Acmella oleracea
Acmella oleracea, commonly known as the "toothache plant," is a vibrant medicinal herb native to tropical regions. Renowned for its unique numbing properties, it is traditionally used to alleviate dental pain and oral inflammation. Its potent bioactive compounds make it a fascinating subject in ethnobotanical and pharmacological studies.
- Scientific name: Acmella oleracea
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Acmella oleracea, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Asterales, it is a member of the family Asteraceae. It is further categorized under the genus Acmella.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Acmella | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple continents and climatic zones. In Middle Europe, its presence is specifically noted within Germany. Moving toward the West Tropical Africa region, the species can be found in Benin, Guinea, and Mali. Furthermore, its range extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, where it inhabits the Central African Republic. This wide dispersal demonstrates the adaptability of Acmella oleacea across varied environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gabon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
Chemicals
Acmella oleracea has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 15 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include spilanthol, Pb, SPL, Spilanthol, Vanillic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 15
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| spilanthol | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Pb | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| SPL | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Spilanthol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Vanillic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fagarasterol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lupeol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rutin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Acmella oleracea has 4 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Analgesic, Anesthetic.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anesthetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Acmella oleracea has 16 reported medicinal uses identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include toothache, burns, cestodes, cough, cryptococcosis.
- Total uses
- 16
- Scientific sources
- 17
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| toothache | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| burns | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cestodes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cough | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cryptococcosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| eye infection | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastrointestinal disorders | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| influenza | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| insects | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| mites | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |