Mikania micrantha
Mikania micrantha, commonly known as the "climbing hemp" or "creeping herb," is a versatile medicinal plant widely used in traditional practices. Renowned for its potent bioactive compounds, it is frequently utilized to treat various ailments, including skin infections, inflammation, and digestive issues, offering significant therapeutic potential in herbal medicine.
- Scientific name: Mikania micrantha
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae within the genus Mikania.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Mikania | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Mikania micrantha, is known by various common names depending on the region and language. In Simplified Chinese, it is referred to as 小花蔓泽兰 (zh-hans) or 微甘菊 (zh-cn), while in Traditional Chinese, it is called 小花蔓澤蘭 (zh-hant). In specific regional contexts such as Hong Kong (zh-hk) and Singapore (zh-sg), it is commonly known as 薇甘菊.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 小花蔓泽兰 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 小花蔓澤蘭 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 薇甘菊 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 微甘菊 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 薇甘菊 | Wikidata |
| ht | Bwa zamann | Wikidata |
| ml | ധൃതരാഷ്ട്രപ്പച്ച | Wikidata |
| zh | 小花蔓澤蘭 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 小花蔓澤蘭 | Wikidata |
| th | ขี้ไก่ย่าน | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple regions of the world. In the Western Indian Ocean, its presence is noted across the Chagos Archipelago, Mauritius, and Réunion. Moving toward East Asia, it can be found within the Nansei-shoto islands. Its range further extends into the southeastern parts of China. Collectively, these locations highlight the wide environmental adaptability of the species.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Chagos Archipelago | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Nansei-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Laccadive Is. | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Mikania micrantha, utilizes its leaves as a primary component in various traditional medicinal applications. These leaves are typically characterized by their ovate shape and serrated margins, serving as the main site for the concentration of bioactive compounds. When processed, the leaves are often used in decoctions or topical applications to exploit their natural properties for treating skin ailments and inflammatory conditions.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Mikania micrantha has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Deoxymikanolide, dihydromikanolide, glycosides, mikanolide, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside.
- Total chemicals
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Deoxymikanolide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dihydromikanolide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glycosides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| mikanolide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin-3-O-rutinoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rutin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Mikania micrantha has 9 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Anthelmintic, Antiaging, Antibacterial.
- Total activities
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 12
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiaging | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anxiolytic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Spasmolytic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Thrombolytic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Mikania micrantha has 17 reported medicinal uses identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Aeromonas hydrophila, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Ralstonia solanacearum.
- Total uses
- 17
- Scientific sources
- 17
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Aeromonas hydrophila | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| E. coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas fluorescens | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ralstonia solanacearum | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Streptococcus iniae | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| burns | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chicken pox | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |