Aspilia africana

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Seruneum africanum
• Polymnia africana
• Wedelia africana

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Aspilia africana, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the Asteraceae family and is categorized under the genus Aspilia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within West Tropical Africa. It can be found growing in the country of Benin. Its presence is also documented in Burkina Faso. Furthermore, the species inhabits parts of the Gambia and Ghana. Finally, its geographical range extends into Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Aspilia africana is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural life form, it is categorized as a therophyte, a growth strategy where the plant completes its life cycle through ephemeral aerial parts that die back after the reproductive phase, typically leaving seeds or underground structures to survive the unfavorable seasons. This life form is consistent across its developmental stages, functioning primarily as a therophyte to ensure survival in its natural habitat.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aspilia africana is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, functioning as both a herb and a forb. This terrestrial species is self-supporting rather than a climber or liana, and it grows as an independent organism without parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches an average height of approximately 1.2 m, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 1.828822238 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.828822238 m

Plant height mean:

1.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aspilia africana is characterized by its metabolic processes and nutritional strategies, most notably its interaction with soil nutrients. Unlike many members of the Fabaceae family, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, meaning it relies on existing nitrogen availability within the soil substrate. Its physiological development is driven by efficient photosynthetic pathways that support its rapid growth and robust herbaceous structure. The plant exhibits specialized secondary metabolic processes, synthesizing various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins that serve both defensive physiological roles against herbivory and medicinal functions. Furthermore, its transpiration and water-use efficiency are adapted to tropical environments, allowing it to maintain turgor and metabolic activity through regulated stomatal conductance.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Aspilia africana has 2 reported plant parts identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Archives of basic and applied medicine
5. Nigerian journal of physiological sciences : official publication of the Physiological Society of Nigeria

Root

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Aspilia africana has 21 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d), ABSCISIC ACID, Adenosine 5-Monophosphate, CHLOROGENIC ACID, CHLOROPHYLL.

2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d)

1. Frontiers in plant science

ABSCISIC ACID

1. Scientific reports

Adenosine 5-Monophosphate

1. Scientific reports

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

CHLOROPHYLL

1. Frontiers in plant science

Carene

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Dihydroartemisinin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Germacrene D

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Gibberellin

1. Scientific reports

Activities

Aspilia africana has 6 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Antimicrobial, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant.

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmacological research

Antimicrobial

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Pharmacological research

Anticancer

1. Pharmacological research

Antidiabetic

1. Pharmacological research

Antioxidant

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Teratogenic

1. Nigerian journal of physiological sciences : official publication of the Physiological Society of Nigeria

Conditions

Aspilia africana has 12 reported investigations on conditions identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include wounds, malaria, measles, osteoporosis, tuberculosis.

Wounds

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Scientific reports
4. Pharmacological research

Malaria

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Scientific reports
3. Pharmacological research

Measles

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Pharmacological research

Osteoporosis

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Pharmacological research

Tuberculosis

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Pharmacological research

Bleeding

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Cough

1. Frontiers in plant science

Diabetes mellitus

1. Pharmacological research

Diarrhea

1. Frontiers in plant science

Gastric ulcers

1. Pharmacological research

Preparations

Aspilia africana has 10 reported preparations identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous leaf extract, callus (CA), ex vitro leaf (SL), ex vitro root (SR), extracts.

Aqueous leaf extract

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
2. Nigerian journal of physiological sciences : official publication of the Physiological Society of Nigeria

Callus (ca)

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Ex vitro leaf (sl)

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Ex vitro root (sr)

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Extracts

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Juvenile in vitro leaf (il)

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Juvenile in vitro root (ir)

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Leaves

1. Thrombosis research

Methylene chloride/methanol extract of a. africana leaves

1. Die Pharmazie

Wild leaf (wl) dried samples

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM