Anvillea garcinii

Anvillea garcinii · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Sparse (6 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆

Anvillea garcinii is a medicinal plant known for its diverse pharmacological profile, particularly through the use of its leaves. Research indicates that total ethanol extracts and specific chloroform or n-butanol fractions possess significant antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, the presence of chemical compounds such as parthenolid-9-one and cis-parthenolid-9-one suggests potential antitumor activities. These botanical preparations are being studied for their therapeutic efficacy against various conditions, including intestinal diseases, dysentery, and hepatitis. Ultimately, the plant holds promise as an antidiabetic agent in the development of new medicinal treatments.

Quick facts
Synonyms
Anthemis Garcinii · Acmella Garcinii
Common names
Not available
Family
Asteraceae
Distribution
Asia-Tropical
Plant Parts
Leaf

Classification

Common Names

Anvillea garcinii is a unique botanical specimen recognized by various regional designations across different languages. In English-speaking contexts, it is frequently referred to by the common name Arabian oxeye. The plant also carries the specific Russian designation Анвиллея Гарсена. Moving into Hebrew, it is known by the descriptive title מרית מדברית. These diverse names highlight the widespread cultural and linguistic recognition of this species.

Sources: Catalogue of Life (COL)

Synonyms

Anvillea garcinii is a plant that is recognized across botanical literature through several different taxonomic names. It is frequently identified by its synonym Acmella garcinii, which reflects its place within evolving classification systems. Additionally, the species is also known by the synonym Anthemis garcinii in certain scientific contexts. These varying designations highlight the complex history of how researchers have categorized this particular organism. Understanding these relationships is essential for ensuring accuracy when studying its botanical properties.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Taxonomy

Anvillea garcinii is a unique botanical specimen that belongs to the kingdom Plantae. Within this vast biological realm, it is specifically classified under the class Equisetopsida. The plant is a member of the order Asterales, showcasing its evolutionary connections to other flowering species. It further belongs to the diverse family Asteraceae, which is known for its complex floral structures. Finally, this species is categorized under the distinct genus Anvillea.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Asterales
Family Asteraceae
Genus Anvillea

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

Geographic Regions

Anvillea garcinii is a plant species primarily distributed across the diverse landscapes of the African continent. Its presence is notably established throughout Northern Africa, spanning the territories of Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, and Morocco. Beyond the northern reaches, the species also finds a home in the West Tropical Africa region, specifically within Mauritania. This broad geographic range highlights the plant's ability to adapt to varying environmental conditions across different latitudes. Consequently, understanding its habitat is essential for studying its ecological role within these distinct African climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Identification

Morphology

Anvillea garcinii grows in a distinctive shrub form that allows it to thrive in its natural habitat. As a self-supporting plant, it maintains its own structure without the need for external assistance.

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Biological Activities

Anvillea garcinii is a medicinal plant known for its diverse range of biological activities and therapeutic potential. Research has demonstrated that its aerial parts contain sesquiterpenoids with potent antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Furthermore, the plant has shown significant antitumor potential through the isolation of specific germacranolides. Studies also highlight its cytotoxic activity against various human cancer cell lines, including MCF-7 and HepG2. These combined findings underscore the plant's importance in pharmacological research for treating infectious and oncological conditions.

Compounds

Anvillea garcinii serves as a significant botanical source for the identification of specific bioactive compounds. Research has confirmed that this plant contains parthenolid-9-one, a substance of particular chemical interest. Furthermore, investigations have successfully isolated the specific cis-isomer, known as cis-parthenolid-9-one, from its tissues. Through the use of NMR data and single-crystal X-ray analysis, scientists have been able to determine the precise structures and stereochemistries of these molecules. These findings are especially important given the reported in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo antitumor activity associated with both compounds.

Conditions

Anvillea garcinii is a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat various digestive problems and intestinal diseases. Beyond gastrointestinal health, its water-soluble polysaccharides demonstrate significant anti-inflammatory properties by modulating neutrophil activity. Specifically, the plant treats N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLF)-induced O2.- generation and inhibits PMA-induced PKCβ and p47phox translocation to membranes. Furthermore, Anvillea garcinii treats CD11b membrane expression to help down-regulate the NADPH oxidase process. These diverse biological actions highlight the plant's multifaceted role in addressing both systemic and cellular inflammatory responses.

Preparations

Anvillea garcinii is prepared as leaves to facilitate the isolation of various sesquiterpene lactones and medicinal compounds. Researchers utilize these leaves to produce a total ethanol extract of leaves for testing hepatoprotective effects. To further study specific activities, the plant is prepared as chloroform and n-butanol fractions. Specifically, the chloroform fraction has been shown to demonstrate significant hepatoprotective properties comparable to silymarin. Ultimately, the plant is processed as an extract to evaluate its cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory potential against various human cell lines.

Parts used

Anvillea garcinii is a medicinal plant widely utilized in the Arab region for treating various ailments, including liver diseases, respiratory issues, and digestive problems. Scientific research has focused extensively on the plant's leaves to isolate valuable secondary metabolites such as sesquiterpene lactones. These leaf-derived compounds, including newly identified garcinamines, have demonstrated significant antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Furthermore, extracts from the leaves have shown remarkable hepatoprotective effects and potent antiproliferative activities against several human cancer cell lines. Through these studies, the leaf of Anvillea garcinii continues to prove itself as a rich source of bioactive molecules with therapeutic potential.