Dianella ensifolia | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Asphodelaceae |
Subfamily: | Hemerocallidoideae |
Genus: | Dianella |
Species: | D. ensifolia |
Binomial name | |
Dianella ensifolia (L.) Redouté | |
Dianella ensifolia is a flowering plant, of the family Asphodelaceae. It is native to southern China, India, Japan, Madagascar, Malesia, the Pacific Islands, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and tropical Asia. Its common names include umbrella dracaena, common dianella, siak-siak, and flax lily. [1]
Dianella ensifolia is a terrestrial plant that can grow in grasslands, or primary rainforests in tropical areas. The plant's anatomy consists of branching rhizomes, and flowering stems, that can reach up to two meters. Its leaf blades are pointed and tapered at both ends. When flowering, it produces a shoot about 60 cm (23.6 in) long. It has white petals, with orange/yellow anthers. Once it is pollinated by insects, it will produce berries that are dark blue/purple, and about 1.5 cm (0.59 in) wide. These berries contain 3-6 seeds, that are often eaten by native birds. [1]
Other common names for Dianella ensifolia include umbrella dracaena, common dianella, and flax lily. [1]
The Latin name Dianella is after Diana, a goddess in Greek mythology. Further, the Latin ensifolia is used to regard the sword-shaped leaves of the plant. [1]
A 2017 study investigated the roots of the Dianella ensifolia, and was able to isolate eleven compounds. When broken into groups, this would constitute two aromatics, two chromones, and 7 flavonoids. [2]
The compounds found in D. ensifolia can be correlated with different taxonomic levels, including the species, genus, and family. The research concluded the structural skeletons of the compounds found in the D. ensifolia, are found within the species of Dianella, and Liliaceae. This would correlate the species to the genus. Further, the aromatics, chromones, and flavonoids were first isolated from the species itself of the genus, and thus, could serve as markers for the identification of Dianella ensifolia. [2]
In 2020 essential oil of the D. ensifolia was chemically analyzed, and tested for its antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties. The main components of the plant essential oil were identified as allo-aromadendrene (7.3%), Geranylacetone (6.2%), Hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (4.4%), Longifolene (4.2%), and β-caryophyllene (4.0%). [3]
When examined individually, these compounds exhibit potent antimicrobial activity, cytotoxic activity, the potential to inhibit cell growth and proliferation, and in-vivo protective effects against juglone-induced oxidative stress in roundworm. [3]
The essential oil was investigated further for its antibacterial activity, and it was determined that it effectively inhibited the growth of numerous bacterial strains, including Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538. This effect was associated with the compounds geranylacetone, hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, longifolene, and β-caryophyllene, found in the essential oil. [3]
The cytotoxicity of the essential oil was also examined against liver hepatocellular cells, and human breast adenocarcinoma cell line. The essential oil of the D. ensifolia displayed a dose-dependent effect on both tumor cell lines. This may be contributed to the reported tumor motility inhibition, and tumor aggression inhibition of β-caryophyllene. [3]
A study conducted in 2010 screened plant extracts for antioxidants, and determined that the extract of Dianella ensifolia was both a strong antioxidant, and an agent that could be used to reduce skin hyperpigmentation. The extract of Dianella ensifolia, 1-(2,4-dihydrophenyl)-3-(2,4- dimethoxy-3-methylphenyl) propane (DP), was found to inhibit a free radical, which is linked to hyperpigmentation, and ultraviolet-C induced lipid oxidation. The extract from the plant was then tested against two pharmaceutical topical treatments. It was concluded that the plant extract, containing DP, had an increased rate of fading compared to the other treatments containing hydroquinone. [4]
Oregano is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. It was native to the Mediterranean region, but widely naturalised elsewhere in the temperate Northern Hemisphere.
In polymer chemistry and materials science, a resin is a solid or highly viscous substance of plant or synthetic origin that is typically convertible into polymers. Resins are usually mixtures of organic compounds. This article focuses mainly on naturally occurring resins.
Polyphenols are a large family of naturally occurring phenols. They are abundant in plants and structurally diverse. Polyphenols include flavonoids, tannic acid, and ellagitannin, some of which have been used historically as dyes and for tanning garments.
Vitex agnus-castus is a plant native of the Mediterranean region. It is one of the few temperate-zone species of Vitex, which is on the whole a genus of tropical and subtropical flowering plants. Theophrastus mentioned the shrub several times, as agnos (άγνος) in Enquiry into Plants. It has been long believed to be an anaphrodisiac – leading to its name as "chaste tree" – but its effectiveness for such action remains unproven.
