white-berry bush

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Phyllanthus virosus
• Acidoton virosus
• Securinega virosa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Malpighiales and the family Phyllanthaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Flueggea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of the African continent. In Northern Africa, its presence is documented within the borders of Egypt. Moving toward the West Tropical Africa region, the species can be found in Benin and Burkina. It also inhabits the coastal and inland areas of the Gambia. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant extends into Ghana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Flueggea virosa is characterized by its presence in diverse environments, ranging from bushed grasslands and wooded grasslands to forest margins, and it is notably found growing on black cotton soils. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from a minimum elevation of 25 m AMSL to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1050 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1050 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

25 m AMSL

Habitat :

bushedgrassland,woodedgrassland,forestmargins,alsoonblackcottonsoils

Life history

The life history of Flueggea viridia is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its growth architecture and life form, the plant exhibits characteristics of both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte, indicating a structure where its buds are located on aerial shoots above the ground level, though it can also maintain a more compact, low-growing stature.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Flueggea viridissima is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, exhibiting a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climber or vine. As a terrestrial plant, it functions as an independent organism and does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behaviors. The plant displays significant variation in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 7.5 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 3.375 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7.5 m

Plant height mean:

3.375 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Flueggea viridis is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and nutrient processing capabilities. The plant's foliage exhibits a distinct range of leaf sizes, with leaf lengths typically averaging 3.5 cm, though they can vary from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 5 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width displays a mean value of 2 cm, fluctuating between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum width of 3 cm. Regarding its metabolic nitrogen cycle, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen sources rather than symbiotic atmospheric nitrogen fixation to support its physiological processes.

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf length mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Fluegghea virosa is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects such as bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The plant exhibits an absence of self-fertilization, suggesting a reliance on cross-pollination to maintain genetic diversity. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces dry fruits that typically measure with a mean width of 0.4 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm. The resulting seeds are characterized by a consistent volume of 1.2 mm³ and a mean mass of approximately 0.003363125 g, with individual seed weights varying between a minimum of 0.0027 g and a maximum of 0.0045 g. For the propagation of the species, Fluegghea virosa employs a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, utilizing animals to distribute its seeds throughout its habitat.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.4 cm

Fruit width min:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.0045 g

Seed mass mean:

0.003363125 g

Seed mass min:

0.0027 g

Seed volume max:

1.2 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Flueggea virosa has 2 reported plant parts identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Fitoterapia
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
5. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
3. Organic letters

Chemicals

Flueggea virosa has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Virosecurinine, Cardiac Glycosides, Flavonoids, Flueggether A, Fluevirosine D.

Virosecurinine

1. Papua and New Guinea medical journal
2. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Cardiac Glycosides

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flueggether A

1. Organic letters

Fluevirosine D

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Fluevirosinine D

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Fluevirosinine H

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Norsecurinine

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Saponins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Securinine

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Flueggea virosa has 6 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiepileptic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antipsychotic, Cytotoxic.

Antiepileptic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antioxidant

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antipsychotic

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Sedative

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Conditions

Flueggea virosa has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include HIV, Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, dengue fever, malaria.

Hiv

1. Organic letters

Malaria

1. Malaria journal

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dengue fever

1. Studies in health technology and informatics

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sickle cell disease

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Flueggea virosa has 19 reported preparations identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Acetone extracts, Crude hydro-ethanolic extract, Petroleum spirit, butanol fraction, chloroform.

Acetone extracts

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

Crude hydro-ethanolic extract

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Petroleum spirit

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Butanol fraction

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine

Chloroform

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Crude ethanol extract

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Crude methanol root bark extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Crude methanol root bark of securinega virosa extract

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine

Decoction of the leaves

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Ethanol

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR