Flueggea leucopyrus
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (April 2024) |
| Flueggea leucopyrus | |
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| From Kerala, India. | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Phyllanthaceae |
| Genus: | Flueggea |
| Species: | F. leucopyrus
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| Binomial name | |
| Flueggea leucopyrus | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Flueggea leucopyrus is a species of shrub or tree. It primarily grows in wet tropical biomes.[3] Its common names include Indian snowberry,[4][2] white honey shrub, bushweed or cool pot.[2]
Description[edit]
Flueggea leucopyrus is an erect, much-branched shrub up to 5 meters tall with angular branchlets ending in sharp spines. Its leaves are alternate, obovate to elliptic, and measure up to 2.5 x 1.5 cm. Male flowers are greenish-yellow and clustered in axillary fascicles, while female flowers are solitary. The perianth lobes are 5, with 5 free stamens and a disc of 5 glands alternating with the stamens. Fruits are globose, about 5 mm across, 3-celled, and white when ripe. Seeds are trigonous, smooth, and pale brown.[5]
Taxonomy[edit]
In Telugu, it is known as Pulugudu (పులుగుడు)[2] or Tella Pulugudu (తెల్ల పులుగుడు). In Kannada, it is called Bili sooli gida (ಬಿಳಿ ಸೂಳಿ ಗಿಡ) or just Sooli (ಸೂಳಿ).[5] In Tamil, It's names include Varat-pula (வறட்பூலா), Vellai-p-pulanci (ள்ளைப்பூலாஞ்சி), Vellaipoola (வெள்ளை பூலை), Madhuppullaanthi (மதுபிபுல்லாந்தி)[2] or Pulanji (புலஞ்சி).[5] In Malaylam, the names of it include Amboorippachila (അമ്പൂരിപ്പച്ചില), Mulpulanji (മുൾപ്പുല്ലാഞ്ഞി), Perimklavu (പെരിംക്ലാവ്), Vellamullaram (വെള്ളമുള്ളാരം) or Cerimklaav (ചെരിംക്ലാവ്). In Konkani, it is called Parpo. In Sanskrit, it is called Panduphali (पान्डुफली), Bhuriphali (भूरिफली) or Shwetakambuja (श्वेतकम्बुज). In Marathi, it is called Pandharphali (पांढरफळी).[2] In Sinhala it is called Katupila (කටුපිල).[6]
Range[edit]
It's native range is Ethiopia to Somalia, Socotra, Saudi Arabia (Sajid Island), Pakistan to China (Sichuan, Yunnan), Sri Lanka. Hence, it is native to Bangladesh, China South-Central, Ethiopia, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Socotra, Somalia and Sri Lanka.[3]
Habitat and ecology[edit]
The flowering period of Flueggea leucopyrus is February to May. While the fruiting period is April to November. It is commonly found on foothills to scrub jungles from the coast to 900m or dry deciduous forests.[2]
Human use and medicinal properties[edit]
Juice or paste of the leaves of Flueggea leucopyrus is utilized in conjunction with tobacco to eradicate worms in the sores.[5] It has been used in Ayurveda and folk medicine,[2]especially in Sri Lankan folk medicine where it used in the management of acute and chronic types of wounds.[citation needed] It's fruits are edible and the flowers of it attract honeybees.[2] F.leucopyrus has been found to be antifungal against Aspergillus.[citation needed] S.leucopyrus shows potential anti-inflammatory effects against protein denaturation and proteinase inhibitors, possibly due to flavonoids and polyphenols. Further research is needed to identify active components and their mechanisms of action.[7]
Extracts from F. leucopyrus possess antioxidant properties, with the most significant effects observed in chloroform and alcoholic extracts. These extracts showed a dose-dependent increase in antioxidant activity, with percentages of 82.5% and 88.4% respectively. Flavanoids, alkaloids, tannins, and steroids present in the extracts are believed to be responsible for this scavenging activity. The order of effectiveness of the extracts was alcohol > chloroform > ethyl acetate > hydroalcohol > hexane. This antioxidant activity was attributed to the reduction of the stable radical DPPH by the chemical constituents of the plant, which act as hydrogen donors.
The decoction of aerial parts of F. leucopyrus shows cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells, particularly Her2 negative ones (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), compared to Her2 positive (SKBR-3) and non-cancerous cells (MCF-10A). This supports its traditional use for its anticancer properties.[8]
Young branches of F.leucopyrus have been used as brooms by the aboriginal inhabitants of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve within the Western Ghats region of India.[9]
References[edit]
- ^ Plummer, J. (2021). "Flueggea leucopyrus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T169273845A169300304. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T169273845A169300304.en. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Flueggea leucopyrus Willd". indiabiodiversity.org.
- ^ a b "Flueggea leucopyrus Willd. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ "Indian snowberry (Flueggea leucopyrus)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ a b c d "Flueggea-leucopyrus". pilikula.karnataka.gov.in. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ "Ayurvedic Plants of Sri Lanka: Plants Details". www.instituteofayurveda.org. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
- ^ Modi, Chirag M.; Bhatt, Punit R.; P, Kajal B.; ya; Patel, Harshad B.; Patel, Urvesh D. (2019-05-10). "Comparative evaluation of in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of different extracts of selected medicinal plants from Saurashtra Region, Gujarat". International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences. 8 (5): 1686–1698. doi:10.20546/ijcmas.2019.805.195. ISSN 2319-7706.
- ^ Ghodela, Naresh & Kumar, Vijay & Dudhamal, Tukaram & Naria, Mukesh. (2016). A wonderful medicinal plant: Securinega leucopyrus (Willd) Muell - A brief review. International Journal of Science Inventions Today (IJSIT). 5. 472–484.
- ^ Rasingam, Ladan & Jeeva, Solomon. (2013). Indigenous brooms used by the aboriginal inhabitants of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, India. Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources. 4. 312–316.