Grewia asiatica
Phalsa
Grewia asiatica, commonly known as Phalsa, is a deciduous shrub native to the Indian subcontinent. Renowned for its small, tangy purple berries, this plant is a powerhouse of antioxidants. Traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine, it offers cooling properties, aids digestion, and helps manage heat-related ailments and dehydration effectively.
- Scientific name: Grewia asiatica
- Family: Malvaceae
- 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 Malvales, it is classified under the family Malvaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Grewia and the species Grewia asiatica.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Malvaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Grewia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Grewia asiatica, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Hindi, it is known as फ़ालसा, while in Bengali, it is called ফলসা. In the Udmurt language, it is written as Фалса, which is the same in Russian (Фалса), and it is also identified as Фалса in Kabyle (lbbe).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| hi | फ़ालसा | Wikidata |
| udm | Фалса | Wikidata |
| ru | Фалса | Wikidata |
| lbe | Фалса | Wikidata |
| bn | ফলসা | Wikidata |
| mrj | Фалса | Wikidata |
| mr | फालसा | Wikidata |
| gu | ફાલસા | Wikidata |
| kv | Фалса | Wikidata |
| ur | فالسہ | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning several distinct regions. Within the Western Indian Ocean, its presence is noted in Mauritius and Réunion. Moving toward Western Asia, the species can be found growing in Iran. The Indian Subcontinent also hosts this medicinal plant, specifically within the region of Assam. Finally, its distribution extends to include parts of Bangladesh.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Iran | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Pakistan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Grewia asiatica, possesses various components that are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The bark of the tree is often harvested for its medicinal potential, and specifically, the root bark of G. asiatica is recognized for its distinct pharmacological applications. Furthermore, the plant produces a fleshy fruit, within which the nutrient-rich fruit pulp can be utilized, contributing to the overall medicinal profile of the species.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| root bark of G. asiatica | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit pulp | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Grewia asiatica has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, tannins, D-glucose, Nitric oxide, anthocyanins.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| D-glucose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Nitric oxide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthocyanins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Grewia asiatica has 7 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, CNS-Depressant.
- Total activities
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CNS-Depressant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Phytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Grewia asiatica has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, emesis, hypertension, inflammation, oxidative stress.
- Total uses
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| emesis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatism | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |