Christmasbush
Alchornea cordifolia · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Moderate (113 studies) · ★★★☆☆
Christmasbush, scientifically known as Alchornnea cordifolia, is a vibrant shrub prized for its striking crimson blooms and diverse therapeutic potential. Widely utilized in traditional medicine, this plant offers significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It serves as a vital natural resource for treating various ailments across diverse global cultures.
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Leaves · Leaf
- Common names
- Christmasbush
- Scientific synonyms
- Schousboea Cordifolia · Alchornea Cordata · 1 more
Names
Common Names
- Christmasbush
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Schousboea cordifolia
- Alchornea cordata
- Cacoucia cordifolia
French:
- biusson de noel
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Alchornea cordifoliaSynonyms
- Schousboea cordifolia
- Alchornea cordata
- Cacoucia cordifolia
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, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Alchornea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Alchornea | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern concentrated within the West Tropical Africa region. It is documented to grow naturally in the country of Benin. Furthermore, its presence extends to the territories of Burkina and Gambia. The species is also found throughout the landscape of Ghana. Finally, its geographical range includes the nation of Guinea-Bissau.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Alchornea cordifolia, utilizes various anatomical structures for its medicinal properties. The most commonly harvested components are the leaves, which are frequently prepared as infusions or decoctions to exploit their bioactive compounds. In addition to the individual leaf used in topical applications, the medicinal potency extends to the woody structures of the plant. Specifically, the stem bark and the root bark are highly valued in traditional medicine for their concentrated chemical constituents. Furthermore, the stem itself serves as a vital structural part of the plant that can also be processed for therapeutic use.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 9 sources) | ★★★★☆ |
| leaf | Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| root | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Alchornea cordifolia has 32 reported phytochemicals identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins, Antioxidant, Saponins, Terpenoids.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Flavonoids | 5 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| Tannins | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Saponins | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Terpenoids | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthocyanins | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cadinol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ethyl iso-allocholate | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fatty acids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Flavonoids
- Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Acta pharmaceutica Nordica
- PloS one
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
Tannins
- Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine
- PloS one
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
Antioxidant
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
Saponins
- Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine
- Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
Terpenoids
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Fitoterapia
Anthocyanins
- PloS one
Cadinol
- Natural product research
Ethyl iso-allocholate
- Natural product research
Fatty acids
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Flavonoid
- Biomolecules
Activities
Alchornea cordifolia has 10 reported activities identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Hepatoprotective, Antibacterial, Anticancer.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidepressant | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiplasmodial | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antispasmodic | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anxiolytic | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Spasmolytic | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Alchornea cordifolia has 26 reported medicinal uses identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include coughs, fever, inflammation, malaria, sickle cell disease.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| coughs | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | Natural product research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sickle cell disease | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AIDS | Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Entamoeba histolytica | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HIV-1 | Antiviral research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HIV-2 | Antiviral research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| MRSA | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| extracts | Antiviral research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| plant extracts | Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft fur Toxikologische Pathologie (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 80% methanol extract | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aqueous extracts | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Extracts of leaves | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Water-soluble polysaccharides from leaves | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous and ethanolic extracts | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extracts | Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| decoction of palm oil associated with A. cordifolia leaves in water | La Pediatria medica e chirurgica : Medical and surgical pediatrics (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanolic extracts | Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |