Litsea pungens
Litsea pungens, commonly known as the pungent bay, is a versatile evergreen shrub native to tropical regions. Renowned for its aromatic foliage, this medicinal plant contains essential oils with potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is traditionally utilized in various cultures to support digestive health and soothe skin irritations.
- Scientific name: Litsea pungens
- Family: Lauraceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
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 organized under the order Laurales and the family Lauraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within 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 pungens, is recognized by several different common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Chinese, it is frequently referred to as 木姜子 (zh), 木姜子 (zh-cn), 木薑子 (zh-tw), and 木姜子 (zh-hans), as well as 香桂子 (zh).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 木姜子 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 木姜子 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 木薑子 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 木姜子 | Wikidata |
| zh | 香桂子 | Wikidata |
| zh | 黄花子 | Wikidata |
| zh | 陈茄子 | Wikidata |
| zh | 山胡椒 | Wikidata |
| zh | 猴香子 | Wikidata |
| zh | 兰香树 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical presence across several key regions in Asia. Within China, its habitat extends through the South-Central and North-Central territories. Furthermore, it is widely distributed throughout the Southeast regions of China. The species also maintains a notable presence in the high-altitude areas of Tibet. Beyond China, its range continues into the Indo-China region, specifically within Myanmar.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Litsea pungens, is primarily utilized for its medicinal properties derived from its leaves. These leaves are the most significant part of the plant used in traditional applications, often being harvested to extract essential oils or prepared as infusions. The chemical constituents found within the foliage are believed to provide the therapeutic benefits associated with the species.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Litsea pungens has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include limonene, terpenes.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| limonene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Litsea pungens 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 | ★☆☆☆☆ |