Acalypha fruticosa
Acalypha fruticosa, commonly known as the Copperleaf plant, is a striking tropical shrub celebrated for its vibrant, reddish-bronze foliage. Beyond its ornamental beauty, this medicinal plant holds significant value in traditional healing practices, often utilized for its potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties to treat various ailments.
- Scientific name: Acalypha fruticosa
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Acalypha fruticosa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is further classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Malpighiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Euphorbiaceae and falls under the genus Acalypha.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Acalypha | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the tropical regions of Africa. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is noted in Burundi. Moving toward the northeastern part of the continent, the species can be found in Djibouti. It is also widely distributed across Northeast Tropical Africa, specifically within the borders of Eritrea and Ethiopia. Finally, its range extends further into the Horn of Africa to include Somalia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Djibouti | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Eritrea | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Somalia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Uganda | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Malawi | WCVP |
Activities
Acalypha fruticosa has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Acalypha fruticosa has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Plasmodium falciparum, malaria.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Plasmodium falciparum | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |