Lawsonia inermis
Henna plant
Lawsonia inermis, commonly known as henna, is a versatile medicinal plant prized for its vibrant staining properties and therapeutic benefits. Renowned in traditional medicine, its leaves possess potent antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory qualities. Often used in topical applications, it serves as a natural remedy for skin ailments and hair care.
- Scientific name: Lawsonia inermis
- Family: Lythraceae
- 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 Myrtales, it is classified under the family Lythraceae and is identified by the genus Lawsonia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Myrtales | WCVP |
| Family | Lythraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Lawsonia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Lawsonia inermis, is recognized by various common names across different languages and cultures. In Chinese, it is referred to as 散沫花 in both Hong Kong (zh-hk) and Mainland China (zh-cn), while in Taiwan (zh-tw), it is commonly called 指甲花. In Poland, it is known as Henna (pl), and in Hebrew, it is called כופר לבן (he).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hk | 散沫花 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 散沫花 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 指甲花 | Wikidata |
| pl | Henna | Wikidata |
| he | כופר לבן | Wikidata |
| fr | henné | Wikidata |
| ko | 헤나 | Wikidata |
| es | alheña | Wikidata |
| ta | மருதோன்றி | Wikidata |
| hu | henna | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known scientifically as Lawsonia inermis, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions. In Northern Africa, it is commonly found growing within the territories of Algeria and Libya. The species also extends its range across the North African landscape into Morocco and Tunisia. Moving toward the West Tropical Africa region, the plant can be located in Benin. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various North and West African climates.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Algeria | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Libya | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Morocco | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Tunisia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Lawsonia inermis, is highly valued in traditional medicine for the diverse therapeutic properties found within its various components. The most frequently utilized part is the leaves, which are harvested and processed to create potent leaf extracts used for treating skin conditions and hair care. Whether used as a whole leaf or in concentrated form, these botanical elements contain lawsone, a natural dye and antimicrobial agent. Additionally, while the foliage is the primary focus, the fruits of the plant also contribute to its biological profile, making the entire structure of the plant significant in herbal applications.- Total parts
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 25
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| leaf | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| leaf extracts | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seed powder | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seed | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fresh leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Lawsonia inermis has 49 reported phytochemicals identified across 81 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include lawsone, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides.
- Total chemicals
- 49
- Scientific sources
- 81
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| lawsone | 11 | ★★★★★ |
| flavonoids | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| saponins | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| glycosides | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| steroids | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| catechin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| henna | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| luteolin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Lawsonia inermis has 19 reported activities identified across 47 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Analgesic, Antifungal.
- Total activities
- 19
- Scientific sources
- 47
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| Antioxidant | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antiparasitic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Lawsonia inermis has 87 reported medicinal uses identified across 97 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include wound healing, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, analgesic, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases.
- Total uses
- 87
- Scientific sources
- 97
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| wound healing | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| analgesic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastrointestinal diseases | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| skin cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ulcers | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aeromonas hydrophila | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |