Crassocephalum rubens
Crassocephalum rubens, commonly known as Redbush or Redbushweed, is a versatile medicinal herb native to tropical regions. Renowned for its potent bioactive compounds, this plant is traditionally utilized to treat inflammation, skin ailments, and digestive issues. Its unique properties make it a significant subject in ethnobotanical studies.
- Scientific name: Crassocephalum rubens
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Crassocephalum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Crassocephalum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Crassocephalum rubens, is referred to by various common names depending on the linguistic context. In the Ewé language (ff), it is called Baba huum, while in Chinese (zh, zh-hans, and zh-cn), it is known as 蓝花野茼蒿.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ff | Baba huum | Wikidata |
| zh | 蓝花野茼蒿 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 蓝花野茼蒿 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 蓝花野茼蒿 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in the Atlantic and African tropics. In the Macaronesian archipelago, its presence is specifically noted within the islands of Cape Verde. Moving toward the mainland, it is widely distributed throughout West Tropical Africa. This includes documented occurrences in Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Benin. Finally, its range extends further south to include the coastal territories of Ivory Coast.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Crassocephalum rubens, is a herbaceous species known for its distinct morphological characteristics, particularly its vibrant green leaves. Each individual leaf is typically characterized by an irregular, lobed shape and a soft texture, which contributes to its overall appearance. In many regional culinary traditions, the plant is harvested and consumed as leafy vegetables due to its nutritional value and edible qualities.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leafy Vegetables | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Crassocephalum rubens has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include catalase, linolenic acid, superoxide dismutase.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| catalase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| linolenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| superoxide dismutase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Crassocephalum rubens has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Chemopreventive.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chemopreventive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Crassocephalum rubens has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include anticholinesterase, antidiabetic, antioxidant, breast cancer, burns.
- Total uses
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 12
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| anticholinesterase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| burns | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| drought | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| earache | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| heat stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leprosy | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lipid peroxidation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |