false arnica

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• false arnica
• Mexican Arnica

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and is categorized under the genus Heterotheca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to various regions throughout the country of Mexico. Its presence is documented across Mexico Central, where it thrives in specific local ecosystems. Additionally, the species can be found extending into Mexico Northeast and Mexico Gulf. The distribution continues through the arid landscapes of Mexico Northwest. Finally, the range of this medicinal plant reaches as far as Mexico Southwest.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Heterotheca inuloides is characterized by a growth form categorized as a herb, displaying a non-woody structure throughout its development. This species is fundamentally terrestrial in its habitat, lacking aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, and it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. In terms of its structural support, the plant is entirely self-supporting, exhibiting neither climbing nor vining habits such as lianas or facultative climbers. Furthermore, it is a strictly terrestrial species, showing no epiphytic characteristics.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Heterotheca inuloides has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower.

Flower

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Planta medica
3. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

Chemicals

Heterotheca inuloides has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include quercetin, 7-hydroxy-3,4-dihydrocadalin, 7-Hydroxycadalin, Flavonoids, -Spinasterol.

quercetin

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Journal of natural products
3. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
4. Toxicology

7-hydroxy-3,4-dihydrocadalin

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Planta medica
3. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

7-Hydroxycadalin

1. Planta medica
2. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

-Spinasterol

1. Toxicology

7-Hydroxycadalene

1. Journal of natural products

7-hydroxy-4alphaH-3,4-dihydrocadalene

1. Journal of natural products

BETA-CARYOPHYLLENE

1. Planta medica

D-chiro-Inositol

1. Toxicology

Galangin

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

Activities

Heterotheca inuloides has 6 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Analgesic, Antiinflammatory, Antitumor.

Antioxidant

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Toxicology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Analgesic

1. Toxicology

Antiinflammatory

1. Journal of natural products

Antitumor

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Phytotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Heterotheca inuloides has 13 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include lipid peroxidation, oxidative stresses, Gram-positive bacteria, Trichinella spiralis, analgesic.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations