Crassocephalum vitellinum
Crassocaphalum vitellinum, commonly known as the velvet leaf or bitter leaf, is a versatile medicinal plant found in tropical regions. Renowned for its potent bioactive compounds, it is traditionally used to treat inflammatory conditions, digestive ailments, and skin infections, offering significant therapeutic potential in holistic and modern pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Crassocephalum vitellinum
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the 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 vitellinum, is recognized by various local names depending on the region and language. In Rwanda, it is commonly referred to by its Kinyarwanda name, Isununu.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| rw | Isununu | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, it can be specifically identified within Nigeria. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, the species is documented in Burundi and Rwanda. It is also found throughout the Gulf of Guinea Islands within this same central region. Finally, its presence is confirmed in Cameroon, rounding out its documented range in West-Central Tropical Africa.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Uganda | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Crassocephalum vitellinum, is primarily utilized in traditional medicine through its lush, green leaves. These leaves are often harvested to prepare various remedies, including infusions, decoctions, or poultices, to treat ailments such as inflammation, coughs, and digestive issues. The bioactive compounds concentrated within the leaf tissue are central to the plant's therapeutic properties, making this specific part essential for its medicinal application.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Crassocephalum vitellinum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include limonene, myrcene.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| limonene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| myrcene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Crassocephalum vitellinum has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include hepatitis, liver diseases.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| hepatitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| liver diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |