Helicteres hirsuta
Helicteres hirsuta, commonly known as the hairy helicteres, is a versatile medicinal shrub native to tropical regions. Renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, this plant is extensively used in traditional medicine to treat skin ailments, inflammation, and digestive issues, offering a natural remedy through its potent bioactive compounds.
- Scientific name: Helicteres hirsuta
- Family: Malvaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Helicteres hirsuta, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Malvales and placed in the family Malvaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Helicteres.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Malvaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Helicteres | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Helicteres hirsuta, is recognized by various common names across different linguistic contexts. In Chinese (zh), it is referred to as both 雁婆麻 and 肖婆麻. Specifically, in Simplified Chinese (zh-cn) and Traditional Chinese (zh-tw), the common name used is 雁婆麻.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 雁婆麻 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 雁婆麻 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 雁婆麻 | Wikidata |
| zh | 肖婆麻 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across parts of Asia. In China, it can be found specifically in Hainan as well as throughout the China Southeast region. Its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it is documented in Assam. Additionally, the species is known to grow within the borders of Bangladesh. Finally, its range reaches the mountainous terrain of the East Himalaya.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Thailand | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Helicteres hirsuta, possesses distinct morphological features in its vegetative structures that are often utilized in traditional medicine. The stems are typically characterized by a woody texture and are frequently covered in fine, bristly hairs, a feature reflected in its specific epithet. The leaves are also notable for their pubescence, often displaying a hairy surface that can assist in moisture retention and protection. Both the stems and leaves contain various bioactive secondary metabolites, making them significant components of the plant's medicinal profile.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Helicteres hirsuta has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+/-)-medioresinol, (+/-)-pinoresinol, (+/-)-syringaresinol, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester, 3-O-trans-caffeoylbetulinic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 19
- Scientific sources
- 19
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| (+/-)-medioresinol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+/-)-pinoresinol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+/-)-syringaresinol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3-O-trans-caffeoylbetulinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4-hydroxybenzoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5,8-dihydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| betulinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| betulinic acid methyl ester | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Helicteres hirsuta has 5 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Cytotoxic, Hepatoprotective.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Helicteres hirsuta has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, malaria, E. coli, Oxidative stress, diabetes mellitus.
- Total uses
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| E. coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Oxidative stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperglycemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| liver cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |