vetiver

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Khuskhus Vetiver
• cuscus grass
• khus-khus
• khus-khus grass
• vetiver
• vetiver grass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Anatherum muricatum
• Andropogon zizanioides
• Vetiveria odoratissima
• Vetiveria zizanioides var. tonkinensis
• Phalaris zizanioides
• Holcus zizanioides
• Sorghum zizanioides
• Vetiveria odorata
• Chamaeraphis muricata
• Rhaphis zizanioides
• Andropogon muricatus
• Vetiveria zizanioides
• Vetiveria muricata
• Vetiveria arundinacea
• Anatherum zizanioides

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Poales. Finally, it is a member of the family Poaceae within the genus Chrysopogon.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the tropical regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented across several countries including Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. It is also found within the West Tropical Africa zone in Togo. Furthermore, the species extends its range into West-Central Tropical Africa. Specifically, its occurrence in this central region is noted in Cameroon.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Chrysopogon zizanioides is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to various landscapes, particularly within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) where human activity has modified the natural environment. This species demonstrates a broad vertical distribution, thriving across a significant altitudinal gradient that spans from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to an elevation of 2000 m AMSL. This wide elevational range allows the plant to colonize diverse climatic zones, making it resilient to varying temperature and moisture regimes often found in disturbed or human-managed habitats.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Chrysopogon zizanioides is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennuating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter, which facilitates its robust survival strategy. This species maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage throughout the year rather than undergoing a deciduous phase. These combined biological traits enable the plant to establish a stable and long-lasting presence in its habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Chrysopogon zizanioides is characterized by a graminoid growth form, functioning as a non-woody herb that is entirely independent and lacks parasitic tendencies. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior and is not aquatic or semiaquatic in nature. The plant is self-supporting rather than being a climber, liana, or vine, and it reaches an average plant height of approximately 1.95 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1.95 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Chrysopogon zizanioides is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying light environments. Unlike succulent species, this plant does not exhibit succulence, meaning it lacks specialized thickened tissues for significant water storage and relies instead on its extensive, deep-reaching root system to manage moisture uptake and drought tolerance. Furthermore, it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, as it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, instead relying on the available nitrogen levels within the soil substrate to support its growth and development.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Chrysopogon zizanioides 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 root, leaf.

Root

1. Environmental science and pollution research international
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
4. Indian journal of microbiology
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Chrysopogon zizanioides has 98 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CALCIUM, Flavonoids, Isokhusenic acid, Khusimol, Saponins.

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Environmental science and pollution research international

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Isokhusenic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food biochemistry

Khusimol

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Chemical biology & drug design

Saponins

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences
2. Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology

Sesquiterpenes

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Microbial pathogenesis

(+)-Khusitene

1. Dr. Duke

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke

3,5,6-TRICHLORO-2-PYRIDINOL

1. Journal of hazardous materials

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Chrysopogon zizanioides has 233 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Analgesic, Antibacterial.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Saudi journal of biological sciences
4. Biomolecules
5. Turkish journal of chemistry

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Saudi journal of biological sciences
4. Biomolecules

Antimicrobial

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Biomolecules
3. Turkish journal of chemistry

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomolecules

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomolecules

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cell biochemistry and biophysics

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Conditions

Chrysopogon zizanioides has 14 reported investigations on conditions identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, cancer, colorectal cancer.

Inflammation

1. Environmental science and pollution research international
2. Biomolecules

Candida albicans

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Enterococcus faecalis

1. Journal of conservative dentistry : JCD

Cancer

1. Biomolecules

Colorectal cancer

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Fungus

1. Turkish journal of chemistry

Injury

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Lung cancer

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Oral cancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Oxidative stress

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Preparations

Chrysopogon zizanioides has 13 reported preparations identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract, aqueous-methanolic crude extract, crude extract, essential oil, essential oils.

Extract

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
3. Chemistry & biodiversity

Aqueous-methanolic crude extract

1. Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology

Crude extract

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Essential oil

1. Journal of conservative dentistry : JCD

Essential oils

1. Biomolecules

Ethanolic extract of roots

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hydroalcoholic extract

1. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Leaves

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Oil

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Polyherbal extract

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences