false sandalwood
Ximenia americana · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (24 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
False sandalwood, scientifically known as Ximenia americana, is a versatile medicinal shrub native to tropical Africa. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, it is frequently utilized in traditional medicine to treat skin ailments, inflammation, and gastrointestinal issues. This resilient plant offers significant pharmacological potential for modern drug development and wellness.
Names
Common Names
- false sandalwood
- tallownut
- tallowwood
- yellow-plum
- Hog plum
- Yellow Plum
- blue sourplum
- penepne
Regional and Traditional Names
French:
- wami
- prunier canaque
- prune canaque
- prunier de mer
- prune de mer
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Ximenia americanaSynonyms
- Heymassoli inermis
- Heymassoli spinosa
- Ximenia americana var. microphylla
- Ximenia arborescens
- Ximenia exarmata
- Ximenia elliptica
- Ximenia aculeata
- Ximenia fluminensis
- Ximenia subscandens
- Ximenia inermis
- Ximenia laurina
- Ximenia oblonga
- Ximenia multiflora
- Ximenia montana
- Ximenia rogersii
- Ximenia gabonensis
- Ximenia americana var. oblonga
- Ximenia americana var. argentinensis
- Ximenia americana var. ovata
- Ximenia americana var. sphaerica
- Ximenia americana var. oxypyrena
- Ximenia americana var. elliptica
- Ximenia spinosa
- Ximenia americana var. inermis
- Ziziphus littorea
- Ximenia verrucosa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Santalales, it is classified under the family Olacaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Ximenia and the species Ximenia americana.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Santalales | WCVP |
| Family | Olacaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Ximenia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution that spans across both Atlantic islands and the African mainland. Within the Macaronesia region, its presence is noted in Cape Verde. Moving to West Tropical Africa, the species can be found in Benin and Burkina. Its range further extends through the coastal and inland territories of the Gambia. Finally, the distribution includes the country of Ghana, completing its documented presence in these areas.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | 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 | Mali | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Ximeniia americana, utilizes various components for its medicinal properties, most notably its stem bark and leaves. The stem bark is often harvested for its bioactive compounds, which are frequently employed in traditional remedies to address specific ailments. Similarly, the leaves are highly valued and are commonly used in decoctions or infusions to harness their therapeutic potential. Together, these plant parts serve as the primary sources of the botanical constituents that define the plant's traditional medicinal use.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| stem | Journal of parasitology research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Ximenia americana has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Galacturonic acid, Quercetrin, arabinose, caffeic acid, fucose.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Galacturonic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Quercetrin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| arabinose | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| caffeic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fucose | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| galactose | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glucose | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rhamnose | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Galacturonic acid
- Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
Quercetrin
- Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases
arabinose
- Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
caffeic acid
- Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases
fucose
- Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
galactose
- Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
glucose
- Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
rhamnose
- Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
Activities
Ximenia americana has 4 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antiparasitic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiparasitic | Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Ximenia americana has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Edema, amenorrhea, bacterial infections, eye infections, inflammation.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Edema | Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| amenorrhea | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bacterial infections | Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| eye infections | Frontiers in veterinary science (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pain | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pleurisy | Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| schistosomiasis | Journal of parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wound healing | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Extracts of the bark | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Extracts of the leaves | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Extracts of the root | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Extracts of the stem | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hydroethanolic barks extract | Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanol extracts | Journal of parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |