Shiral

Microcos paniculata · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Sparse (47 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆

Shiral, scientifically known as Microcos paniculata, is a versatile medicinal herb valued in traditional wellness practices. Characterized by its unique botanical features, this plant offers significant therapeutic potential. It is widely recognized for its bioactive compounds, which contribute to its diverse applications in treating various ailments and supporting overall health.

Family
Malvaceae
Native range
Asia-Temperate
Parts used
Leaf · Stem
Common names
Microcos
Scientific synonyms
Grewia Muenterii · Grewia Nervosa · 7 more

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Microcos paniculata

Synonyms

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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 ordered as Malvales and placed in the family Malvaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Microcos, with its species name being paniculata.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Malvales
Family Malvaceae
Genus Microcos

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, its presence is noted in the South-Central areas, the island of Hainan, and the Southeast provinces. Moving into the Indian Subcontinent, the species is found growing in the state of Assam. Additionally, its range extends into the neighboring territory of Bangladesh. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's preference for specific subtropical and tropical habitats across the continent.

Region Area
China China South-Central
China Hainan
China China Southeast
Indian Subcontinent Assam
Indian Subcontinent Bangladesh
Indian Subcontinent East Himalaya
Indian Subcontinent India
Indian Subcontinent Pakistan
Indian Subcontinent Sri Lanka
Indo-China Andaman Is.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Microcos paniculata is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant exhibits a deciduous growth habit, shedding its foliage in response to seasonal environmental changes.

Deciduousness :
deciduous
Lifecycle :
perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Microcos paniculata is characterized by its significant stature, reaching an average plant height of 15 m. It functions as a self-supporting tree, exhibiting a woody structure and a growth form classified as a tree. This species is non-aquatic, maintaining a terrestrial existence, and is not an epiphyte. Furthermore, it grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite, and it does not possess climbing tendencies, remaining strictly self-supporting.

Aquatic :
terrestrial
Climber :
self-supporting
Epiphyte :
terrestrial
Growth form :
tree
Parasite :
independent
Plant height mean:
15 m
Woodiness :
woody

Physiology

The physiology of Microcos paniculata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under varying environmental conditions. In terms of structural biomass and mechanical integrity, the plant exhibits a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 652 mg/cm³, reflecting the density of its vascular and supporting tissues. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes.

Nitrogen fixer :
no
Photosynthetic pathway :
C3
Stem specific density (SSD) mean:
652 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Microcos paniculata is characterized by the production of specific fruit and seed structures designed for propagation. The plant produces fruits that maintain a consistent dimension, with a mean, minimum, and maximum length of 1 cm. Accompanying these fruits are seeds that exhibit a highly uniform mass, recorded at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 0.1276 g. Regarding its dispersal strategy, the species utilizes a zoochorous syndrome, meaning it relies on animals to facilitate the movement and spread of its seeds to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :
zoochorous
Fruit length max:
1 cm
Seed mass mean:
0.1276 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Microcos paniculata has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Plant parts reported in Microcos paniculata
Plant part Supporting sources Consensus
Leaf 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Stem 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Leaf

  1. Journal of natural products
  2. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Stem

  1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Microcos paniculata has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Compound 2, Glycosides, Isovitexin, Liriodenine.

Chemicals reported in Microcos paniculata
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
Flavonoids 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Compound 2 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Glycosides 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Isovitexin 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Liriodenine 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Microcosamine A 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Microgrewiapine A 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Microgrewiapine B 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Microgrewiapine C 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Narcissin 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Flavonoids

  1. Chinese journal of natural medicines
  2. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Compound 2

  1. Journal of natural products

Glycosides

  1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Isovitexin

  1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Liriodenine

  1. Journal of natural products

Microcosamine A

  1. Journal of natural products

Microgrewiapine A

  1. Journal of natural products

Microgrewiapine B

  1. Journal of natural products

Microgrewiapine C

  1. Journal of natural products

Narcissin

  1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Activities

Microcos paniculata has 7 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Analgesic, Antiangiogenic, Antioxidant, Antipyretic.

Activities reported in Microcos paniculata
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
Antimicrobial 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Analgesic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antiangiogenic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antioxidant 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antipyretic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cytotoxic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Hepatoprotective 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Antimicrobial

  1. Chinese journal of natural medicines
  2. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Analgesic

  1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Antiangiogenic

  1. Journal of natural products

Antioxidant

  1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Antipyretic

  1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Cytotoxic

  1. Journal of natural products

Hepatoprotective

  1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Conditions

Microcos paniculata has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Aspergillus fumigates, Salmonella typhi, angiogenesis, diarrhea, dyspepsia.

Conditions investigated for Microcos paniculata
Condition Supporting sources Consensus
Aspergillus fumigates 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Salmonella typhi 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Angiogenesis 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Diarrhea 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Dyspepsia 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Fever 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Heat stroke 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Insect bites 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Jaundice 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Aspergillus fumigates

  1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Salmonella typhi

  1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Angiogenesis

  1. Journal of natural products

Diarrhea

  1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Dyspepsia

  1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Fever

  1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Heat stroke

  1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Insect bites

  1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Jaundice

  1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Preparations

Microcos paniculata has 11 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethanolic extract, chloroform, chloroform-soluble extracts of the branches, chloroform-soluble extracts of the leaves, chloroform-soluble extracts of the stem bark.

Preparations reported for Microcos paniculata
Preparation Supporting sources Consensus
Ethanolic extract 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Chloroform 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Chloroform-soluble extracts of the branches 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Chloroform-soluble extracts of the leaves 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Chloroform-soluble extracts of the stem bark 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Ethanol 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Ethanolic leaf extract 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Folk medicine 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Herbal teas 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Petroleum ether 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Ethanolic extract

  1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Chloroform

  1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Chloroform-soluble extracts of the branches

  1. Journal of natural products

Chloroform-soluble extracts of the leaves

  1. Journal of natural products

Chloroform-soluble extracts of the stem bark

  1. Journal of natural products

Ethanol

  1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Ethanolic leaf extract

  1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Folk medicine

  1. Scientific data

Herbal teas

  1. Scientific data

Petroleum ether

  1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology