Vigna longifolia

Vigna longifolia, commonly known as the long-leaved cowpea, is a versatile medicinal climbing legume native to tropical regions. Renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, this plant is traditionally used to treat ailments ranging from digestive issues to skin inflammations, offering significant pharmacological potential in modern herbal medicine research.

  • Scientific name: Vigna longifolia
  • Family: Fabaceae
  • Native range: Africa

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Fabales, it is a member of the Fabaceae family. Specifically, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Vigna, under which the species Vigna longifolia is categorized.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Fabales WCVP
Family Fabaceae WCVP
Genus Vigna WCVP

Common Names

This plant, Vigna longifolia, is known by various regional names across different linguistic landscapes. In Hindi, it is commonly referred to as Makoy, while in Bengali, it is called Makoy. In the Tamil language, it is identified as Makoy, and in Telugu, it is known as Makoy. Furthermore, in the Marathi language, the plant is also called Makoy.
Language Common Name Source

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide and fragmented geographical distribution spanning multiple continents. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, and Sierra Leone. Moving across the ocean, the species can also be found in the Western Indian Ocean, specifically in Madagascar. Additionally, it has established a presence in the Americas within the southeastern region of Mexico. Together, these locations highlight the diverse environments where the species thrives.

Region Area Source
West Tropical Africa Ghana WCVP
West Tropical Africa Guinea-Bissau WCVP
West Tropical Africa Sierra Leone WCVP
Western Indian Ocean Madagascar WCVP
Mexico Mexico Southeast WCVP
Central America Costa Rica WCVP
Central America El Salvador WCVP
Central America Guatemala WCVP
Central America Nicaragua WCVP
Central America Panamá WCVP

Chemicals

Vigna longifolia has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include kaempferol, quercetin.

Total chemicals
2
Scientific sources
2

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
kaempferol 1 ★☆☆☆☆
quercetin 1 ★☆☆☆☆