Melilotus indicus
Yellow sweet clover
Melilotus indicus, commonly known as Indian Sweet Clover, is a versatile medicinal herb widely utilized in traditional Ayurvedic practices. Renowned for its potent anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, this plant serves as a vital remedy for treating skin disorders, respiratory issues, and various internal ailments through its bioactive compounds.
- Scientific name: Melilotus indicus
- Family: Fabaceae
- 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 Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Melilotus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Melilotus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Melilotus indicus, is referred to by various regional names across different languages. In Estonia, it is called india mesiakas (et), while in Germany, it is known as Kleinblütiger Steinklee (de). It carries the name Hind xəşənbülü in Azerbaijan (az), and is identified as intianmesikkä in Finland (fi). Additionally, in Upper Sorbian, the plant is called Kwěćikaty komonc (hsb).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| et | india mesikas | Wikidata |
| de | Kleinblütiger Steinklee | Wikidata |
| az | Hind xəşənbülü | Wikidata |
| fi | intianmesikkä | Wikidata |
| hsb | Kwěćikaty komonc | Wikidata |
| sv | Dvärgsötväppling | Wikidata |
| ar | حندقوق هندي | Wikidata |
| zh | 印度草木樨 | Wikidata |
| ru | Донник индийский | Wikidata |
| ne | मेथी घाँस | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad presence across several key regions in the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the central part of the continent, the species is also found throughout Middle Europe. Specifically, it can be identified in countries such as Austria and Belgium. Furthermore, its geographical range extends into the Czechia-Slovakia region.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Corse | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Indian sweet clover (Melilotus indicus), possesses various components that contribute to its medicinal profile, most notably within its seeds and foliage. While the plant is often studied for its coumarin content, its biochemical complexity also includes the presence of polysaccharide compounds within its cellular structure. These complex carbohydrates play a vital role in the plant's physiological functions and contribute to the overall nutritional and therapeutic potential of its various parts when used in traditional medicinal practices.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| polysaccharide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Melilotus indicus has 9 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antioxidant, Antiperspirant, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiperspirant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Laxative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Narcotic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tonic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |