Treculia africana
Treculia africana, commonly known as the African breadfruit, is a versatile tropical tree native to West Africa. Highly valued for its nutrient-dense seeds and edible fruit pulp, it serves as a vital food source. Beyond nutrition, various parts of the tree are utilized in traditional medicine to treat ailments.
- Scientific name: Treculia africana
- Family: Moraceae
- 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 Rosales, it is classified under the family Moraceae and is specifically identified by the genus Treculia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Rosales | WCVP |
| Family | Moraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Treculia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Treculia africana, is recognized by various regional and international common names. In German, it is referred to as Okwabaum, while in Greek, it is called Αφρικανικός αρτόκαρπος. Its names in other languages include نان آفریقایی in Persian and afrikanrieskapuu in Finnish.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Okwabaum | Wikidata |
| el | Αφρικανικός αρτόκαρπος | Wikidata |
| fa | نان آفریقایی | Wikidata |
| fi | afrikanrieskapuu | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence can be specifically noted within the borders of Benin. Furthermore, it grows within the territories of Gambia and Ghana. The species also extends into the coastal areas of Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its geographical range includes the nation of Guinea.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the African breadfruit, possesses various components that are utilized in traditional medicine, particularly its leaves. The leaves are often harvested to create decoctions or infusions used to treat a variety of ailments ranging from skin infections to internal inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, specific leaf extracts are studied and employed for their bioactive properties, offering potential therapeutic benefits in managing diverse health issues due to their concentrated phytochemical content.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Treculia africana has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include chlorogenic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| chlorogenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Treculia africana has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant effect, diabetes mellitus.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| antioxidant effect | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |