Coleus amboinicus
Coleus amboinicus, commonly known as Mexican mint or Indian borage, is a fragrant, succulent perennial prized for its medicinal properties. Renowned for its thick, velvety leaves, this plant serves as a potent remedy for respiratory ailments, coughs, and digestive issues, offering a natural approach to holistic wellness and healing.
- Scientific name: Coleus amboinicus
- Family: Lamiaceae
- 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 Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Coleus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Coleus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Coleus amboinicus, is recognized by several different common names across various Chinese dialects and regions. In both Traditional Chinese (zh-tw) and Simplified Chinese (zh), it is frequently referred to as 到手香, a name that reflects its aromatic nature. It is also commonly known as 碰碰香 in Simplified Chinese (zh), highlighting how its scent is released upon touch, and is sometimes called 排草香 in Simplified Chinese (zh) as well.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-tw | 到手香 | Wikidata |
| zh | 到手香 | Wikidata |
| zh | 碰碰香 | Wikidata |
| zh | 排草香 | Wikidata |
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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Angola | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Eswatini | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Madagascar | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Seychelles | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Coleus amboinicus, is characterized by its succulent and aromatic structure. The most prominent feature of the plant is its thick, fleshy leaves, which are known for their intense fragrance and medicinal properties. Each individual leaf is typically large, ovate, and possesses a velvety texture due to fine hairs on the surface. Supporting these large foliage structures is a sturdy, somewhat succulent stem that allows the plant to maintain its upright or spreading growth habit. Beneath the surface, a well-developed system of roots anchors the plant and absorbs essential nutrients from the soil. Overall, the medicinal potency is often concentrated in the leaves/above-ground parts, which are most commonly harvested for their essential oils and therapeutic applications.- Total parts
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 11
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves/above-ground parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Coleus amboinicus has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, rosmarinic acid, carvacrol, conjugated linoleic acid, linolenic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rosmarinic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| carvacrol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| conjugated linoleic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| linolenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stearic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Coleus amboinicus has 17 reported activities identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antitumor, Analgesic, Antiaging.
- Total activities
- 17
- Scientific sources
- 26
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiaging | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Coleus amboinicus has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, cough, diarrhea, fever, immunosuppression.
- Total uses
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cough | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| immunosuppression | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| neurodegenerative disorders | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |