Bridelia retusa
Bridelia retusa, commonly known as the "Gatit" or "Wild Bridelia," is a versatile medicinal shrub native to tropical regions. Renowned in traditional medicine, its leaves, bark, and roots are utilized to treat ailments ranging from skin infections to digestive issues, offering significant therapeutic potential through its bioactive compounds.
- Scientific name: Bridelia retusa
- Family: Phyllanthaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known scientifically as Bridelia retusa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Malpighiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Phyllanthaceae and falls under the genus Bridelia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Phyllanthaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Bridelia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Bridelia retusa, is recognized by various common names across different linguistic regions. In Sri Lanka, it is referred to as කැට කෑල (si), while in India, it is known as മുള്ളുവേങ്ങ (ml) in Malayalam and முள்வேங்கை (ta) in Tamil. In Nepal, the plant is called गायो (ne), and in Persian, it is identified as بریدلیا رتوسا (fa).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| si | කැට කෑල | Wikidata |
| ml | മുള്ളുവേങ്ങ | Wikidata |
| ne | गायो | Wikidata |
| fa | بریدلیا رتوسا | Wikidata |
| ta | முள்வேங்கை | Wikidata |
| my | ဆိတ်ချေးပင် | Wikidata |
| kn | ಮುಳ್ಳುಹೊನ್ನೆ | Wikidata |
| mr | असाणा | Wikidata |
| zh | 大叶土蜜树 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 大叶土蜜树 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several distinct regions in Asia. In China, it can be found throughout the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Moving toward the Indian subcontinent, the species is also documented in the state of Assam. Additionally, its natural range extends into the neighboring country of Bangladesh. These diverse locations highlight the significant geographical footprint of Bridelia retusa.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | West Himalaya | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Bridelia retusa, is highly valued in traditional medicine for the therapeutic properties found within its various components. Specifically, the stem bark is frequently utilized in decoctions to treat ailments such as inflammation and digestive issues, often serving as a key ingredient in herbal remedies. Additionally, leaf extracts are processed to harness their bioactive compounds, which are often employed for their antimicrobial and antioxidant effects in treating skin conditions and other systemic ailments.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Bridelia retusa has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ellagic acid, flavonoids, glycosides, phytosterols.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ellagic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glycosides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phytosterols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Bridelia retusa has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antibiotic resistance.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| antibiotic resistance | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |