crepe myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Moderate (112 studies) · ★★★☆☆
Crepe myrtle, scientifically known as Lagerstroemia indica, is a versatile deciduous shrub celebrated for its vibrant, crinkled blooms. Beyond its ornamental beauty, this plant holds significant medicinal value in traditional practices, often utilized for its antioxidant properties and potential therapeutic effects in treating inflammation and various skin conditions.
Names
Common Names
- crape-myrtle
- Indian crape-myrtle
- crepe-myrtle
- crepeflower
- Common Crape Myrtle
- Laggerstreamer
- Leggerstreamer
- Pride-Of-India
- crepe myrtle
- ladies' streamer
- lilac of the south
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Lagerstroemia indica var. alba
- Murtughas indica
- Crespon
- Crepe myrtle
- Árbol de Júpiter
- Espumilla
- Crespón
- Arbol de Jupiter
- Almira
- Crespón
- árbol de Júpiter
- Espumilla
German:
- Chinesische Lagerströmie
- chinesische Kräuselmyrte
- Kreppmyrte
- Indische Lagerströmie
- Indianerflieder
- chinesische Kräuselmyrte
- Chinesische Lagerströmie
French:
- Lilas d'été
- Lilas des Indes braise d'été
- Lilas d'été commun
- Folie de jeune fille
- Lilas des Indes
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Lagerstroemia indicaSynonyms
- Velaga globosa
- Lagerstroemia indica var. alba
- Murtughas indica
- Lagerstroemia indica f. alba
- Lagerstroemia elegans
- Lagerstroemia chinensis
- Lagerstroemia minor
- Lagerstroemia pulchra
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is further classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Myrtales. Finally, it is a member of the Lythraceae family, specifically placed in the genus Lagerstroemia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Myrtales | WCVP |
| Family | Lythraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Lagerstroemia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide-ranging geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. In Central Asia, it can be found growing in the territories of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Its presence is also significant throughout various parts of China, particularly in the South-Central regions. Furthermore, the species is documented as growing on the island of Hainan. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to inhabit multiple distinct environmental zones.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Central Asia | Turkmenistan | WCVP |
| Central Asia | Tadzhikistan | WCVP |
| Central Asia | Uzbekistan | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Korea | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Crape Myrtle, utilizes its leaves as a significant component in various traditional medicinal practices. The leaves are typically characterized by an elliptical shape and a smooth texture, serving as a primary source of bioactive compounds. In certain herbal preparations, these leaves are processed to exploit their potential therapeutic properties, contributing to the plant's overall medicinal profile.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Drug discoveries & therapeutics (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Lagerstroemia indica has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ANTHOCYANIN, Delphinidin-3-arabinoside, Dihydroverticillatine, FAT, Flavonoids.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHOCYANIN | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Delphinidin-3-arabinoside | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Dihydroverticillatine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| FAT | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gallic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Lagerine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| MALVIDIN 3,5-DI-O-GLUCOSIDE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| METHYL GALLATE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Malvidin-3-arabinoside | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
ANTHOCYANIN
- Frontiers in plant science
- BMC plant biology
Delphinidin-3-arabinoside
- Dr. Duke
Dihydroverticillatine
- Dr. Duke
FAT
- Dr. Duke
Flavonoids
- Frontiers in plant science
Gallic acid
- Dr. Duke
Lagerine
- Dr. Duke
MALVIDIN 3,5-DI-O-GLUCOSIDE
- Frontiers in plant science
METHYL GALLATE
- Dr. Duke
Malvidin-3-arabinoside
- Dr. Duke
Activities
Lagerstroemia indica has 91 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include ACE-Inhibitor, Abortifacient, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Analgesic, AntiGTF.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| ACE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Abortifacient | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AntiGTF | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AntiHIV | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AntiMRSA | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiadenovirus | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiaflatoxin | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiallergenic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Lagerstroemia indica has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, ZIKV.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Candida albicans | Drug discoveries & therapeutics (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | Drug discoveries & therapeutics (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Listeria monocytogenes | Drug discoveries & therapeutics (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | Drug discoveries & therapeutics (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ZIKV | Chemistry & biodiversity (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| methylene chloride and methanol extracts | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |