- Phyllanthus
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For the bird genus of the same name, see Capuchin Babbler.Not to be confused with Philanthus.
Phyllanthus 
Indian gooseberry, Phyllanthus emblica Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Malpighiales Family: Phyllanthaceae Tribe: Phyllantheae Genus: Phyllanthus
L.Diversity About 800 species Phyllanthus is the largest genus in the family Phyllanthaceae. Estimates of the number species in this genus vary widely, from 750[1] to 1200.[2] Phyllanthus has a remarkable diversity of growth forms including annual and perennial herbs, shrubs, climbers, floating aquatics, and pachycaulous succulents. Some have flattened leaflike stems called cladodes. It has a wide variety of floral morphologies and chromosome numbers and has one of the widest range of pollen types of any seed plant genus.
Despite their variety, almost all Phyllanthus species express a specific type of growth called "phyllanthoid branching" in which the vertical stems bear deciduous, floriferous (flower-bearing), plagiotropic (horizontal or oblique) stems. The leaves on the main (vertical) axes are reduced to scales called "cataphylls", while leaves on the other axes develop normally.[3] Phyllanthus is distributed in all tropical and subtropical regions on Earth. Leafflower is the common name for all Phyllanthus species.
The circumscription of this genus has been a cause of much confusion and disagreement. Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that Phyllanthus is paraphyletic over Reverchonia, Glochidion, Sauropus, and Breynia. A recent revision of the family Phyllanthaceae has subsumed all four of these genera into Phyllanthus.[4] This enlarged version of Phyllanthus might eventually be divided into smaller genera, but much more research will be needed before anyone knows how to do this. Progress continues to be made in this area.[5][6]
Contents
Synonymy
Genera that used to be separate but that are generally included in Phyllanthus include Agyneia, Anisonema, Cicca, Emblica, Epistylium, Gynoon, Kirganelia, Menarda, Phyllanthus, and Xylophylla.[7] Also see Taxonomy of the Phyllanthaceae and Phyllanthaceae.
Selected species
- Phyllanthus abnormis Baill.
- Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels - Otaheite gooseberry
- Phyllanthus acuminatus Vahl - Jamaican gooseberry tree
- Phyllanthus amarus Schumacher
- Phyllanthus angustifolius (Sw.) Sw.
- Phyllanthus arbuscula (Sw.) J.F.Gmel.
- Phyllanthus atropurpureus Bojer
- Phyllanthus brasiliensis (Aubl.) Poir.
- Phyllanthus caesiifolius Petra Hoffm. & Cheek
- Phyllanthus caroliniensis Walt. - native to the Americas
- Phyllanthus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng.
- Phyllanthus cuneifolius (Britt.) Croizat
- Phyllanthus debilis Klein ex Willd.
- Phyllanthus emblica L. - Indian gooseberry, also known as amla or amalaki.
- Phyllanthus engleri Pax
- Phyllanthus epiphyllanthus L.
- Phyllanthus ericoides Torr.
- Phyllanthus fluitans - red root floater, sometimes sold in aquarium shops
- Phyllanthus fraternus G.L.Webster
- Phyllanthus gentryi Webster
- Phyllanthus grandifolius L.
- Phyllanthus haughtii Croizat
- Phyllanthus juglandifolius Willd.
- Phyllanthus lacunarius F.Muell.
- Phyllanthus liebmannianus Muell.-Arg.
- Phyllanthus maderaspatensis L.
- Phyllanthus microcladus Muell.-Arg.
- Phyllanthus mirabilis Müll.Arg. - the only succulent species of this genus
- Phyllanthus muellerianus (Kuntze) Exell
- Phyllanthus niruri L. - Chanca piedra (Also includes P. amarus and P. debilis)
- Phyllanthus parvifolius Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don
- Phyllanthus piscatorum Kunth
- Phyllanthus pentaphyllus C. Wright ex Griseb.
- Phyllanthus polygonoides Nutt. ex Spreng.
- Phyllanthus polyspermus Shumach. & Thonn. - often misidentified as P. reticulatus[8]
- Phyllanthus profusus N.E.Br.
- Phyllanthus pseudocanami Müll.Arg.
- Phyllanthus pudens L.C. Wheeler
- Phyllanthus pulcher Wallich ex Muell.-Arg.
- Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir. - similar in appearance to P. polyspermus[8]
- Phyllanthus saffordii Merr.
- Phyllanthus salviifolius Kunth
- Phyllanthus sepialis Müll.Arg.[9]
- Phyllanthus stipulatus (Raf.) G.L. Webster
- Phyllanthus tenellus Roxb.
- Phyllanthus urinaria L. - chamberbitter
- Phyllanthus virgatus G.Forst.
- Phyllanthus watsonii A. Shaw
For full list, see List of Phyllanthus species.
Medical interest
The herb Phyllanthus emblica has gained interest as a potiential treatment for human bone disorders[10] as well as diabetes patients.[11]
Gaining attention for its potential effects against hepatitis B,[12] research on Phyllanthus niruri has revealed possible antiviral activity also against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).[13]
Phyllanthus plants have been used in folk medicine used to treat a wide number of diseases. In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, various herbaceous Phyllanthus species are known as bhuiamla,[14] a name previously assigned to P. niruri only. Bhuiamla is prescribed for jaundice, gonorrhea and diabetes (internal use) as well as poultices, skin ulcer and other skin problems (external use). Infusions are made from young shoots as a treatment of chronic dysentery. None of these supposed benefits, however, is established with scientific research.
Leaves, roots, stem, bark and berries of this genus contain lignans (e.g. phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin) and a variety of other phytochemicals.[15][16][17]
Gallery
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Phyllanthus acidus
Fruits -
Phyllanthus juglandifolius
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Phyllanthus juglandifolius
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Phyllanthus mirabilis
Cultivated plant -
Phyllanthus mirabilis
Branch tip -
Phyllanthus mirabilis
Leaves -
Phyllanthus mirabilis
Folded together leaves at night -
Phyllanthus niruri
Leaves
References
- ^ David J. Mabberley. 2008. Mabberley's Plant-Book. third edition (2008). Cambridge University Press.[page needed]
- ^ Kathriarachchi H, Hoffmann P, Samuel R, Wurdack KJ, Chase MW (July 2005). "Molecular phylogenetics of Phyllanthaceae inferred from five genes (plastid atpB, matK, 3'ndhF, rbcL, and nuclear PHYC)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 36 (1): 112–34. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2004.12.002. PMID 15904861.
- ^ Webster, Grady L. (1994). "Classification of the Euphorbiaceae". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 81 (1): 3–32. doi:10.2307/2399908. JSTOR 2399908.
- ^ Hoffmann Petra, Kathriarachchi Hashendra S., Wurdack Kenneth J. (2006). "A Phylogenetic Classification of Phyllanthaceae". Kew Bulletin 61 (1): 37–53.
- ^ Kathriarachchi Hashendra S., Samuel Rosabelle, Hoffmann Petra, Mlinarec Jelena, Wurdack Kenneth J., Ralimanana Hélène, Stuessy Tod F., Chase Mark W. (2006). "Phylogenetics of tribe Phyllantheae (Phyllanthaceae) based on nrITS and plastid matK DNA sequence data". American Journal of Botany 93 (4): 637–655. doi:10.3732/ajb.93.4.637.
- ^ Kanchana Pruesapan, Ian R.H. Telford, Jeremy J. Bruhl, Stefano G.A. Draisma, and Peter C. Van Welzen. 2008. "Delimitation of Sauropus (Phyllanthaceae) Based on Plastid matK and Nuclear Ribosomal ITS DNA Sequence Data." Annals of Botany 102(6):1007-1018. (see External links below)
- ^ Kathriarachchi, H.; Samuel, R.; Hoffmann, P.; Mlinarec, J.; Wurdack, K. J.; Ralimanana, H.; Stuessy, T. F.; Chase, M. W. (2006). "Phylogenetics of tribe Phyllantheae (Phyllanthaceae; Euphorbiaceae sensu lato) based on nrITS and plastid matK DNA sequence data". American Journal of Botany 93 (4): 637. doi:10.3732/ajb.93.4.637. http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/93/4/637
- ^ a b Luo, S.X., H.-J. Esser, D. Zhang, and S. S. Renner. 2011. Nuclear ITS sequences help disentangle Phyllanthus reticulatus (Phyllanthaceae), an Asian species not occurring in Africa, but introduced to Jamaica. Systematic Botany 36(1): 99-104.
- ^ Bussmann, R. W.; Gilbreath, GG; Solio, J; Lutura, M; Lutuluo, R; Kunguru, K; Wood, N; Mathenge, SG (2006). "Plant use of the Maasai of Sekenani Valley, Maasai Mara, Kenya". J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2: 22. doi:10.1186/1746-4269-2-22. PMC 1475560. PMID 16674830. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1475560.
- ^ Piva R, Penolazzi L, Borgatti M, et al. (August 2009). "Apoptosis of human primary osteoclasts treated with molecules targeting nuclear factor-kappaB". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1171: 448–56. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04906.x. PMID 19723088.
- ^ Kusirisin W, Srichairatanakool S, Lerttrakarnnon P, et al. (March 2009). "Antioxidative activity, polyphenolic content and anti-glycation effect of some Thai medicinal plants traditionally used in diabetic patients". Medicinal Chemistry 5 (2): 139–47. doi:10.2174/157340609787582918. PMID 19275712. http://www.bentham-direct.org/pages/content.php?MC/2009/00000005/00000002/D0004C.SGM.
- ^ P. niruri - Effects on Hepatitis B, Thyagarajan 1982; Mehrotra 1990; Yeh, et al. 1993; Wang 1995.[1]
- ^ Ogata T, Higuchi H, Mochida S, et al. (November 1992). "HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor from Phyllanthus niruri". AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 8 (11): 1937–44. doi:10.1089/aid.1992.8.1937. PMID 1283310.
- ^ Puri, H. S. (2003) Rasayana: Ayurvedic herbs for longevity and rejuvenation. Taylor & Francis, London, pages 86-93.
- ^ Murugaiyah V, Chan KL (June 2007). "Determination of four lignans in Phyllanthus niruri L. by a simple high-performance liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection". Journal of Chromatography A 1154 (1-2): 198–204. doi:10.1016/j.chroma.2007.03.079. PMID 17418855.
- ^ Srivastava V, Singh M, Malasoni R, et al. (January 2008). "Separation and quantification of lignans in Phyllanthus species by a simple chiral densitometric method". Journal of Separation Science 31 (1): 47–55. doi:10.1002/jssc.200700282. PMID 18064620.
- ^ Bagalkotkar G, Sagineedu SR, Saad MS, Stanslas J (December 2006). "Phytochemicals from Phyllanthus niruri Linn. and their pharmacological properties: a review". The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 58 (12): 1559–70. doi:10.1211/jpp.58.12.0001. PMID 17331318.
External links
- Kathriarachchi, Hashendra; Hoffmann, Petra; Samuel, Rosabelle; Wurdack, Kenneth J.; Chase, Mark W. (2005). "Molecular phylogenetics of Phyllanthaceae inferred from five genes (plastid atpB, matK, 3′ndhF, rbcL, and nuclear PHYC)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 36 (1): 112–34. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2004.12.002. PMID 15904861.
- Pruesapan, K.; Telford, I. R. H.; Bruhl, J. J.; Draisma, S. G. A.; Van Welzen, P. C. (2008). "Delimitation of Sauropus (Phyllanthaceae) Based on Plastid matK and Nuclear Ribosomal ITS DNA Sequence Data". Annals of Botany 102 (6): 1007–18. doi:10.1093/aob/mcn193. PMC 2712409. PMID 18854375. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2712409.
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