Coleus barbatus
Coleus barbatus, commonly known as Blue Bush or Plectranthus barbatus, is a versatile medicinal herb widely used in traditional African and Caribbean medicine. Renowned for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, this plant is frequently employed to treat respiratory issues, digestive ailments, and various skin conditions through herbal infusions.
- Scientific name: Coleus barbatus
- 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 falls under the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Coleus as Coleus barbatus.
| 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, scientifically known as Coleus barbatus, is recognized by various names depending on the linguistic and cultural context. In Chinese, it is commonly referred to as 毛喉鞘蕊花 (máo hóu qiào ruǐ huā).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 毛喉鞘蕊花 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide-ranging geographical distribution across several distinct tropical and subtropical regions. In the Macaronesian islands, its presence can be specifically noted in Madeira. Moving to West-Central Tropical Africa, it is found within the borders of Burundi and Rwanda. The species also extends its reach into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Finally, its range stretches toward Northeast Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Eritrea.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macaronesia | Madeira | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Eritrea | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Somalia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Coleus or West Indian Gumbo Limbo, utilizes various structures for its growth and medicinal properties. While some species in this genus are known to develop thickened, starchy tuberous roots for nutrient storage, the primary focus in herbal applications is often on the aerial parts. These above-ground structures consist mainly of the lush, aromatic leaves, which are frequently harvested and used in traditional remedies due to their specific bioactive compounds.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tuberous roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Coleus barbatus has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include forskolin.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| forskolin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Coleus barbatus has 9 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Analgesic, Antibacterial.
- Total activities
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 12
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifibrotic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antispasmodic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Coleus barbatus has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include embryo implantation, pregnancy.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| embryo implantation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pregnancy | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |