Litsea monopetala
Meda
Litsea monopetala, commonly known as the Indian Bay Leaf, is a versatile medicinal plant native to tropical regions. Renowned for its aromatic leaves, it possesses potent antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Widely used in traditional medicine, it helps improve digestion, supports respiratory health, and aids in managing metabolic disorders.
- Scientific name: Litsea monopetala
- Family: Lauraceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Laurales, it is a member of the Lauraceae family. Finally, its taxonomic classification is completed under the genus Litsea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Laurales | WCVP |
| Family | Lauraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Litsea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Litsea monopetala, is referred to by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Mandarin Chinese, it is known as 假柿木姜子 (zh) or 假柿木姜子 (zh-cn), while in Cantonese, it is called 假柿樹 (yue). In the Nepali language, it is identified as कुटमिरो (ne), and in Assamese, it is commonly called সোঁৱালু (as).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 假柿木薑子 | Wikidata |
| ne | कुटमिरो | Wikidata |
| yue | 假柿樹 | Wikidata |
| as | সোঁৱালু | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 假柿木姜子 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 假柿木薑子 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 假柿木姜子 | Wikidata |
| en | Meda | Wikidata |
| en | Persimmon-leaved Litsea | Wikidata |
| yue | 假柿木薑子 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across several distinct regions. In the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found growing in both Mauritius and Réunion. Its presence extends significantly into Asia, specifically within the diverse landscapes of China. Within this country, it is located in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan regions. These various locations highlight the widespread ecological adaptability of the species.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | 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 | Nepal | WCVP |
Activities
Litsea monopetala has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Litsea monopetala has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant activity.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| antioxidant activity | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |