Osbeckia octandra
Osbeckia octandra, commonly known as the "blue star" or "eight-stamened osbeckia," is a significant medicinal shrub native to tropical regions. Renowned for its vibrant blooms, this plant is traditionally utilized in herbal medicine to treat various ailments, offering valuable therapeutic properties that continue to interest modern ethnobotanical research.
- Scientific name: Osbeckia octandra
- Family: Melastomataceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Osbeckia octandra, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Myrtales and the family Melastomataceae. Finally, it is categorized 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, Osbeckia octandra, is known by various common names depending on the region and language. In English, it is referred to as the eight-stamened osbeckia, while in Indonesian, it is commonly called bunga osbeckia. In Malay, the plant is also known as osbeckia, and in the local context of certain regions, it may be referred to as bunga delima.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific and limited geographical distribution across two distinct regions. Within the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found growing in Mauritius. Additionally, its range extends to the Indian Subcontinent. Specifically, it is native to the island nation of Sri Lanka. These two locations represent the primary habitats where the species is documented to occur.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Osbeckia octandra, is a medicinal shrub where various components are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The whole plant is frequently employed in traditional medicine, often prepared as a decoction or paste to treat various ailments. The leaves are particularly significant, as they are commonly harvested and used in herbal formulations to address specific health conditions, contributing to the overall medicinal efficacy of the species.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| whole plant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Osbeckia octandra has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include casuarinin, lupeol.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| casuarinin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lupeol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Osbeckia octandra has 3 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Neuroprotective.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Osbeckia octandra has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, dyslipidemias, hepatic steatosis, jaundice.
- Total uses
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Oxidative stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dyslipidemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dyslipidemias | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hepatic steatosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| jaundice | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| neuroinflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| steatohepatitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |