Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
ECHINODORUS MACROPHYLLUS
(KUNTH) MICHELI, 1881
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Alismatales
Family: Alismataceae
Common name: Leather hat
Distribution: Guyana, Brazil, Argentina
Habitat: Freshwater habitats, rivers
Description: The stem of this plant is upright and cylindrical. The leaves
(30 × 30 cm) are membranous and triangularly ovate. The inlorescence,
which is rarely racemose, is paniculate with 6-14 whorls containing 6-10
lowers each.
Compounds and activities: From the leaf extract of this species, bioactive com-
pounds, viz., echinophyllins A, B, C-F (N
2
-containing clerodane diterpe-
noids) and chapecoderins A-C (labdane-derived diterpenoids), have been
isolated. Among them, echinophyllins have been reported to possess anti-
microbial and cytotoxic properties (Kobayashi
et al., 2000a,b). This spe-
cies has also been used in traditional medicines for treating inlammation,
rheumatic diseases, and kidney dysfunctions.
