wild leadwort

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Blister Bush
• Bright Eyes
• Eyebright
• Toothwort
• Ceylon leadwort
• doctorbush
• plumbago
• wild plumbago
• White Flowered Leadwort
• Wild white plumbago
• wild leadwort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Plumbagidium scandens
• Molubda scandens
• Findlaya alba
• Plumbago scandens var. densiflora
• Thela alba
• Plumbago littoralis
• Plumbago zeylanica var. oxypetala
• Plumbago zeylanica var. glaucescens
• Plumbago viscosa
• Plumbago canescens
• Plumbago toxicaria
• Plumbago maximowiczii
• Plumbago mexicana
• Plumbago occidentalis
• Plumbago juncea
• Plumbago scandens
• Plumbago sarmentosa
• Plumbago flaccida
• Plumbago floridana
• Plumbago lactea
• Plumbago americana
• Plumbago scandens var. erecta

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Plumbago zeylanica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Caryophyllales. Finally, it is a member of the family Plumbaginaceae and the genus Plumbago.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans several distinct regions across the globe. In Southeastern Europe, its presence can be noted within the country of Italy. Moving toward the Atlantic, it is found in the Macaronesian region, specifically in Cape Verde. The species also extends into West Tropical Africa, where it inhabits the nations of Benin and Burkina. Finally, its distribution continues through West Tropical Africa to include the country of Gambia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Plumbago zeylanica is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse environmental settings, ranging from anthropogenic areas to specialized natural ecosystems such as Caatinga (strictu sensu), Campinarana, and Restinga. This species demonstrates a significant altitudinal plasticity, occupying a wide elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends to a maximum altitude of 2350 m AMSL. Despite this extensive vertical distribution, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 600 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to thrive in both lowland coastal habitats and higher montane environments.

Elevational range max:

2350 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campinarana, Restinga

Genetics

The genetics of Plumbago zeylanica are characterized by specific chromosomal configurations that define its cytological profile. The species exhibits varying chromosome numbers, with recorded values of 16 and 28, reflecting its complex genomic structure. Furthermore, the plant typically functions at a ploidy level of 2, indicating a diploid state in its standard genetic constitution.

Chromosome number :

16,28

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Plumbago zeylanica is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its growth habit and structural organization, it is classified as a phanerophyte, maintaining its photosynthetic organs above the ground level. Furthermore, the species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage throughout the year to support its continuous biological processes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Plumbago zeylanica is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub that functions as a self-supporting plant. It is a terrestrial species, existing independently without parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, ranging from 0 m to a maximum of 5 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.957 m. As a self-supporting woody structure, it does not exhibit climbing habits such as lianas or vines, maintaining a stable shrubby architecture within its terrestrial habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

0.9572055595 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Plumbago zeylanica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its environment. The vegetative structure features leaves that exhibit significant morphological variability in size, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 12.5 cm, and leaf widths spanning from 2 cm to 5 cm. In terms of water management and tissue structure, the plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining non-succulent foliage. Furthermore, its nitrogen metabolism is independent of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, as it is not a nitrogen fixer.

Leaf length max:

12.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Plumbago zeylanica is characterized by a specific phenological cycle and specialized biological mechanisms. The plant enters its flowering period starting in August and continues through October. During this stage, it produces white flowers arranged in inflorescences that vary in length from a minimum of 0.06 m to a maximum of 0.3 m. The pollination process follows a biotic syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate fertilization. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry fruits that typically range from 0.4 cm to 0.5 cm in length. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a maximum length of 4 mm and a consistent seed volume of 9.2 mm³. These seeds exhibit a mean mass of 0.008215 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00695 g to a maximum of 0.01163 g. Finally, the dispersal of the species is identified as anthropochorous, meaning it is influenced by human activity.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flowering time :

Aug

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.5 cm

Fruit length min:

0.4 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.3 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.06 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

4 mm

Seed mass max:

0.01163 g

Seed mass mean:

0.008215 g

Seed mass min:

0.00695 g

Seed volume max:

9.2 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Plumbago zeylanica has 3 reported plant parts identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf, stem.

Root

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Redox report : communications in free radical research
3. Carcinogenesis
4. 3 Biotech
5. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Leaf

1. 3 Biotech
2. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Stem

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Plumbago zeylanica has 39 reported phytochemicals identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Plumbagin, Flavonoids, 5-Hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, Phenols, Isoshinanolone.

Plumbagin

1. Journal of pharmacological sciences
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. The Journal of biological chemistry
4. Redox report : communications in free radical research
5. Journal of natural medicines

Flavonoids

1. Redox report : communications in free radical research
2. Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology
3. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
4. Biotechnology journal
5. Microbiological research

5-Hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone

1. The Journal of biological chemistry
2. Molecular cancer research : MCR
3. Analytica chimica acta

Phenols

1. Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology
2. Biotechnology journal
3. Microbiological research

Isoshinanolone

1. Fitoterapia
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

1,4-NAPHTHOQUINONE

1. Molecular oncology

4-hydroxybenzaldehyde

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

AFLATOXIN B1

1. Microbial ecology

ARSENIC

1. Analytica chimica acta

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Activities

Plumbago zeylanica has 15 reported activities identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic.

Anticancer

1. Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Food science & nutrition
4. Journal of plant research
5. Alternative therapies in health and medicine

Antioxidant

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Saudi journal of biological sciences
4. Redox report : communications in free radical research
5. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Hepatoprotective

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences
2. Redox report : communications in free radical research
3. Carcinogenesis
4. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets

Antimicrobial

1. Food science & nutrition
2. International journal of nanomedicine
3. Frontiers in microbiology

Antidiabetic

1. Food science & nutrition
2. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Cardiotonic

1. Redox report : communications in free radical research
2. Carcinogenesis

Neuroprotective

1. Redox report : communications in free radical research
2. Carcinogenesis

Antiatherosclerotic

1. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology

Anticarcinogenic

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

Antimalarial

1. Food science & nutrition

Conditions

Plumbago zeylanica has 64 reported investigations on conditions identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, inflammation, skin cancer, E. coli, PCa.

Cancer

1. Journal of pharmacological sciences
2. Mutagenesis
3. Molecular cancer research : MCR
4. Journal of neuro-oncology
5. Chemical biology & drug design

Inflammation

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Skin cancer

1. Carcinogenesis
2. Mutagenesis
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

E. coli

1. International journal of nanomedicine
2. Frontiers in microbiology

Pca

1. Cancer research
2. Molecular oncology

Anemia

1. Food science & nutrition
2. Acta parasitologica

Arthritis

1. Food science & nutrition
2. Arthritis research & therapy

Breast cancer

1. Bone research
2. BioMed research international

Cardiotonic

1. Redox report : communications in free radical research
2. Carcinogenesis

Glioma

1. Journal of pharmacological sciences
2. Journal of neuro-oncology

Preparations

Plumbago zeylanica has 32 reported preparations identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, Plumbagin, plumbagin, 50% ethanol extract of the root, 80% methanol extract of the root part.

Extracts

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
2. Parasitology research
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Plumbagin

1. The Journal of biological chemistry
2. Chemical biology & drug design

Plumbagin

1. Bone research
2. Alternative therapies in health and medicine

50% ethanol extract of the root

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

80% methanol extract of the root part

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

80% methanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

90% ethanol extraction

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Alcoholic crude extracts

1. Microbiological research

Aqueous extracts of leaves

1. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Aqueous root extract

1. International journal of nanomedicine