Ardisia elliptica
Ardisia elliptica, commonly known as the Evergreen Ardisia, is a versatile tropical shrub prized for its glossy, elliptical foliage and delicate bell-shaped flowers. Renowned in traditional medicine, various parts of this plant are utilized for their therapeutic properties, offering potential benefits in treating inflammation and supporting overall wellness.
- Scientific name: Ardisia elliptica
- Family: Primulaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Ericales and the family Primulaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Ardisia, specifically as the species Ardisia elliptica.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ericales | WCVP |
| Family | Primulaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Ardisia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Ardisia ellipticica, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In Chinese, it is known as 兰屿树杞 (zh-hans), 蘭嶼樹杞 (zh-hant), and 蘭嶼樹杞 (zh-hk). In Japanese, the species is called セイロンマンリョウ (ja), while in Javanese, it is commonly called Lempeni (jv).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 兰屿树杞 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 蘭嶼樹杞 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 蘭嶼樹杞 | Wikidata |
| ja | セイロンマンリョウ | Wikidata |
| jv | Lempeni | Wikidata |
| th | รามใหญ่ | Wikidata |
| zh | 蘭嶼樹杞 | Wikidata |
| bg | елипсовидна ардизия | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 兰屿树杞 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 蘭嶼紫金牛 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across the globe. In the Western Indian Ocean, its presence can be noted in both Mauritius and the Seychelles. Moving toward Eastern Asia, the species is found within the Nansei-shotto islands as well as in Taiwan. Additionally, its range extends to the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within the borders of Bangladesh. Consequently, Ardisia elliptica thrives in diverse tropical environments across these various territories.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Seychelles | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Nansei-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Maldives | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Ardisia elliptica, is characterized by several distinct morphological features used in its study and application. The leaves are typically dark green and glossy, providing a lush appearance to the shrub. Each individual leaf is elliptic in shape with an entire margin, serving as a primary site for photosynthesis. Furthermore, the plant produces a small, fleshy fruit that often turns a deep red or black color when ripe, which is a key identifying characteristic of the species.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Ardisia elliptica has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, Beta-amyrin, Embelin, beta-amyrin, megastigmane.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Beta-amyrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Embelin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-amyrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| megastigmane | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triterpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Ardisia elliptica has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Ardisia elliptica has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include fever, chest pains, inflammation, measles, neuroinflammation.
- Total uses
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fever | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chest pains | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| measles | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| neuroinflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| neuroinflammatory disorders | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| platelet aggregation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |