Premna serratifolia
Herbal tree
Premna serratifolia, commonly known as the serrate-leaved premna, is a versatile medicinal shrub native to tropical regions. Renowned in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, its leaves and stems possess potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. It is widely utilized to treat skin ailments, digestive issues, and various inflammatory conditions naturally.
- Scientific name: Premna serratifolia
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and order Lamiales, it is further categorized into the family Lamiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Premna.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Premna | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Premna serratifolia, is known by various regional names across different languages and cultures. In Malayalam, it is referred to as മുഞ്ഞ (muñña), while in Vietnamese, it is commonly called Vọng cách. Its Chinese name is 臭娘子 (chòu niángzǐ), and in Tamil, it is known as Volovalo. Additionally, in Arabic, the plant is identified as شوجب منشاري الأوراق (shujab manshari al-awraq).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ml | മുഞ്ഞ | Wikidata |
| vi | Vọng cách | Wikidata |
| zh | 臭娘子 | Wikidata |
| to | Volovalo | Wikidata |
| ar | شوجب منشاري الأوراق | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 臭娘子 | Wikidata |
| ta | பிரெம்னா செர்ராட்டிஃபோலியா | Wikidata |
| ja | タイワンウオクサギ | Wikidata |
| pam | Tangle | Wikidata |
| bn | গনিয়ারি | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several distinct regions of the African continent and its surrounding waters. In East Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in both Kenya and Tanzania. Its presence extends further south into the region of South Tropical Africa, specifically within Mozambique. Additionally, the species is distributed throughout the Western Indian Ocean. This oceanic range includes the Aldabra islands as well as the remote Chagos Archipelago.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Aldabra | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Chagos Archipelago | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mozambique Channel Is. | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Madagascar | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Premna serratifolia, possesses various components that are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The medicinal efficacy is often derived from the root and the root bark, which are frequently processed for decoctions. Furthermore, the leaves are the most commonly utilized part of the specimen; whether one utilizes a single leaf for topical application or a collection of Leaves for infusion, they provide significant bioactive compounds.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| root bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Premna serratifolia has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 10-O-trans-p-Coumaroylcatalpol, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid, acacetin, daidzein, diosmin.
- Total chemicals
- 16
- Scientific sources
- 16
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 10-O-trans-p-Coumaroylcatalpol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acacetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| daidzein | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diosmin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| linarin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oleanolic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| peonidin-3,5-O-di-beta-glucopyranoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phytol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponarin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Premna serratifolia has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotoxic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Premna serratifolia has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Diabetes mellitus, Leishmania donovani, fever, inflammation.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leishmania donovani | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |