Guizotia scabra
Guizotia scabra, commonly known as the "bitter herb" in some regions, is a versatile medicinal plant native to East Africa. Widely utilized in traditional medicine, it is prized for its potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, frequently used to treat digestive issues, respiratory ailments, and various skin infections.
- Scientific name: Guizotia scabra
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Guizotia scabra, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and the genus Guizotia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Guizotia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, scientifically known as Guisotia scabra, is widely recognized by various regional names depending on the linguistic context. In Ethiopia, it is most commonly referred to by the Amharic name መጭ (mech).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| am | መጭ | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical presence across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its distribution includes the nations of Benin and Nigeria. Moving into the West-Central Tropical Africa region, the species can also be found in Burundi. Additionally, it is documented to grow within the Central African Republic. Finally, its range extends to include the country of Cameroon.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Eritrea | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Gichui or Guizotia scabra, is frequently utilized in traditional medicine, with its therapeutic properties primarily concentrated in the leaves. These leaves are often harvested and used in various forms, such as decoctions or infusions, to treat ailments ranging from digestive issues to respiratory infections. The chemical constituents found within the leaf tissue are believed to provide the essential bioactive compounds necessary for its healing effects.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Guizotia scabra has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, Fat, Fe, Mn, Na.
- Total chemicals
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Ash | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fat | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fe | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mn | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Na | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| P | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| germacrene-d | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| limonene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Guizotia scabra has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatoprotective, Hepatotoxic.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |