African Bowstring Hemp

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Malaya, Guatemala, AI, AU, AW, BM, BR, BZ

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Baldness, Bite(Snake), Fever, Itch

Science studied: ABAMAGENIN, N-BUTYL-4-OL-N-PROPYL-PHTHALATE, HEMICELLULOSE, 4-O-METHYL-GLUCURONIC-ACID

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Agavaceae

Scientific name: Sansevieria trifasciata

Common names: African Bowstring Hemp, Snake Plant, African bowstring hemp, African bowstring-hemp, Bajonetplante, Viper's bowstring hemp, bowstring hemp, chanvre d'Afrique, espada-de-são-jorge, kitelel, konje hemp, konje-hemp, langue de belle-mère, lengua de suegra, língua-de-sogra, mother-in-law's tongue, mother-in-law's-tongue, ngata

History

The source record documents this plant in Malaya, Elsewhere, Guatemala, AI, AU, AW, BM, BR and 3 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Baldness
• Bite(Snake)
• Fever
• Itch
• Malaria
• Sore
• Stimulant
• Tonic

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Malaya
• Elsewhere
• Guatemala
• AI
• AU
• AW
• BM
• BR
• BZ
• CK
• CN

Documented cultural uses

• Baldness
• Bite(Snake)
• Fever
• Itch
• Malaria
• Sore
• Stimulant
• Tonic
• Earache
• Ache(Head)

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Baldness · Malaya · "
• Bite(Snake) · Elsewhere · "
• Fever · Elsewhere · "
• Itch · Malaya · "
• Malaria · Guatemala · "
• Sore · Elsewhere · "
• Stimulant · Elsewhere · "
• Tonic · Elsewhere · "
• Earache · Malaya · "
• Ache(Head) · Elsewhere · "
• Fever · Guatemala · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Nephroprotective Effect of <i>Sansevieria trifasciata</i>. · 2025 source ↗
• RETRACTION: Evaluation of Wound-Healing Activity of Hydrogel Extract of <i>Sansevieria trifasciata</i> Leaves (Asparagaceae). · 2025 source ↗
• Synthesis and Characterization of Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose from <i>Sansevieria trifasciata</i> as an Alternative Raw Material for Capsule Shell. · 2025 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ABAMAGENIN
• N-BUTYL-4-OL-N-PROPYL-PHTHALATE
• HEMICELLULOSE
• 4-O-METHYL-GLUCURONIC-ACID
• NEORUSCOGENIN
• SANSEVIERIGENIN
• SAPONINS
• BETA-SITOSTEROL
• D-XYLOSE
• FIBER
• (25S)-RUSCOGENIN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases · CC0

GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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