Shiral

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• microcos

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Grewia muenterii
• Grewia nervosa
• Microcos nervosa
• Microcos mala
• Grewia affinis
• Microcos glabra
• Grewia microcos var. rugosa
• Fallopia nervosa
• Arsis rugosa

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Medicinal Uses

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

Most Reported Uses

Preparations