Cuban-oregano

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cuban-oregano
• French-thyme
• Indian-borage
• Indian-mint
• Mexican-mint
• Spanish-thyme
• country-borage
• soup-mint
• Cuban oregano
• Indian Borage
• Mexican mint

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Majana suganda
• Ocimum vaalae
• Plectranthus amboinicus
• Coleus subfrutectosus
• Coleus amboinicus var. violaceus
• Coleus suborbicularis
• Majana amboinica
• Coleus suganda
• Majana carnosa
• Coleus vaalae
• Coleus aromaticus
• Coleus carnosus
• Coleus crassifolius

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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 Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Coleus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its distribution includes the country of Burundi. Moving toward East Tropical Africa, the species can be found in both Kenya and Tanzania. The plant also extends into South Tropical Africa, where it inhabits Angola. Finally, its geographical reach continues through the nation of Mozambique in the southern tropical zone.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Coleus amboinicus is characterized by its ability to inhabit a wide altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 1700 m AMSL. It thrives in diverse tropical and subtropical environments, often occupying moist, well-drained habitats such as forest edges, secondary thickets, and disturbed areas where sunlight availability is moderate to high. The plant is well-adapted to humid climates, frequently appearing in locations with consistent moisture levels, though it exhibits significant resilience in various soil types. Its distribution across such a broad elevational range suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing it to compete effectively in both lowland coastal regions and higher montane ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Coleus amboinicus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It exhibits a chamaemphyte life form, a classification indicating that its perennially produced buds are located close to the ground surface, typically protected by a layer of litter or soil. Furthermore, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and lush throughout its life cycle rather than shedding seasonally. This combination of a long-lived perennial cycle, a low-growing chamaemphyte structure, and constant evergreen foliage defines its continuous presence in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Coleus amboinicus is characterized by a growth form that primarily functions as a shrub or a robust herb, exhibiting a non-woody structure. It is a self-supporting plant that does not require climbing mechanisms, such as lianas or vines, to maintain its stature. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, maintaining an independent existence without being a parasite. The plant reaches a mean height of approximately 1 m, though it can achieve a maximum height of up to 1.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Coleus amboinicus is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and metabolic processes that define its vegetative growth. The leaves exhibit a variable size range, with lengths spanning from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, and widths ranging from 2.5 cm to 6 cm. Despite the fleshy appearance often associated with its genus, this species does not exhibit true succulence. Furthermore, its metabolic profile indicates that it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the assimilation of available nitrogen from the surrounding soil substrate to support its physiological development and structural integrity.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Coleus amboinicus involves the production of extremely minute seeds, which exhibit a highly specific mass range. The seed mass fluctuates within a narrow margin, with a minimum value of 0.00011 g, a maximum value of 0.00017 g, and an average (mean) mass of 0.00014 g. Regarding its dispersal mechanisms, the plant utilizes a diverse array of dispersal syndromes to ensure its spread across different environments. These modes of dispersal include anemochorous (wind-dispersed), anthropochorous (human-mediated), autochorous (self-dispersed), endozoochorous (internal animal dispersal), epizoochorous (external animal dispersal), hydrochorous (water-dispersed), myrmecocorous (ant-dispersed), unspecialized, and zoochorous (animal-dispersed) strategies.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Seed mass max:

0.00017 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00014 g

Seed mass min:

0.00011 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Coleus amboinicus has 3 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, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of food biochemistry
2. F1000Research
3. Toxicology mechanisms and methods
4. Biomedical and environmental sciences : BES
5. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Root

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Stem

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Chemicals

Coleus amboinicus has 54 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CARVACROL, Flavonoids, rosmarinic acid, THYMOL, ALPHA-THUJENE.

CARVACROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food biochemistry
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of animal science
3. Bioorganic chemistry

rosmarinic acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of food biochemistry
3. Journal of animal science

THYMOL

1. Journal of food biochemistry
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

ALPHA-THUJENE

1. Dr. Duke

Alcohols

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Journal of food biochemistry

Carene

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Activities

Coleus amboinicus has 303 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antitumor, Analgesic, Antiaging.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Mutagenesis
3. F1000Research
4. Toxicology mechanisms and methods
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. F1000Research
3. Bioorganic chemistry
4. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiaging

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Bioprocess and biosystems engineering

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiproliferative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Coleus amboinicus has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, cough, diarrhea, fever, immunosuppression.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations