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Psoralea

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Psoralea
P. pinnata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Clade: Non-protein amino acid-accumulating clade
Clade: Millettioids
Tribe: Psoraleeae
Genus: Psoralea
L. (1753)
Species[1]

111; see text

Synonyms[1]
  • Bipontinia Alef. (1866)
  • Hallia Thunb. (1799)
  • Lotodes Kuntze (1891), nom. superfl.
  • Otholobium C.H.Stirt. (1981)
  • Ruteria Medik. (1787)

Psoralea is a genus in the legume family (Fabaceae) with 111 species of shrubs, trees, and herbs native to southern and eastern Africa, ranging from Kenya to South Africa.[1] In South Africa they are commonly referred to as fountainbush (English); fonteinbos, bloukeur, or penwortel (Afrikaans); and umHlonishwa (Zulu).[2]

Etymology

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The name ‘Psoralea’ is derived from the Greek term ‘Psoraleos’, which means “affected with itch or with leprosy”.[3] Psoralen occurs naturally in the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia, and is used in PUVA (psoralen + UVA) treatment, for several diseases including such as psoriasis.

Species

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111 species are accepted:[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Psoralea L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Psoralea pinnata | PlantZAfrica". pza.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  3. ^ Koul, Bhupendra; Taak, Pooja; Kumar, Arvind; Kumar, Anil; Sanyal, Indraneel (Dec 3, 2018). "Genus Psoralea: A review of the traditional and modern uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 232 (232): 201–226. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2018.11.036. PMC 7127090. PMID 30521980.
  4. ^ Two New Blue-Flowered Plant Species Discovered in South Africa
  5. ^ "Psoralea fasicularis DC". Plants of the World Online. 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
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Data related to Psoralea at Wikispecies