Ocimum tenuiflorum, commonly known as holy basil or tulsi, is an aromatic perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Australia, Malesia, Asia, and the western Pacific. It is widely cultivated throughout the Southeast Asian tropics. This plant has escaped from cultivation and has naturalized in many tropical regions of the Americas. It is an agricultural and environmental weed.
Caryophyllene, more formally (−)-β-caryophyllene,(BCP), is a natural bicyclic sesquiterpene that is a constituent of many essential oils, especially clove oil, the oil from the stems and flowers of Syzygium aromaticum (cloves), the essential oil of Cannabis sativa, copaiba, rosemary, and hops. It is usually found as a mixture with isocaryophyllene (the cis double bond isomer) and α-humulene (obsolete name: α-caryophyllene), a ring-opened isomer. Caryophyllene is notable for having a cyclobutane ring, as well as a trans-double bond in a 9-membered ring, both rarities in nature.
Humulene, also known as α-humulene or α-caryophyllene, is a naturally occurring monocyclic sesquiterpene (C15H24), containing an 11-membered ring and consisting of 3 isoprene units containing three nonconjugated C=C double bonds, two of them being triply substituted and one being doubly substituted. It was first found in the essential oils of Humulus lupulus (hops), from which it derives its name. Humulene is an isomer of β-caryophyllene, and the two are often found together as a mixture in many aromatic plants.
Phellodendron amurense is a species of tree in the family Rutaceae, commonly called the Amur cork tree. It is a major source of huáng bò, one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine. The Ainu people used this plant, called shikerebe-ni, as a painkiller. It is known as hwangbyeok in Korean and (キハダ) kihada in Japanese.
Chungtia is an Ao Naga village in Nagaland, India. It lies in the Ongpangkong range and is located 16 km north-west of Mokokchung. The Mokokchung-Mariani Highway passes through its eastern corner. It is located at an altitude of 3,362 feet (1,025 m) above sea level.
Fisetin (7,3′,4′-flavon-3-ol) is a plant flavonol from the flavonoid group of polyphenols. It can be found in many plants, where it serves as a yellow/ochre colouring agent. It is also found in many fruits and vegetables, such as strawberries, apples, persimmons, onions and cucumbers. Its chemical formula was first described by Austrian chemist Josef Herzig in 1891.
Hypericum olympicum, commonly known as the Mount Olympus St. John's wort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Hypericaceae found in the Balkans and Turkey and introduced to western Europe. It has been widely cultivated for centuries because of its large, showy flowers, which are far larger than those of most other species in Hypericum.
Artemisia herba-alba, the white wormwood, is a perennial shrub in the genus Artemisia that grows commonly on the dry steppes of the Mediterranean regions in Northern Africa, Western Asia and Southwestern Europe. It is used as an antiseptic and antispasmodic in herbal medicine.
Acronychia pedunculata is a large shrub or small tree of the understory, gaps and fringes of low country and lower hill tropical forests of tropical Asia.
Bakuchiol is a meroterpenoid in the class terpenophenol.
Alpinia nigra is a medium-sized herb belonging to the ginger family. The rhizome is well known in many Asian cultures as a medicinal and culinary item. In many Asian tribal communities it is a part of the diet along with rice.
Hypericum bupleuroides is a species of perennial flowering plant in the St John's wort family, Hypericaceae. It grows 45–80 centimeters tall, and notably has perfoliate leaves that are fused at the stem. It has pyramid-shaped flower clusters of 1 to 25 flowers with yellow petals in a star-shaped arrangement. The species is found along the Black Sea coast near the Turkish–Georgian border. Hypericum bupleuroides has a small distribution and specific habitat requirements that make it vulnerable to environmental pressures.
Thymus zygis is a type of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae native to the Iberian Peninsula and northern Morocco.
Eugenia calycina, also known as savannah cherry, field cherry, Jabuti cherry, Grão de galo, cerejinha, cereja do cerrado, pitanga-vermelha, red pitanga, cherry of the Cerrado, and ca-ajaboti, is a flowering shrub in the family Myrtaceae. The specific epithet (calycina) comes from Latin calycinus, meaning having a notable calyx.
Acetyleugenol is a phenylpropanoid compound found in cloves. It is the second in abundance to the related compound eugenol in certain extract preparations. Like eugenol, its found in several plants such as Acacia nilotica and Piper betle and has similar antibacterial and antifungal properties on C. albicans and S. mutans. It inhibits aggregation of platelets and has partial agonistic activity on AhR.
Papilionanthe uniflora is a species of epiphytic orchid native to India, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal.