Medicinal Herbs

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• stone breaker tea

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Nymphanthus niruri
• Diasperus niruri

Regional and Traditional Names

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 further categorized under the order Malpighiales and the family Phyllanthaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Phyllanthus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions in North America. In the United States, its presence is specifically noted within the state of Texas in the South-Central region. Moving into Mexico, it can be found throughout the diverse landscapes of Mexico Central. The species also extends into the coastal and inland areas of Mexico Gulf. Finally, its range reaches the varied terrains of Mexico Northwest, completing its regional footprint.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Phyllanthus niruri is characterized by remarkable adaptability across diverse and varied environments, ranging from coastal ecosystems to high-altitude terrains. It thrives in a wide array of habitats, including anthropogenic areas, Caatinga (strictu sensu), Campinarana, Campo de Várzea, Campo Limpo, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ombrófila (pluvial forest), and Restinga. This environmental plasticity is further reflected in its significant altitudinal distribution, which spans from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 3000 m AMSL. With an average elevational range of approximately 1880 m AMSL, the species demonstrates a robust capacity to occupy both lowland tropical regions and much higher montane zones.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1880 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campinarana, Campo de Várzea, Campo Limpo, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga

Life history

The life history of Phyllanthus niruri is characterized by an annual lifecycle, completing its entire biological process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant adopts a strategy of surviving unfavorable environmental conditions through highly resilient seeds rather than persistent vegetative structures, allowing it to rapidly colonize disturbed areas or seasonal habitats. This life form is further classified under the therophyte category, signifying that the individual plant dies at the end of the season, leaving behind seeds that remain dormant until the next period of favorable moisture and temperature.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Phyllanthus niruri is characterized by its classification as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It functions as a self-supporting plant, lacking the climbing mechanisms of a liana or vine, and grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat and does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies. In terms of stature, it is a relatively small species with a mean plant height of approximately 0.3 m, though it can reach a maximum height of about 0.457 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.457200914 m

Plant height mean:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Phyllanthus niruri is characterized by a non-succulent growth habit, as it lacks the specialized parenchyma tissues required for significant water storage within its stems or leaves, necessitating a consistent moisture environment to maintain turgor pressure. It does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with rhizobia or actinomycetes required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system. The plant's metabolic processes are centered around the synthesis of diverse secondary metabolites, such as lignans, flavonoids, and tannins, which are produced through complex biochemical pathways to serve as defense mechanisms. Its photosynthetic efficiency is driven by standard C3 pathways, utilizing chlorophyll to convert solar energy into chemical energy, while its transpiration rates are regulated by stomatal movement to balance gas exchange with water loss in its typical tropical or subtropical habitats.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Phyllanthus niruri is characterized by a broad and flexible flowering period that can span nearly the entire year, typically beginning in September and concluding in October, though the specific timing remains highly variable. Regarding its seed dispersal mechanisms, the plant utilizes an autochorous syndrome, meaning it relies on internal mechanisms for seed dispersal rather than external agents. This autochorous trait is consistently observed across its reproductive cycles, facilitating the spread of its progeny through self-dispersal methods.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Sep

Flowering time :

Oct

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Phyllanthus niruri has 1 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Natural product research
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Interdisciplinary toxicology

Chemicals

Phyllanthus niruri has 77 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gallic acid, Flavonoids, Hypophyllanthin, Phyllanthin, ellagic acid.

Gallic acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Natural product research
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
5. Journal of natural products

Flavonoids

1. PloS one
2. Current pharmaceutical design
3. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
4. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Hypophyllanthin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Natural product research
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Environmental monitoring and assessment

Phyllanthin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Tropical life sciences research
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Environmental monitoring and assessment

ellagic acid

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Natural product research
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Journal of pharmaceutical analysis

Brevifolin carboxylic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Natural product research

Lignans

1. Current pharmaceutical design
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
3. Planta medica

Tannins

1. Current pharmaceutical design
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
3. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of pharmaceutical analysis

Astragalin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Activities

Phyllanthus niruri has 265 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatoprotective, Antiviral, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant.

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Current pharmaceutical design
4. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology
5. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current pharmaceutical design
3. BioMed research international
4. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
5. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
3. Current pharmaceutical design
4. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Current pharmaceutical design
4. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Current pharmaceutical design

Immunostimulant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of toxicology
3. Iranian journal of veterinary research

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Antihepatotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Medicinal Uses

Phyllanthus niruri has 54 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include kidney stones, malaria, Helicobacter pylori, Plasmodium falciparum, chronic hepatitis B.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations