Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
ETHULIA CONYZOIDES
LINNAEUS
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asteriales
Family: Asteriaceae
Common name: Bungbungtit
Distribution: Ethiopia, Egypt, tropical Central Asia, tropical Africa
Habitat: Wet soil along rivers and swamps, riverbanks
Description: This erect annual or perennial herb grows to a maximum height
of 120 cm. The stem is woody near the base and branched at the top. Leaves
(5-10 cm long) are linear-elliptic to lanceolate with entire or serrated mar-
gins. The lorets (5-6 mm diameter) are whitish to purple-blue.
Compounds and activities: From the leaves of this species, a monoterpene com-
pound, viz., 5-methyl coumarin (acetophenone derivative), possessing mod-
erate cytotoxic properties (40-50% activity at 500 µg/ml) has been isolated
(Sowemimo et al.,
2009). This species is therefore considered in traditional
recipes for the treatment of cancer. In traditional medicines, the extract of
this species is squeezed into the eyes for relief from headache. Further, the
extract with red pepper cures constipation. Leaves in food are known to
prevent abortion.
OH
CH
3
O
HO
O
5-methyl coumarin
