Ruellia tuberosa
Minnieroot
Ruellia tuberosa, commonly known as the tuberous rue, is a versatile medicinal plant native to tropical regions. Renowned for its bioactive compounds, it is frequently utilized in traditional medicine to treat inflammation, skin ailments, and digestive issues. This hardy herb offers significant pharmacological potential for modern therapeutic research.
- Scientific name: Ruellia tuberosa
- Family: Acanthaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Ruellia tuberosa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae in the order Lamiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Acanthaceae and falls under the genus Ruellia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Acanthaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Ruellia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Ruellia tuberosa, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In Thailand, it is known as ต้อยติ่ง, while in Chinese, it is called 块根芦莉草 (mainland) or 塊根蘆莉草 (Taiwan). In Bengali, it is commonly called পটপটি ফুল, and in Hebrew, it is identified as רואליה טובורוזה.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| th | ต้อยติ่ง | Wikidata |
| zh | 块根芦莉草 | Wikidata |
| bn | পটপটি ফুল | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 塊根蘆莉草 | Wikidata |
| he | רואליה טובורוזה | Wikidata |
| ml | ശിവകരന്ത | Wikidata |
| ja | ムラサキルエリア | Wikidata |
| ar | رولية برية | Wikidata |
| id | Kencana ungu liar | Wikidata |
| arz | روليه بريه | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical range that spans across multiple continents and distinct ecological zones. In Northeast Tropical Africa, its presence is documented within the territories of Sudan and South Sudan. Moving toward East Tropical Africa, the species can be found throughout Kenya and Tanzania. Its distribution extends into the Western Indian Ocean, specifically reaching the islands of the Seychelles. Finally, the plant reaches much further east, appearing in the South-Central regions of China.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Seychelles | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Ruellia tuberosa, possesses various components that contribute to its traditional medicinal uses, most notably through the application of its leaf extract. While the entire plant can sometimes be utilized in folk medicine, the concentrated liquid derived from the leaves is frequently studied for its bioactive properties. This leaf extract is often prepared to harness the plant's natural compounds, which are believed to offer various therapeutic benefits in herbal remedies.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Ruellia tuberosa has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include glutathione (GSH), saponins, steroids, terpenes.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| glutathione (GSH) | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| steroids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Ruellia tuberosa has 4 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antioxidant, Phytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Phytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Ruellia tuberosa has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, Aspergillus niger, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, neurodegenerative diseases.
- Total uses
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aspergillus niger | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Salmonella typhi | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| neurodegenerative diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| prostate cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |