Sphaeranthus africanus
Sphaeranthus africanus · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (48 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Sphaeranthus africanus, scientifically known as Sphaeranthus africanus, is a versatile medicinal herb widely utilized in traditional African and Ayurvedic medicine. Renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, this plant is frequently employed to treat skin ailments, inflammatory conditions, and various infections, offering significant pharmacological potential for modern holistic healing.
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Flower · Leaf
- Common names
- Not available
- Scientific synonyms
- Sphaeranthus Indicus · Sphaeranthus Laevigatus · 10 more
Names
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Sphaeranthus africanusSynonyms
- Sphaeranthus indicus
- Sphaeranthus laevigatus
- Sphaeranthus microcephalus
- Sphaeranthus microcephalus
- Sphaeranthus ovalis
- Sphaeranthus paniculatus
- Sphaeranthus sphenocleoides
- Sphaeranthus suberiflorus
- Sphaeranthus cochinchinensis
- Sphaeranthus glaber
- Sphaeranthus globosus
- Sphaeranthus hildebrandtii
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. It falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, eventually being placed in the family Asteraceae. Specifically, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Sphaeranthus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Sphaeranthus | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In East Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in both Kenya and Tanzania. It can also be found within South Tropical Africa, specifically in Mozambique. Furthermore, the species inhabits the Western Indian Ocean, with populations located in Madagascar. Finally, its range extends to China, where it is found in the South-Central region.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Madagascar | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Sphaeranthus africanus, is highly valued in traditional medicine, where various components are utilized for their therapeutic properties. Often, the whole plant is harvested to prepare decoctions, though many practitioners specifically focus on the whole aerial plant to capture all the bioactive compounds above the ground. The medicinal efficacy is frequently concentrated in the leaves, which are used in topical applications or infusions. Additionally, the distinct flower heads, often referred to as flowers in plural contexts due to their clustered nature, are integral parts of the plant's botanical profile and are sometimes included in traditional preparations to enhance its healing potential.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| flower | Food & nutrition research (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaf | Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Sphaeranthus africanus has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Steroids, Terpenoids, Asperglaucide, Astragalin.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Flavonoids | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Steroids | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Terpenoids | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Asperglaucide | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Astragalin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cardiac Glycosides | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chrysoplenol D | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Isoquercetin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Phenols | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ROS | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Flavonoids
- Annales pharmaceutiques francaises
- Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research
Steroids
- Annales pharmaceutiques francaises
- Ancient science of life
Terpenoids
- Annales pharmaceutiques francaises
- Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research
Asperglaucide
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
Astragalin
- Journal of molecular modeling
Cardiac Glycosides
- Ancient science of life
Chrysoplenol D
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
Isoquercetin
- Journal of molecular modeling
Phenols
- Ancient science of life
ROS
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
Activities
Sphaeranthus africanus has 12 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatoprotective, Antibacterial, Anticonvulsant, Antihyperglycemic, Antimicrobial.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatoprotective | Annales pharmaceutiques francaises (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticonvulsant | International journal of Ayurveda research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihyperglycemic | International journal of Ayurveda research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimitotic | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | International journal of Ayurveda research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anxiolytic | International journal of Ayurveda research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypolipidemic | International journal of Ayurveda research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Sphaeranthus africanus has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include pain, sore throat.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| pain | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sore throat | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Methanolic extracts | Parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| crude extracts | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanol | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanolic extracts | Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethyl acetate | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flower head extracts | Food & nutrition research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hexane | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hydroalcoholic extract | International journal of Ayurveda research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |