Leea indica
What's the taxonomical classification of Leea indica?
Leea indica belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta. Within this group, it is categorized under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae. Following its lineage further, it falls under the order Vitales and is a member of the family Vitaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is defined by the genus Leea and the species indica.
| Taxonomic Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Vitales |
| Family | Vitaceae |
| Genus | Leea |
| Species | indica |
What are the morphological characteristics of this plant?
Leea indica has opposite, decussate leaves that are typically elliptic to lanceolate in shape, measuring between 5 and 15 centimeters in length with serrated margins and acute tips. The plant is a perennial shrub or small tree that can reach heights of up to 5 meters. Its stems are woody and often exhibit a reddish or brownish tint. The inflorescences consist of terminal panicles containing small, pink to purple flowers arranged in dense clusters. These flowers produce small, fleshy drupes that transition from green to a dark purple or black color when ripe.
What is the geographical distribution of this plant?
This plant is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Australia, and parts of the Pacific Islands. It thrives in humid environments found across India, Southeast Asia, and much of the South Pacific. Due to its resilience, it has become naturalized in various other tropical locales around the world. Its presence is most common in disturbed forest areas and along riverbanks where moisture is abundant. This widespread distribution is primarily facilitated by its ability to adapt to different tropical soil types.
How is this plant cultivated?
This plant thrives in moist, well-draining soil under bright, indirect sunlight or dappled shade in tropical or subtropical climates.
To ensure healthy growth, maintain consistent soil moisture without allowing the roots to become waterlogged. Regular fertilization with a balanced liquid food during the growing season helps promote its vibrant red flower clusters. Providing high humidity through misting or mulching is beneficial for its lush, green foliage.
Avoid exposing the plant to frost or extreme drought, as these conditions can cause significant damage.
What parts of this plant are used medicinally?
This plant Leea indica utilizes its leaves, roots, and stems for various medicinal applications in traditional healing practices. The leaves are frequently crushed to create a paste used for treating skin inflammations and wounds. Additionally, decoctions made from the leaves can help alleviate digestive issues or fever. The roots are often prepared to address more systemic ailments such as dysentery. Through these different parts, the plant serves as a versatile resource in herbal medicine.
According to a study published by "Drug discoveries & therapeuics", the leaves of Leea indica are used medicinally for their sedative and anxiolytic effects. The crude methanol extract of these leaves was evaluated at doses of 200 mg/kg, p.o. and 400 mg/kg, p.o. to study central nervous system depressant properties. At these doses, the extract displayed a dose dependent suppression of motor activity and a prolongation of thiopental induced sleeping time in mice, with the highest effect seen at 400 mg/kg, p.o. In the elevated plus-maze test, both doses of the extract significantly (p < 0.01) increased the time spent by mice in the open arms. These results provide in vivo evidence that the leaves of Leea indica have significant sedative and anxiolytic effects for the treatment of anxiety and related disorders.
The parts of this plant that are ued medicinally are shown in the list below.
- leaf
What traditional systems uses this plant?
This plant, Leea indica, has been utilized throughout history within Asian Traditional Medicine to treat various ailments including inflammation, skin diseases, and gastrointestinal issues. Practitioners in several South Asian regions have historically used decoctions of the leaves and roots to manage fever and wounds. In some traditional practices, the juice from the crushed leaves is applied topically to soothe skin irritations. The plant's medicinal value is often centered on its perceived antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. These historical applications demonstrate the long-standing reliance on the species for primary healthcare in tropical ecosystems.
According to a study published by "Journal of ethnopharmacology", Leea indica (Burm. f.) Merr. is one of the seven locally grown medicinal plant species used in Asian Traditional Medicine to treat cancer. This plant was evaluated through 37 fresh leaf extracts which included Soxhleth, ultrasonication and maceration extractions in 3 different solvents. The maceration methanolic extract of Leea indica was found to be most effective overall against a majority of the 12 human cancer cell lines. Specifically, it showed best IC50 values of 31.5 ± 11.4 µg/mL in cervical C33A, 37.5 ± 0.7 µg/mL in liver SNU-449, and 43.0 ± 6.2 µg/mL in ovarian PA-1 cancer cell lines. These results provide new scientific evidence for the traditional use of this indigenous plant species in cancer treatment.
The hystorical systems that uses this plant are shown in the list below.
- Asian Traditional Medicine
What are the pharmacological activities of Leea indica?
This plant has antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-proliferative, cytotoxic, and amoebicidal pharmacological activities. Its bioactive compounds enable it to inhibit the growth of various pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The antioxidant properties help neutralize free radicals to prevent oxidative stress within biological systems. Additionally, the plant exhibits cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects that can disrupt the uncontrolled division of certain cell lines. It also demonstrates potent amoebicidal action, making it effective against protozoan parasites.
According to a study published by "Heliyon", the genus Leea contains approximately 70 species. Within this genus, Leea indica is one of the species reported to contain phytochemicals such as flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, terpenoids, steroids, volatile oils, alkaloids, proteins, quinine derivatives, tannins, and saponins. The majority of Leea species possess medicinal properties including anticancer, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, antidiaabetic, hepatoprotective, cardiovascular, and CNS activity. These plants are used traditionally for various ailments including fever, diarrhea, dysentery, joint pain, rheumatism, diabetes, bone fracture, body ache, wound, and sexual disorders.
The primary pharmacological activities of this plant are shown in the list below.
- antimicrobial
- antioxidant
- cytotoxic
- anti-proliferative
- anti-cancer
What medicinal compounds this plant contains?
This plant contains the medicinal compounds gallic acid, methyl gallate, mollic acid arabinoside, mollic acid xyloside, and myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside. These specific phytochemicals contribute to the diverse pharmacological profile of Leea indica. The presence of phenolic acids and glycosides suggests potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers study these constituents to understand how the plant interacts with biological systems. Detailed chemical analysis helps identify how these molecules might be used in future therapeutic applications.
According to a study published by "Scientific reports", Leea indica contains the medicinal constituent gallic acid. The water and butanol fractions of the plant exhibited significant amoebicidal activity against trophozoites and cysts. Gallic acid at a concentration of 100 µg/mL revealed 83% inhibition of trophozoites and 69% inhibition of cysts. When gallic acid was loaded within PLGA nanoparticles, it achieved an 82.86% encapsulation efficiency and showed 98.24% in vitro release at 48 hours. This encapsulated gallic acid exhibited 90% inhibition against trophozoites.
The primary medicinal compounds of this plant are shown in the list below.
- Gallic acid
- methyl gallate
- mollic acid arabinoside
- mollic acid xyloside
- myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside
What health conditions is this plant used for?
This plant is used for the treatment of cancer, specifically targeting cervical cancer, chronic myeloid leukemia, ovarian cancer, and refractory ovarian cancer. Research into its phytochemical properties suggests it contains bioactive compounds that may inhibit the growth of malignant cells. Studies have focused on its potential to induce apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. These investigations highlight its therapeutic promise in managing difficult-to-treat reproductive and blood cancers. Such pharmacological activity makes it a subject of interest in oncological drug development.
According to a study published by "Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM", Leea indica is a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat cancer. Researchers isolated mollic acid arabinoside (MAA) from Leea indica for the first time through a bioassay-guided approach. This isolated substance was found to induce apoptosis in Ca Ski human cervical cancer cells. The study provides a scientific explanation for the traditional application of this herbal medicine in cancer treatment by demonstrating how MAA triggers mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis.
The main health conditions this plant is used for are shown in the list below.
- cancer
- cervical cancer
- chronic myeloid leukemia
- ovarian cancer
- refractory ovarian cancer
What are the herbal preparations of this plant?
This plant is used to create medicinal herbal preparations including crude ethanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction, and various leaf extracts. Researchers utilize these different forms to isolate specific bioactive compounds responsible for the plant's pharmacological effects. The crude ethanol extract provides a broad profile of soluble phytochemicals, while the ethyl acetate fraction offers a more concentrated selection of semi-polar constituents. Additionally, specific leaf extracts are processed to target various therapeutic applications such as anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial activities. These diverse preparations allow for a comprehensive study of the plant's potential medicinal properties.
According to a study published by "Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM", the anticancer potential of the Chinese medicinal plant Leea indica was investigated using a crude ethanol extract and fractions consisting of ethyl acetate, hexane, and water. These Leea indica extracts were evaluated for cytotoxicity against various cell lines including Ca Ski, MCF 7, MDA-MB-435, KB, HEP G2, WRL 68, and Vero via MTT assay. The Leea indica ethyl acetate fraction (LIEAF) demonstrated the greatest cytotoxic effect against Ca Ski human cervical epidermoid carcinoma cells. Treatment with LIEAF resulted in dose- and time-dependent accumulation of sub-G(1) cells, depletion of intracellular glutathione, and activation of caspase-3. These findings suggest that LIEAF inhibited the growth of cervical cancer cells by inducing apoptosis.
The main herbal preparations of this plant are shown in the list below.
- crude ethanol extract
- ethyl acetate fraction
- leaf extracts
What side effects this plant can have?
This plant can exert significant physiological impacts including anxiolytic effects, central nervous system depressant effects, and a prolongation of thiopental induced sleeping time. These pharmacological actions suggest that the chemical constituents of Leea indica interact directly with the brain's regulatory processes. By acting as a depressant, the plant may reduce overall neural activity and mitigate feelings of anxiety. Research specifically demonstrates that its administration increases the duration of sleep when following the use of the sedative thiopental. Such properties indicate a potent influence on the central nervous system that requires careful consideration regarding its medicinal use.
According to a study published by "Drug discoveries & therapeuics", the crude methanol extract of Leea indica leaves was evaluated for its central nervous system depressant effect. At doses of 200 mg/kg, p.o. and 400 mg/kg, p.o., the extract displayed a dose dependent suppression of motor activity and exploratory behavior. The highest CNS depressant effect was shown at a dose of 400 mg/kg, p.o. through the prolongation of thiopental induced sleeping time in mice. In the EPM test, both doses of the methanol extract significantly (p < 0.01) increased exploration to and time spent by the treated mice in EPM open arms. These results provide in vivo evidence that leaves of Leea indica have significant sedative and anxiolytic effects.
The main side effects this plant can have are shown in the list below.
- anxiolytic effects
- central nervous system depressant effect
- prolongation of thiopental induced sleeping time
What herbs are paired with Leea indica?
This plant Leea indica is most effectively paired with medicinal herbs like Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa, and Ocimum sanctum to enhance its therapeutic properties.
These combinations are often utilized in traditional Ayurvedic practices to create potent topical poultices or decoctions. Ginger and turmeric are frequently added to leverage their anti-inflammatory effects alongside the plant's natural astringent qualities. Holy basil is also incorporated to balance the formula, often aiming to treat skin ailments or digestive issues.
Using these specific pairings allows for a synergistic approach to holistic wellness treatments.