Osbeckia nepalensis
Osbeckia nepalensis, commonly known as a medicinal shrub in Himalayan regions, is a versatile plant valued in traditional medicine. Characterized by its vibrant flowers and distinctive foliage, it is frequently utilized to treat various ailments, including inflammatory conditions and skin issues, showcasing its significant ethnobotanical importance in herbal healing.
- Scientific name: Osbeckia nepalensis
- Family: Melastomataceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known scientifically as Osbeckia nepalensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Myrtales. Finally, it is a member of the Melastomataceae family and falls under the genus Osbeckia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Myrtales | WCVP |
| Family | Melastomataceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Osbeckia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Osbeckia nepalensis, is referred to by various common names depending on the linguistic context. In Chinese, it is frequently called 蚂蚁花, 扳楷, or 窄腰泡, with the specific traditional character forms for 蚂蚁花 being 蚂蚁花 in Simplified Chinese (zh-cn) and 螞蟻花 in Traditional Chinese (zh-tw).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 蚂蚁花 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 蚂蚁花 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 螞蟻花 | Wikidata |
| zh | 扳楷 | Wikidata |
| zh | 窄腰泡 | Wikidata |
| zh | 大叶金锦香 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, it can be found inhabiting the South-Central and Southeast territories. Furthermore, its presence extends into the high-altitude regions of Tibet. Within the Indian Subcontinent, the species is documented to grow in Assam. Finally, its range reaches into the neighboring country of Bangladesh.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Thailand | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Osbeckia nepalenesis, is valued in traditional medicine for its various therapeutic properties, with significant pharmacological attention often focused on its botanical components. While the entire plant may hold medicinal potential, the leaf extract is a particularly important part used in various preparations to harness its bioactive compounds. This extract is frequently utilized for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory qualities, serving as a concentrated source of the phytochemicals necessary for treating different ailments in traditional healing practices.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Osbeckia nepalensis has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include triterpenes.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| triterpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Osbeckia nepalensis has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include bacterial infections.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| bacterial infections | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |