toothache plant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Brazilian cress
• Para cress
• toothacheplant
• Brazil Cress
• Electric Daisy
• Peek-A-Boo

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Isocarpha pyrethraria
• Anacyclus pyrethraria
• Spilanthes oleracea
• Bidens acmelloides
• Cotula dichotoma
• Cotula pyrethraria
• Spilanthes acmella var. oleracea
• Bidens fusca
• Spilanthes oleracea var. fusca

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Acmella oleacea is characterized by its presence in both anthropized areas and within the dense, humid environments of Ombrophilous forests (Rainforests). It thrives in these high-moisture ecosystems where the canopy provides regulated light and humidity levels. Its distribution is further defined by a specific altitudinal preference, with an average elevational range centered around 1300 m AMSL, indicating an adaptation to mid-to-high altitude montane or submontane conditions.

Elevational range mean:

1300 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Acmella oleracea is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire biological cycle—from germination and vegetative growth to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. During its developmental stages, the plant undergoes rapid vegetative expansion, establishing a robust structure that facilitates the eventual production of inflorescences. Following the successful maturation of its flowers, the plant focuses its energy on seed development to ensure the continuity of the species. Once the seeds have reached maturity and are dispersed into the environment, the parent plant completes its lifecycle and dies, leaving the next generation to emerge from the soil when favorable environmental conditions return.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Acmeilla oleacea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically functioning as a forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing behavior, as it lacks the characteristics of a liana, vine, or obligatory/facultative climber. In terms of its ecological habit, the species is terrestrial rather than aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic, meaning it does not function as a holoepiphyte, hemiepiphyte, or any other form of epiphyte. Furthermore, the plant is an independent organism, showing no parasitic traits such as being an obligatory or facultative parasite.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Acmella oleracea is characterized by its metabolic processes and nutritional acquisition strategies, which are essential for its growth in tropical and subtropical environments. A key physiological aspect is its nitrogen metabolism; specifically, regarding its ability to engage in symbiotic nitrogen fixation, the plant is classified as a non-nitrogen fixer (nitrogen fix_1: no), meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil rather than converting atmospheric nitrogen through bacterial symbiosis. The plant exhibits robust photosynthetic activity to support its rapid growth and the biosynthesis of bioactive secondary metabolites, such as spilanthol, which are produced through complex enzymatic pathways. Its physiological regulation also involves efficient water transport and transpiration mechanisms to maintain turgor pressure and facilitate the movement of minerals through its vascular system, ensuring the stability of its chemical profile.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Acmella oleracea has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf.

Flower

1. Journal of molecular histology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf

1. Journal of molecular histology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Acmella oleracea has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Spilanthol, Fagarasterol, Lupeol, PB, RUTIN.

Spilanthol

1. Journal of molecular histology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Fagarasterol

1. Open veterinary journal

Lupeol

1. Open veterinary journal

PB

1. International journal of phytoremediation

RUTIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

SPL

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Terpenes

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Vanillic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

quercetin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Acmella oleracea has 4 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Analgesic, Anesthetic.

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Analgesic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anesthetic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Acmella oleracea has 16 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include toothache, burns, cestodes, cough, cryptococcosis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations