Lobelia inflata
Indian tobacco
Lobelia inflata, commonly known as Indian tobacco, is a perennial herb native to North America. Historically utilized by Native American tribes, this plant contains bioactive alkaloids used to treat respiratory ailments and digestive issues. While valued in traditional herbalism, its potent properties require careful dosage and professional guidance.
- Scientific name: Lobelia inflata
- Family: Campanulaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Campanulaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Lobelia, specifically as the species Lobelia inflata.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Campanulaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Lobelia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known in English as Indian Tobacco, is recognized by various names across different languages and regions. In French, it is called Tabac indien, while in German, it is referred to as Indianertabak. Its botanical identity is also reflected in several Central and Eastern European names, such as Lobelia rozdętá in Polish and lobelek nadmutá in Czech.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| fr | Tabac indien | Wikidata |
| en | Indian Tobacco | Wikidata |
| de | Indianertabak | Wikidata |
| pl | Lobelia rozdęta | Wikidata |
| cs | lobelka nadmutá | Wikidata |
| ca | tabac indi | Wikidata |
| az | Şişman firəngotu | Wikidata |
| sv | Läkelobelia | Wikidata |
| azb | شیشمان فیرهنگ اوْتو | Wikidata |
| ja | ロベリアソウ | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple continents. In North America, it can be found across Eastern Canada in provinces such as New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. Moving across the globe to Eastern Asia, the species is also documented in Japan. Additionally, its presence extends into Middle Europe, specifically within Germany. These varied locations highlight the wide range in which the species thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | New Brunswick | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Nova Scotia | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Ontario | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Prince Edward I. | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Québec | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Illinois | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Iowa | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Kansas | WCVP |
Chemicals
Lobelia inflata has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Lobeline, beta-amyrin palmitate, lobeline, lobetyolin.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Lobeline | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-amyrin palmitate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lobeline | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lobetyolin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Lobelia inflata has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antidepressant, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, multidrug resistance.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| antidepressant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colorectal cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lung cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| multidrug resistance | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |