Orthosiphon aristatus
Cat's whiskers
Orthosiiphon aristatus, commonly known as Cat's Claw, is a powerful medicinal vine native to the Amazon rainforest. Renowned for its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, this botanical powerhouse is widely utilized in traditional medicine to support immune function, combat infections, and alleviate joint pain and digestive issues naturally.
- Scientific name: Orthosiphon aristatus
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
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 organized under the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is specifically identified by its genus, Orthosiphon.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Orthosiphon | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Orthosiphon aristatus, is known by several distinct common names depending on the language and region. In Indonesia, it is widely referred to as Kumis kucing (id) and also as Brengos kucing (jv) in Javanese. The Sundanese language calls it Kumis ucing (su), while in Vietnamese, it is known as Cỏ râu mèo (vi). Additionally, in Malayalam, the plant is identified as പൂച്ചമീശ (ml).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| id | Kumis kucing | Wikidata |
| jv | Brengos kucing | Wikidata |
| ml | പൂച്ചമീശ | Wikidata |
| vi | Cỏ râu mèo | Wikidata |
| su | Kumis ucing | Wikidata |
| th | หญ้าหนวดแมว | Wikidata |
| to | Kavaʻipusi | Wikidata |
| zh | 猫须草 | Wikidata |
| fa | ارتسیفن اریستاتوس | Wikidata |
| ja | ネコノヒゲ | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found growing in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its presence also extends to the island of Taiwan in Eastern Asia. Additionally, the species is documented within the Indian Subcontinent, specifically in the Assam region. Together, these locations highlight the diverse habitats where the plant thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Cat's Whiskers, utilizes various components for its therapeutic properties. The lush, green leaves are the primary source of its medicinal value, often being harvested and dried to be used as tea leaves for infusion. Beyond the visible foliage, the complex biological tissues within the plant contain the essential phytochemicals necessary for healing. While the slender stems provide the structural support for the plant's growth, the most potent concentrated forms are often derived from a specialized leaf extract, which is used in various traditional and modern remedies.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 8
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| tissues | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tea leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Orthosiphon aristatus has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include rosmarinic acid, flavonoids, apigenin, flavonols, isoverbascoside.
- Total chemicals
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 13
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| rosmarinic acid | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| apigenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoverbascoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methylripariochromene A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| verbascoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Orthosiphon aristatus has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Diuretic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Orthosiphon aristatus has 21 reported medicinal uses identified across 24 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include hypertension, NAFLD, Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, Liver cancer.
- Total uses
- 21
- Scientific sources
- 24
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| hypertension | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| NAFLD | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Enterococcus faecalis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Liver cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Prostate cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Streptococcus mutans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |