Vernonia anthelmintica

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• kinka-oil

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vernonia anthelmintica
• Centratherum anthelminticum
• Ascaricida anthelminthica
• Dolosanthus silvaticus
• Conyza anthelmintica
• Phyllocephalum anthelminticum
• Vernonia stenolepis
• Serratula anthelmintica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asterales. Furthermore, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and is specifically identified by the genus Baccharoides.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its presence extends into East Tropical Africa, specifically spanning across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Additionally, the species is documented in the South Tropical Africa region, particularly in Malawi. Together, these locations highlight a wide range of habitats throughout the tropical belt.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Baccharoides anthelmintica is characterized by a highly specific altitudinal niche, as it is found exclusively within a narrow elevational band. This species thrives at a consistent altitude of 1000 m AMSL, representing both its minimum and maximum elevational range. Such precise environmental requirements suggest that the plant is adapted to the particular climatic conditions, temperature gradients, and atmospheric pressures unique to this specific height above sea level.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Baccharoides anthelmintica is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a perennial species, it avoids the complete senescence seen in annuals, instead establishing a robust structural foundation that supports continuous or seasonal vegetative growth and reproductive cycles. This enduring life strategy enables the plant to develop complex root systems and accumulate sufficient energy reserves to withstand varying environmental conditions, ensuring its long-term presence and ability to produce seeds over several years.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Baccharoides anthelmintiica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It functions as a self-supporting plant, meaning it does not require external structures to climb, and it is classified as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat and maintains a relatively modest stature, with a mean plant height of approximately 0.8 m, though individuals may reach a maximum height of up to 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

0.8 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Baccharoides anthelmintica is characterized by complex metabolic processes geared toward survival in arid or semi-arid environments, where efficient resource management is paramount. Its metabolic pathways are optimized for the synthesis of diverse secondary metabolites, including various alkaloids and glycosides, which serve both defensive and physiological functions within the plant's tissues. Regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant does not engage in symbiotic nitrogen fixation; specifically, it is not a nitrogen fixer, as it lacks the specialized root nodules required for hosting diazotrophic bacteria. Instead, its nitrogen uptake is primarily driven by the active and passive absorption of nitrates and ammonium ions from the soil through its root system. Water regulation is managed through specialized osmotic adjustments and stomatal control to mitigate transpiration losses, ensuring that photosynthetic efficiency is maintained even under environmental stress.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Baccharoides anthelmintica is characterized by the production of specialized seeds that exhibit specific morphological and mass-related variations. Based on quantitative data, the seed mass of this species is relatively small, with a measured mean seed mass of 0.00433875 g. The distribution of seed weights shows a degree of natural variability, ranging from a minimum mass of 0.0032 g to a maximum mass of 0.00542 g. These precise measurements indicate a consistent reproductive output within a narrow weight range, which is a critical factor in the plant's dispersal and establishment strategies in its natural habitat.

Seed mass max:

0.00542 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00433875 g

Seed mass min:

0.0032 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Baccharoides anthelmintica has 5 reported plant parts identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, flower, stem, leaf, root.

Seed

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of Asian natural products research
4. Microorganisms
5. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Flower

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Folia microbiologica

Stem

1. Microorganisms
2. Natural product research

Leaf

1. Microorganisms

Root

1. Microorganisms

Chemicals

Baccharoides anthelmintica has 37 reported phytochemicals identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include VERNODALIN, Flavonoids, Butin, Steroids, Terpenoids.

VERNODALIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. PloS one
3. Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR
4. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Journal of Asian natural products research

Butin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Steroids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Terpenoids

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

1,3-Dicaffeoyl quinic acid

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

1-methylquinolin-4(1H)-one

1. Natural product research

12,13-dihydroxyoleic acid

1. PloS one

2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-methyl-4h-pyran-4-one

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

3,4-dicaffeoyl quinic acid

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Baccharoides anthelmintica has 12 reported activities identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic, Antiparasitic, Antiproliferative.

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. Folia microbiologica

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Folia microbiologica

Antidiabetic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Folia microbiologica

Antiparasitic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antiproliferative

1. International journal of oncology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. PloS one
2. Folia microbiologica

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antipsoriatic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antipyretic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemopreventive

1. Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR

Medicinal Uses

Baccharoides anthelmintica has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Vitiligo, liver disease, neurodegenerative diseases, skin diseases.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations