Melochia umbellata
Melochia umbellaata, commonly known as Umbrella Melochia, is a versatile tropical shrub valued in traditional medicine. Native to various warm regions, it is celebrated for its medicinal properties, particularly in treating inflammation and skin ailments. This resilient plant offers significant ethnobotanical potential for modern pharmacological research and wellness.
- Scientific name: Melochia umbellata
- Family: Malvaceae
- Native range: Asia-Tropical
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following its taxonomic descent through the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malvales, it is a member of the family Malvaceae. It is specifically identified under the genus Melochia as Melochia umbellata.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Malvaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Melochia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Melochia umbellata, is known by various regional names across different languages and cultures. In Thailand, it is referred to as เท้ายายม่อมหลวง, while in Suva, it is called Bintinu. It is also commonly identified as Senu in both Javanese (jv) and Indonesian (id), and it is known as Bây-labâyan in Madurese (mad).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| th | เท้ายายม่อมหลวง | Wikidata |
| su | Bintinu | Wikidata |
| jv | Senu | Wikidata |
| id | Senu | Wikidata |
| mad | Bây-labâyan | Wikidata |
| de | Melochia arborea | Wikidata |
| de | Melochia indica | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions of South and Southeast Asia. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka. Its range also extends into the Indo-China region, where it is documented in Cambodia. Additionally, the species is known to inhabit parts of Laos. These locations highlight the plant's preference for the tropical environments found across these specific territories.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Nicobar Is. | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Thailand | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
| Malesia | Borneo | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Melochia umbellata, possesses various components that are utilized for their therapeutic potential, particularly the leaf and the leaf extract. The leaf serves as the primary structural part of the plant used in traditional applications, often being harvested for decoctions or topical preparations. When processed into a leaf extract, the bioactive compounds within the foliage become more concentrated, allowing for more potent medicinal uses in treating various ailments.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Melochia umbellata has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, phenols, pyrimidones, saponins, terpenoids.
- Total chemicals
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pyrimidones | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Melochia umbellata has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiplasmodial, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiplasmodial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Melochia umbellata has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Plasmodium falciparum, malaria, parasitemia.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Plasmodium falciparum | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| parasitemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |