Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Lutein Natural product research (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Rutamarin Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Santalene Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Tannins Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Activities

Toona ciliata has 7 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Analgesic, Anticancer, Antiglycation.

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Confidence
Antioxidant Journal of traditional and complementary medicine (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Cytotoxic Journal of natural products (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Analgesic Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Anticancer Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Antiglycation Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Antimalarial Journal of traditional and complementary medicine (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Cytoprotective Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Toona ciliata has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Malaria, analgesic, anthelmintic, glycation, kidney diseases.

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Confidence
Malaria Journal of traditional and complementary medicine (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
analgesic Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
anthelmintic Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
glycation Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
kidney diseases Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
snakebite Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
toothache Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Preparations

Preparations Sources Confidence
Ethanol extract Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
acetone Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
acetone extract Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
aqueous extract Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
chloroform extract Natural product research (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
chloroform extracts Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
chloroform fractions BMC complementary and alternative medicine (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
crude extracts BMC complementary and alternative medicine (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
extract Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
extracts of its flowers Frontiers in plant science (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