Pluchea indica
Pluchea indica, commonly known as Indian Camphorweed, is a versatile medicinal shrub native to tropical regions. Renowned for its aromatic properties, this plant is extensively used in traditional medicine to treat skin ailments, digestive issues, and inflammation. Its potent bioactive compounds offer significant therapeutic potential in modern pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Pluchea indica
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known scientifically as Pluchea indica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is further classified under the order Asterales. It is a member of the Asteraceae family, falling under the genus Pluchea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Pluchea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Pluchea indica, is recognized by various common names depending on the region and language. In Indonesia, it is widely referred to as Beluntas in Indonesian (id), while in Javanese (jv) it is called Luntas and in Sundanese (su) it is known as Baluntas. In Vietnam (vi), the plant is commonly called Cúc tần, and in Thailand (th), it is known as ขลู่.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| id | Beluntas | Wikidata |
| jv | Luntas | Wikidata |
| su | Baluntas | Wikidata |
| vi | Cúc tần | Wikidata |
| th | ขลู่ | Wikidata |
| ms | Beluntas | Wikidata |
| zh | 阔苞菊 | Wikidata |
| ja | ヒイラギギク | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 鯽魚膽 | Wikidata |
| mnw | ခရူ၊ တၞံ | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning across several distinct regions of Asia. In the Middle East, its presence can be noted within the Arabian Peninsula, specifically in Yemen. Its range extends through Eastern Asia, where it is found in the Kazan-retto and Nansei-shoto areas. Within China, the species is distributed across the southeastern regions as well as the island of Hainan. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to inhabit various coastal and subtropical environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Arabian Peninsula | Yemen | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Kazan-retto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Nansei-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Andaman Is. | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Pluchea indica, is highly valued in traditional medicine, and various components are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The most commonly used part is the leaves, which are often processed to create a potent leaf extract used in topical or oral applications. Each individual leaf contains essential phytochemicals that contribute to its medicinal efficacy. Additionally, the flower clusters are frequently employed in herbal preparations, while the root system is also harvested for its specific healing attributes, making the entire organism a versatile resource in botanical medicine.- Total parts
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 10
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flower | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Pluchea indica has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, thiophenes, 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester, 3,5-Di-O-caffeoylquinic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 20
- Scientific sources
- 22
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| thiophenes | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3,5-Di-O-caffeoylquinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| NO | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| PGE2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthocyanins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-sitosterol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Pluchea indica has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiinflammatory, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antiinflammatory | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Pluchea indica has 19 reported medicinal uses identified across 24 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include dysentery, fever, hemorrhoids, inflammation, lumbago.
- Total uses
- 19
- Scientific sources
- 24
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| dysentery | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hemorrhoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lumbago | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus subtilis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| abdominal pain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aging | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |