Lippia rugosa

Lippia rugosa, commonly known as yerba buena, is a fragrant perennial shrub native to South America. Renowned for its aromatic, mint-like leaves, this medicinal plant is widely utilized in traditional herbalism. It serves as a potent remedy for digestive ailments, respiratory issues, and inflammation, offering diverse therapeutic benefits.

  • Scientific name: Lippia rugosa
  • Family: Verbenaceae
  • Native range: Africa

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Lippia rugosa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Lamiales and the family Verbenaceae. Ultimately, it is categorized under the genus Lippia.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Lamiales WCVP
Family Verbenaceae WCVP
Genus Lippia WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Lippia rugosa, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In Spanish, it is most frequently called hierba de la mujer, and it is also known as yerba de la mujer or paja de la mujer. In Portuguese, the plant is commonly referred to as erva de mulher.
Language Common Name Source

Distribution

This plant is primarily found across the diverse landscapes of West Tropical Africa. Specifically, its presence is documented within the borders of Benin. It also grows throughout the coastal and inland regions of Gambia. Furthermore, the species can be located in the territories of Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. Finally, its geographical range extends into the country of Mali.

Region Area Source
West Tropical Africa Benin WCVP
West Tropical Africa Gambia WCVP
West Tropical Africa Guinea-Bissau WCVP
West Tropical Africa Guinea WCVP
West Tropical Africa Mali WCVP
West Tropical Africa Nigeria WCVP
West Tropical Africa Senegal WCVP
West Tropical Africa Sierra Leone WCVP
West Tropical Africa Togo WCVP
West-Central Tropical Africa Central African Republic WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, known scientifically as Lippia rugosa, is primarily utilized for its medicinal properties through the use of its leaf. The leaves are the most significant part of the plant for therapeutic purposes, often being harvested and dried to prepare infusions or decoctions. These leaves contain various bioactive compounds that contribute to the plant's traditional uses in treating various ailments.
Total parts
1
Scientific sources
1
Plant Part Sources Confidence
leaf 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Lippia rugosa has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 5-hydroxy-3,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone, lupeol acetate, saccharose.

Total chemicals
3
Scientific sources
3

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
5-hydroxy-3,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone 1 ★☆☆☆☆
lupeol acetate 1 ★☆☆☆☆
saccharose 1 ★☆☆☆☆