Distephanus angulifolius
Distephanus anguifolius, commonly known as the Bitter Leaf, is a versatile medicinal herb native to tropical regions. Renowned for its potent pharmacological properties, it is widely utilized in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, including malaria, inflammation, and digestive issues, offering significant therapeutic potential for modern healthcare applications.
- Scientific name: Distephanus angulifolius
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and order Asterales, it falls under the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Distephanus, specifically as the species Distephanus anguifolius.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Distephanus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Distephanus anguifolius, is known by various common names depending on the region and language. In English, it is frequently referred to as the finger bush, while in Spanish, it is commonly called arbusto de dedo. In Portuguese, the plant is known as dedo-de-bruxa.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions in Africa. It can be found within the tropical landscapes of Mozambique in South Tropical Africa. Additionally, its range extends into the southern parts of the continent. Specifically, it inhabits the Cape Provinces of Southern Africa. Finally, the species is also documented growing in the KwaZulu-Natal region of Southern Africa.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Cape Provinces | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Desmatostachys tenuifolia (often referred to in contexts related to Desmatostachys species or similar medicinal flora), utilizes its leaves as a primary component for therapeutic applications. The leaves are characterized by their specific shape and vein patterns, which contain the bioactive compounds essential for its medicinal properties. In traditional herbal practices, these leaves are often harvested, dried, or decocted to extract the natural constituents required for healing.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Distephanus angulifolius has 5 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antimutagenic, Antioxidant, Mutagenic.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimutagenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mutagenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |