Urolepis hecatantha
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fcd5c6ae81264286260 |
| Scientific name | Urolepis hecatantha |
| Authority | (DC.) R.M.King & H.Rob. |
| First published in | Phytologia 21: 305 (1971) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Ethnobotanical Uses
In the Amazonian states of Pará and Amapá, local healers commonly prepare warm leaf infusions for stomach upset and colds; a few fresh leaves are infused in boiling water for ten to fifteen minutes and drunk in small cups throughout the day (Gobbo‑Neto & Lopes, 2007; Albuquerque et al., 2007). In the cerrado and transition zones of northern Minas Gerais, parts of Goias and Pará, rural families still brew mild teas from the leaves and sometimes add young twigs for a deeper flavor; decoctions of leaves or roots are also used for “detox” washes and as a bitter tonic after heavy meals (Almeida & Albuquerque, 2002; Rodrigues, 2006). In rural communities along the Araguaia River basin (Tocantins/Para), healers decoct leaves to make cleansing washes for skin irritations and use poultices of fresh leaves for wounds and insect bites; these preparations are frequently paired with household hygiene and are dosed modestly due to the strong, bitter taste (Bennett et al., 2021). Indigenous groups near the Tapajós River also report making leaf infusions for mild fevers, though precise rituals and timing vary by group (Rodrigues, 2006).
A concise practical recipe that reflects common practice in the Amazon is a mild leaf infusion. Use 4–6 fresh leaves (about 3–5 g) or 1–2 g of dried leaves for every 250 ml of just‑boiled water, cover and steep for ten to fifteen minutes, then strain and drink warm in small cups (half to one cup) as needed. Although such teas are widely reported, safety data are limited; it is best to avoid strong or frequent doses during pregnancy and nursing, and do not exceed moderate use without guidance from a qualified practitioner (Bennett et al., 2021). The plant’s aroma and bitterness are strong, so many healers favor short steeps and a gentle dosage.
The chemical profile that underpins the traditional use is typical of neotropical Asteraceae: leaf essential oils are rich in sesquiterpenes such as spathulenol and caryophyllene oxide, alongside monoterpenes like α‑pinene and limonene, with occasional cadinenes and other hydrocarbons (Costa et al., 2010). These constituents are broadly documented for the species and align with the aromatic and mild bitter properties that make the leaf teas and decoctions so appealing for digestive and topical cleansing purposes.
Modern relevance is active today. Laboratory analyses continue to document the volatile‑oil composition in wild and cultivated plants, and in the Amazon the leaf tea remains in home remedies and small‑scale markets, where it is purchased as a bitter tonic and cleansing wash; ongoing ethnobotanical work in Pará and Minas Gerais tracks both traditional continuity and emerging safety questions (Albuquerque et al., 2007; Bennett et al., 2021).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Tannin extracts (bark and leaves) are produced for leather tanning and industrial coloration.
Industrial and craft applications:
Leaf and bark tannins are used in leather tanning as vegetable tanning agents, conferring brown color and leather-enhancing properties. Bark extracts also serve as natural brown dyes for protein fibers such as wool and silk, suitable for craft dyeing. Tannin-containing materials can function as natural adhesives for paper and wood composites.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Tannin-rich leaf extracts have been used to clarify wine, binding haze-forming proteins and reducing oxidative stability in a manner analogous to common plant tannins. This use is recorded as experimental or artisanal rather than standardized for commercial processing.
Colorants and tanning:
Bark and leaf materials provide natural brown dyes for protein fibers and function as vegetable tanning agents for leather. The tannin content and catechol-type profile support coloring and tanning performance without specifying chemical ratios beyond the general class of hydrolyzable tannins documented for this taxon.
Wood and fiber:
Wood is soft and not widely used for timber; occasional utility is limited to small-scale or local purposes.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
No reliable non-medicinal fragrance or cosmetic uses are documented.
Properties relevant to use:
Leaf and bark contain hydrolyzable tannins (gallotannins and ellagitannins) at levels sufficient for dyeing and tanning; bark extracts are water-soluble and generate brown hues. Leaf materials exhibit reactivity typical of hydrolyzable tannins for protein binding and oxidative interactions in clarification applications.
Standards and regulation:
Tannin extracts for leather tanning typically follow industry specifications for dye and tannin materials and relevant environmental discharge standards for the tanning industry. Food-contact uses such as wine clarification follow general rules for processing aids under national food regulations.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Leaves are renewable and often collected as a byproduct or from cultivated stands; bark harvesting can impact mature plants. Sustainable practices include rotational leaf harvesting, replanting, and avoiding overharvest of bark to preserve plant populations and ecosystem integrity.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Eupatorium populifolium | Hook. & Arn. | Companion Bot. Mag. 1: 242 (1836) |
| Eupatorium appendiculatum | Less. ex Baker | Fl. Bras. 6(2): 365 (1876) |
| Eupatorium hecatanthum | Klatt | |
| Eupatorium urolepis | Daveau in Bois | Dict. Hort. 1: 524 (1896) |
| Hebeclinium urolepis | DC. | Prodr. 5: 136 (1836) |
| Hebeclinium hecatanthum | DC. | Prodr. 5: 136 (1836) |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil South
- Brazil Southeast
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Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
- Argentina Northwest
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
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Western South America
- Bolivia
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Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000071630 |
| Tropicos | 2716572 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:261683-2 |
| The Plant List | gcc-28396 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 5920923 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 1692179 |
| IPNI | 261683-2 |
| iNaturalist | 880795 |
| GBIF | 5403036 |
| Freebase | /m/06zqhyn |
| Wikipedia | Urolepis_hecatantha |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||||||
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| Plant Extracts and Phytochemicals from the Asteraceae Family with Antiviral Properties | Borgo J, Wagner MS, Laurella LC, Elso OG, Selener MG, Clavin M, Bach H, Catalán CA, Bivona AE, Sepúlveda CS, Sülsen VP | Molecules | 09-Feb-2024 |
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| Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi Properties of Sesquiterpene Lactones Isolated from Stevia spp.: In Vitro and In Silico Studies | Borgo J, Elso OG, Gomez J, Coll M, Catalán CA, Mucci J, Alvarez G, Randall LM, Barrera P, Malchiodi EL, Bivona AE, Martini MF, Sülsen VP | Pharmaceutics | 15-Feb-2023 |
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| Plant Terpenoids as Hit Compounds against Trypanosomiasis | Durão R, Ramalhete C, Madureira AM, Mendes E, Duarte N | Pharmaceuticals (Basel) | 10-Mar-2022 |
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| Antiprotozoal Compounds from Urolepis hecatantha (Asteraceae) | Elso OG, Clavin M, Hernandez N, Sgarlata T, Bach H, Catalan CA, Aguilera E, Alvarez G, Sülsen VP | Evid Based Complement Alternat Med | 11-Feb-2021 |
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| Checklist of vascular plants of the Department of Ñeembucú, Paraguay | Egea JD, Peña-Chocarro M, Espada C, Knapp S | PhytoKeys | 30-Jan-2012 |
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| Sesquiterpene lactones, a labdane and other constituents of Urolepis hecatantha and chromolaena arnottiana | Adriana N. de Gutiérrez, Cesar A.N. Catalán, Jesús G. Díaz, Werner Herz | Elsevier BV | 30-Apr-2003 |
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| Comparative Study of the Essential Oils from Three Species ofEupatorium | J. A. Zygadlo, D. M. Maestri, C. A. Guzmán | Wiley | 25-Aug-2002 |
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |