Acalypha wilkesiana
Acalypha wilkesiana, commonly known as Copperleaf or Jacob's Coat, is a striking ornamental shrub prized for its vibrant, multicolored foliage. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, this tropical plant holds significant medicinal value in traditional practices, often utilized for its purported antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties in various herbal remedies.
- Scientific name: Acalypha wilkesiana
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, it is identified by 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 diverse geographical range spanning several distinct tropical regions. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is noted specifically within Guinea. The distribution extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, where it can be found throughout the Gulf of Guinea Islands, Rwanda, and the DR Congo. Furthermore, its reach continues into the Western Indian Ocean, specifically encompassing the Comoros. Together, these locations highlight the plant's widespread availability across different African landscapes.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Madagascar | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
Chemicals
Acalypha wilkesiana has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, Tannic acid, anthraquinones, apigenin.
- Total chemicals
- 15
- Scientific sources
- 15
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| (+)-catechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-epicatechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tannic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthraquinones | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| apigenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| corilagin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gallic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| geraniin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Acalypha wilkesiana has 8 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Analgesic, Antifungal, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antipyretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Acalypha wilkesiana has 20 reported medicinal uses identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, MRSA.
- Total uses
- 20
- Scientific sources
- 21
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Staphylococcus aureus | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aspergillus flavus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Klebsiella pneumoniae | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| MRSA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Proteus mirabilis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Type 2 diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dermatitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |