Acanthus
Acanthus ebracteatus · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (15 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Acanthus, scientifically known as Acanthus ebracteatus, is a versatile medicinal plant cherished in traditional healing practices. Often found in tropical regions, this species is valued for its unique bioactive compounds. It is frequently utilized to treat various ailments, showcasing the profound therapeutic potential found within the natural botanical world.
- Family
- Acanthaceae
- Native range
- Asia-Temperate
- Parts used
- Leaf · Stem
- Common names
- Acanthus · Sea Holly
- Scientific synonyms
- Dilivaria Ebracteata · Acanthus Ilicifolius Var. Ebracteatus
Names
Common Names
- Acanthus
- Sea Holly
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Acanthus ebracteatusSynonyms
- Dilivaria ebracteata
- Acanthus ilicifolius var. ebracteatus
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales, it is classified under the family Acanthaceae. Its specific taxonomic designation is found within the genus Acanthus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Acanthaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Acanthus | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, it can be found specifically in Hainan as well as throughout China Southeast. Its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it is documented in both Bangladesh and India. Additionally, the species is located within the Indo-China region, specifically covering the Andaman Is. Overall, these locations highlight its significant tropical and subtropical range.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Andaman Is. | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Thailand | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
| Malesia | Jawa | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Acanthus ebracteatus, is a medicinal species where various components are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The stems serve as the structural foundation of the plant, supporting the growth of its lush foliage. The leaves are particularly significant, often being the primary focus for extraction due to their specific bioactive compounds. Ultimately, when preparing medicinal decoctions or extracts, the entire aerial part of the plant is frequently harvested to ensure a comprehensive application of its natural healing benefits.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | Carbohydrate research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Acanthus ebracteatus has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3-o-methylgalactose, Galacturonic acid, arabinose, galactose, rhamnose.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| 3-o-methylgalactose | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Galacturonic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| arabinose | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| galactose | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rhamnose | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
3-o-methylgalactose
- Carbohydrate research
Galacturonic acid
- Carbohydrate research
arabinose
- Carbohydrate research
galactose
- Carbohydrate research
rhamnose
- Carbohydrate research
Activities
Acanthus ebracteatus has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | BMC complementary medicine and therapies (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | BMC complementary medicine and therapies (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Acanthus ebracteatus has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, acne vulgaris, arthritis, atopic dermatitis, bacterial infections.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's disease | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acne vulgaris | BMC complementary medicine and therapies (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| arthritis | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| atopic dermatitis | Asian Pacific journal of allergy and immunology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bacterial infections | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| hot water extraction | Carbohydrate research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| medicinal plant extracts | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |