Echinops kebericho

Echinops kebericho · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Sparse (38 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆

, scientifically known as Echinops kebericho, is a perennial medicinal herb native to the Ethiopian highlands. Renowned for its therapeutic properties, this plant is extensively used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, including respiratory issues, digestive disorders, and inflammatory conditions, making it a significant subject of ethnobotanical study.

Family
Asteraceae
Native range
Africa
Parts used
Root
Common names
Not available
Scientific synonyms
Not available

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Echinops kebericho

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further organized into the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus name, Echinops.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Asterales
Family Asteraceae
Genus Echinops

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Echinops kebericho, possesses a very specific and limited natural range. Its geographical distribution is primarily concentrated within the Northeast Tropical Africa region. More specifically, this medicinal species is endemic to the high-altitude areas of Ethiopia. Because it is found in such a localized manner, it is closely tied to the unique ecological conditions of the Ethiopian highlands. Consequently, its availability for medicinal use is inherently linked to this specific African territory.

Region Area
Northeast Tropical Africa Ethiopia

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Echinops kebericho is characterized by its growth form as a herb, presenting a non-woody structure throughout its vegetative development. As a herbaceous plant, it lacks the lignified tissues found in shrubs or trees, instead maintaining a relatively soft and flexible stem architecture. This non-woody habit is typical of its life cycle, where the plant focuses on rapid seasonal growth and the production of distinctive, globose, spiny flower heads that are characteristic of the genus.

Growth form :
herb
Woodiness :
non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Echinops kebericho has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Plant parts reported in Echinops kebericho
Plant part Supporting sources Consensus
Root 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Root

  1. Infection and drug resistance
  2. Malaria journal

Chemicals

Echinops kebericho has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins, Cardiac Glycosides, Dehydrocostus lactone, Glycosides.

Chemicals reported in Echinops kebericho
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
Flavonoids 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Tannins 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cardiac Glycosides 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Dehydrocostus lactone 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Glycosides 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Saponins 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Steroids 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Triterpenes 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Flavonoids

  1. PeerJ
  2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Tannins

  1. PeerJ
  2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Cardiac Glycosides

  1. PeerJ

Dehydrocostus lactone

  1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Glycosides

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Saponins

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Steroids

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Triterpenes

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Activities

Echinops kebericho has 8 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antimicrobial.

Activities reported in Echinops kebericho
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
Antibacterial 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antifungal 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antioxidant 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Analgesic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antimicrobial 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antiplasmodial 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antipyretic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antiviral 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Antibacterial

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
  2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Antifungal

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
  2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Antioxidant

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
  2. BioMed research international

Analgesic

  1. Journal of inflammation research

Antimicrobial

  1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Antiplasmodial

  1. Malaria journal

Antipyretic

  1. BioMed research international

Antiviral

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Conditions

Echinops kebericho has 15 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Cryptococcus neoformans, E. coli.

Conditions investigated for Echinops kebericho
Condition Supporting sources Consensus
Candida albicans 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Candida glabrata 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Candida parapsilosis 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cryptococcus neoformans 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
E. coli 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Trypanosoma congolense 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Fever 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Infectious diseases 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Inflammation 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Leishmaniasis 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Candida albicans

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Candida glabrata

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Candida parapsilosis

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Cryptococcus neoformans

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

E. coli

  1. PeerJ

Trypanosoma congolense

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Fever

  1. BioMed research international

Infectious diseases

  1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Inflammation

  1. Journal of inflammation research

Leishmaniasis

  1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Preparations

Echinops kebericho has 4 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Plant extracts, crude ethanol extract, powdered roots, root.

Preparations reported for Echinops kebericho
Preparation Supporting sources Consensus
Plant extracts 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Crude ethanol extract 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Powdered roots 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Root 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Plant extracts

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Crude ethanol extract

  1. Malaria journal

Powdered roots

  1. Malaria journal

Root

  1. Heliyon