Trichilia emetica subsp. emetica
Trichilia emeetica subsp. emeetica, commonly known as the African Sandalwood, is a versatile medicinal tree native to various African regions. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, its bark, leaves, and seeds are utilized in traditional medicine to treat ailments ranging from skin infections and digestive issues to inflammatory conditions.
- Scientific name: Trichilia emetica subsp. emetica
- Family: Meliaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Sapindales and the family Meliaceae. Taxonomically, it is identified as a member of the genus Trichilia, specifically categorized as the subspecies Trichilia emeetica subsp. emeetica.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Sapindales | WCVP |
| Family | Meliaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Trichilia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Trichilia emetica subsp. emetica, is known by various regional names across different linguistic groups. In English, it is commonly referred to as the emetic trichilia, a name reflecting its traditional medicinal uses. Within local African contexts, it is known as mupfura in Shona and mupfura wemupfura in Chichewa. Additionally, it is referred to as mupfura in Ndebele and mupfura in Zulu.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Benin and Burkina. Furthermore, its presence extends to the coastal and inland areas of the Gambia. The species is also documented to inhabit various parts of Ghana. Finally, its range includes the territories located within Guinea.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cabinda | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Trichilia emeetica subsp. emeetica, possesses various components that are utilized in traditional medicine, most notably the root. The root of this subspecies is often harvested and prepared to create decoctions or extracts used for their therapeutic properties. In many ethnobotanical practices, the medicinal compounds found within the root are valued for their ability to treat various ailments, contributing to the plant's overall significance in local healing traditions.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Trichilia emetica subsp. emetica has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antipyretic, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antipyretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |