Leucas zeylanica
Leucas zeylanica, commonly known as Ceylon Leucas, is a significant medicinal herb valued in traditional Ayurvedic practices. Characterized by its distinct foliage, this plant possesses potent bioactive compounds. It is widely utilized for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties, offering natural therapeutic benefits for various skin and digestive ailments.
- Scientific name: Leucas zeylanica
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further organized under the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Leucas.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Leucas | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Leucas zeylanica, is referred to by various names depending on the linguistic region. In Simplified Chinese, it is commonly known as 绉面草 (zh-hans, zh, zh-cn), while in Traditional Chinese contexts, it is identified as 縐面草 (zh-hant, zh-hk).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 绉面草 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 縐面草 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 縐面草 | Wikidata |
| zh | 绉面草 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 绉面草 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 縐面草 | Wikidata |
| zh | 半夜花 | Wikidata |
| zh | 蜂巢草 | Wikidata |
| zh | 蜂窝草 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in both Assam and Bangladesh. Its presence extends to East Asia, where it is located in China Southeast and on the island of Hainan. Additionally, the species reaches across the ocean to the Western Indian Ocean. Specifically, it is documented to inhabit the island nation of Mauritius.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Maldives | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Leucas zeylanica, is a medicinal herb where the primary therapeutic value is often derived from its aerial parts. These above-ground components, which include the green stems, leaves, and small white flowers, are extensively utilized in traditional medicine to prepare various formulations. Because the active phytochemicals are concentrated within these aerial parts, they are frequently collected, dried, and processed to treat various ailments, making them the most significant portion of the plant for pharmacological applications.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Leucas zeylanica has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include fatty acids, phytosterols, sesquiterpenes.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fatty acids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phytosterols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sesquiterpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Leucas zeylanica has 4 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Leucas zeylanica has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, gout, inflammation, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
- Total uses
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus saprophyticus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gout | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| skin diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |