Brunfelsia uniflora
Brunfelsia uniflora, commonly known as yesterday-today-and-tomorrow, is a captivating ornamental shrub prized for its color-changing flowers. Beyond its beauty, this plant holds significant historical importance in traditional medicine. However, caution is essential, as its potent alkaloids can be toxic if mishandled or ingested improperly during medicinal use.
- Scientific name: Brunfelsia uniflora
- Family: Solanaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Brunfelsia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Solanales | WCVP |
| Family | Solanaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Brunfelsia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Brunfelsia uniflora, is referred to by various names across different languages and cultures. In Portuguese, it is commonly called Manacá-de-jardim, while in Esperanto, it is known as Manakao. In Swedish, the name used is Manacabrunfelsia, whereas in Vietnamese, it is called Nhài hai màu. Additionally, in Chinese, the plant is referred to as 變色茉莉.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pt | Manacá-de-jardim | Wikidata |
| eo | Manakao | Wikidata |
| sv | Manacabrunfelsia | Wikidata |
| vi | Nhài hai màu | Wikidata |
| zh | 變色茉莉 | Wikidata |
| id | Melati mentomori | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 變色茉莉 | Wikidata |
| ar | ماناقا | Wikidata |
| pt | Manacá-de-cheiro | Wikidata |
| pt | Manacá | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several key regions in Africa and the Indian Ocean. Within East Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its presence also extends into the Western Indian Ocean islands. Specifically, it is documented in the territory of Mauritius. Furthermore, this medicinal species is located on the island of Réunion.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Uganda | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Trinidad-Tobago | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Venezuelan Antilles | WCVP |
| Northern South America | Guyana | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Brunfelsia uniflora, possesses various anatomical structures that contribute to its medicinal profile. The whole root system serves as a foundational component for many traditional preparations, while the specific roots themselves are often harvested for their concentrated bioactive compounds. The stems provide the necessary structural support for the shrub's growth, leading to the development of lush foliage. Each individual leaf is characterized by its distinct shape and texture, and collectively, the dense arrangement of leaves plays a vital role in the plant's photosynthetic processes and overall vitality.- Total parts
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 8
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| whole root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flowers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flower | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Brunfelsia uniflora has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include acetogenins, flavonoids, lignans.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| acetogenins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lignans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Brunfelsia uniflora has 7 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antiinflammatory, Antirheumatic, Antisyphilitic, Emetic.
- Total activities
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antirheumatic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antisyphilitic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Emetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Purgative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Vermifuge | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Brunfelsia uniflora has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Leishmania braziliensis, analgesic, emetic, purgative, vermifuge.
- Total uses
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Leishmania braziliensis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| emetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| purgative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| vermifuge | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |