Shiranji-tea
Woodfordia fruticosa · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Moderate (122 studies) · ★★★☆☆
Shiranji-tea, scientifically known as Woodfordia fruticosa, is a versatile medicinal shrub native to the Indian subcontinent. Widely utilized in Ayurvedic medicine, it possesses potent anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Renowned for treating digestive issues and respiratory ailments, this resilient plant serves as a vital natural remedy in traditional healing.
Names
Common Names
- Shiranji-tea
- fire-flame-bush
- woodfordia
- Fire-flame bush
Regional and Traditional Names
German:
- Flammenbusch
French:
- Woodfordia fructicosa
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Woodfordia fruticosaSynonyms
- Woodfordia fruticosa var. punctata
- Acistoma coccineum
- Grislea punctata
- Lythrum fruticosum
- Lythrum hunteri
- Lythrum punctatum
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known scientifically as Woodfordia fruticosa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Myrruleales and the family Lythraceae. Finally, it is placed within the genus Woodfordia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Myrtales | WCVP |
| Family | Lythraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Woodfordia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In East Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Tanzania. Its presence extends into the Western Indian Ocean, specifically within the Comoros and Madagascar. The species is also located within the Arabian Peninsula, notably in Saudi Arabia. Finally, its range reaches East Asia, specifically in South-Central China.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Madagascar | WCVP |
| Arabian Peninsula | Saudi Arabia | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Rudraksha, offers various therapeutic benefits through its different structures. The vibrant flowers are often used in traditional remedies, with the individual flower providing specific medicinal properties when processed. The broad, green leaves are also utilized in various herbal preparations, while the dried flowers serve as a stable form for long-term storage and herbal infusions.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| flower | Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| leaf | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Woodfordia fruticosa has 26 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid, Flavonoids, Gallic acid, Oenothein B, Tannins.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Flavonoid | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gallic acid | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Oenothein B | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tannins | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Woodfordin C | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BaP | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Betulin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HYGROMYCIN | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Heterophylliin A | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Flavonoid
- Pharmaceutical biology
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
Flavonoids
- Ayu
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Gallic acid
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
- Pharmaceutical biology
Oenothein B
- Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
- Applied microbiology and biotechnology
Tannins
- Ayu
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Woodfordin C
- Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
- Applied microbiology and biotechnology
BaP
- Plant cell reports
Betulin
- Dr. Duke
HYGROMYCIN
- Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology
Heterophylliin A
- In silico pharmacology
Activities
Woodfordia fruticosa has 33 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Analgesic, Anthelmintic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | Health science reports (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AntiHIV | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Woodfordia fruticosa has 31 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include analgesic, Alzheimer's disease, Candida albicans, HEP-G2 cells, Hyperglycemia.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| analgesic | Health science reports (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's disease | Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HEP-G2 cells | Journal of complementary & integrative medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hyperglycemia | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Salmonella typhimurium | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anthelmintic | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antidiarrheal | Health science reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Arishtas | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Crude alkaloids | BMC complementary and alternative medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Heterophylliin A | In silico pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried flowers | Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanolic extracts | Journal of complementary & integrative medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanol extract of W. fruticosa leaves (MEWF) | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |