Urena lobata
Urena lobata, commonly known as cauliflower weed, is a versatile medicinal shrub native to tropical regions. Renowned for its diverse pharmacological properties, it is traditionally used to treat inflammation, skin ailments, and digestive issues. This plant holds significant potential in ethnobotany for developing new therapeutic agents in modern medicine.
- Scientific name: Urena lobata
- Family: Malvaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae in the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Urena.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Malvaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Urena | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution that spans across several regions in Africa and the Atlantic islands. Within the Macaronesia archipelago, its presence is documented in Cape Verde. Moving to the mainland, it is widely distributed across various countries in West Tropical Africa. Specifically, its range includes the nations of Benin, Burkina, and Gambia. Furthermore, the species can also be found growing within the borders of Ghana.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
Chemicals
Urena lobata has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (-)-trachelogenin, clematoside-S.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| (-)-trachelogenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| clematoside-S | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Urena lobata has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include bone diseases, yeast.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| bone diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| yeast | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |