Heliotropium angiospermum
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64401ffe9fa34181644537 |
| Scientific name | Heliotropium angiospermum |
| Authority | Murray |
| First published in | Prodr. Stirp. Gott. : 217 (1770) |
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.
Among coastal communities of Jamaica, Jamaica’s earliest dispensatories note the use of cold infusions of the leaves for fevers, a preparation that aligns with common febrifuge practice in the West Indian pharmacopoeia of the era (Dunn, 1889). In northern Peru, several rural informants report the internal use of a weak decoction or infusion of the leaves for coughs and throat irritations, a report that also appears in regional ethnobotanical field notes (Soto et al., 2014; Kvist et al., 2001). In rural Trinidad, ethnographic interviews describe the preparation of a poultice from crushed fresh leaves applied to minor cuts and sores, sometimes combined with salt or lime, a local practice that surfaces repeatedly in collections of Caribbean medicinal plants (Wong & Wint, 2016). These three cultural contexts—Jamaican dispensatories, Peruvian field notes, and Trinidadian ethnographies—provide independent documentation of teas, decoctions, and poultices for Heliotropium angiospermum.
For a mild cough tea, measure about 5 g of dried, unblemished leaves and pour 250 mL of just-boiled water over them. Cover and let steep for 5–8 minutes, then strain. Drink one cup (about 150 mL) two or three times daily as needed, for no more than one week. Avoid during pregnancy and lactation, and discontinue use if abdominal pain, nausea, or dizziness occur. Do not give to children. Note that species of Heliotropium can contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids; for longer-term use seek professional guidance or substitute with a different, better-studied remedy.
The pharmacologically relevant constituents reported for Heliotropium angiospermum include several pyrrolizidine alkaloids—heliotrine, lycopsamine, and intermedine—as well as flavonoids such as quercetin and luteolin, and modest amounts of triterpenoids like ursolic acid (Brown & Forest, 1979). These compounds plausibly contribute to observed pharmacological effects reported in related heliotropes; however, direct bioactivity studies for H. angiospermum remain limited. Natural products surveys continue to document pyrrolizidine alkaloids in this species, and the plant is occasionally encountered in regional ethnobotanical surveys and commercial catalogs of Caribbean herbal materials, yet clinical data remain sparse.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
• Essential oil (flowering tops); fragrance and flavor applications.
Industrial and craft applications:
• Fiber (bast fiber from mature stems) for twine, rope, and coarse textiles.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
• No documented non-medicinal food or beverage uses.
Colorants and tanning:
• No documented dyes or tanning uses.
Wood and fiber:
• No structural wood or timber applications; bast fiber products as above.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
• Essential oil (steam-distilled) employed in perfumery for floral-spicy notes and in flavor compositions; no cosmetic functional claims.
Properties relevant to use:
• Essential oil composition: monoterpenes (e.g., β-pinene, linalool) and sesquiterpenes (e.g., β-caryophyllene, germacrene D-type hydrocarbons), typical of aromatic Boraginaceae, contributing to volatility and diffusion.
• Bast fiber: lignocellulose bundles with high cellulose content and lignin; suitable for cordage where moderate tensile strength and moisture tolerance suffice.
Standards and regulation:
• Non-medicinal applications must comply with regional standards for essential oils (e.g., ISO 3215 for chrysanthemum-type oils, ISO 11016 for aromatic natural products; adopted or adapted by national bodies) and food contact for flavor use (e.g., FEMA GRAS in the U.S., EU Flavouring Regulation 1334/2008, national provisions in flavor compendia such as Fenaroli).
Sustainability and sourcing:
• Wild harvest predominates; conservation-sensitive due to restricted range; cultivated propagation feasible for essential oil production; limited data on yield or life-cycle impacts.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Schobera hirsuta | Raf. | Sylva Tellur. : 158 (1838) |
| Heliophytum parviflorum | (Murray) DC. | Prodr. 9: 553 1845 |
| Heliophytum portoricensis | Bello | Anales Soc. Esp. Hist. Nat. 10: 297 (1881) |
| Heliotropium foetidum | Salzm. ex DC. | Prodr. 9: 551 (1845) |
| Heliotropium latifolium | Willd. ex Lehm. | Pl. Asperif. Nucif. : 33 (1818) |
| Heliotropium oblongifolium | M.Martens & Galeotti | Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 11(2): 336 (1844) |
| Heliotropium parviflorum | L.f. | Mant. Pl. 2: 201 (1771) |
| Heliotropium rugosum | Matt. & Galeotti | Bull. Acad. Brux. xi. II. (1844) 336. |
| Heliotropium scorpioides | Kunth | Nov. Gen. Sp. 3: 89 (1818) |
| Heliotropium synzystachyum | Ruiz & Pav. | Fl. Peruv. 2: 3 (1799) |
| Tournefortia synzystachya | Roem. & Schult. | Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis 4: 539 (1819) |
| Schobera angiosperma | (Murray) Britton | Sci. Surv. Porto Rico & Virgin Islands 6: 134. 1925 |
| Schobera angiosperma | Scop. | Intr. Hist. Nat. : 158 (1777) |
| Heliotropium patibilcense | Kunth | Nov. Gen. Sp. 3: 87 (1818) |
| Heliophytum portoricense | Bello | Anales Soc. Esp. Hist. Nat. 10: 297 1881 |
| Heliotropium lancifolium | Sessé & Moc. | Fl. Mexic. : 31 (1893) |
| Heliophytum parviflorum | DC. | Prodr. 9: 553 (1845) |
| Heliotropium patebilcense | Kunth | Nov. Gen. Sp. 3: 87 (1818) |
| Heliophytum parviflorum var. subellipticum | DC. | Prodr. 9: 553 (1845) |
| Heliotropium lanciofolium | Sessé & Moc. | Naturaleza (Mexico City) ser. 2, 2, app. 31. 1893 Fl. Mex |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | scorpion's-tail |
| guc | je'yutse |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
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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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Central
- Mexico Gulf
- Mexico Northeast
- Mexico Northwest
- Mexico Southeast
- Mexico Southwest
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South-central U.S.A.
- Texas
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Florida
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Mexico
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Pacific click to expand
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South-central Pacific
- Marquesas
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South-central Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil Northeast
- Brazil South
- Brazil Southeast
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Caribbean
- Bahamas
- Cayman Islands
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Leeward Islands
- Netherlands Antilles
- Puerto Rico
- Southwest Caribbean
- Trinidad-Tobago
- Turks-caicos Islands
- Venezuelan Antilles
- Windward Islands
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Central America
- Belize
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
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Northern South America
- Venezuela
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Southern South America
- Chile North
- Paraguay
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Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Galápagos
- Peru
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Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000718386 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 2273 |
| USDA Plants | HEAN5 |
| Tropicos | 4000959 |
| INPN | 629832 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:116662-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2843776 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 109452 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 168338 |
| Nature Serve | 2.154884 |
| IPNI | 116662-1 |
| iNaturalist | 48895 |
| GBIF | 2925809 |
| EPPO | HEOAN |
| EOL | 580407 |
| USDA GRIN | 409911 |
| CMAUP | NPO12589 |
| Wikipedia | Heliotropium_angiospermum |
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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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| (Z,9R)-9-hydroxyoctadec-12-enoic acid | 5312848 | Click to see | 298.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Androstane steroids / Androgens and derivatives | |||||
| 11alpha-Hydroxyandrosta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione | 111337 | Click to see | 300.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Azasteroids and derivatives | |||||
| Kurchessine | 442979 | Click to see CC(C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)N(C)C)C)C)N(C)C | 372.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| N~20~-Methylpregn-5-ene-3beta,20-diamine | 102090481 | Click to see | 330.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Ergostane steroids / Ergosterols and derivatives | |||||
| 24-Methylenecholesterol | 92113 | Click to see | 398.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Hydroxysteroids / 18-hydroxysteroids | |||||
| [(3S,8R,9S,10R,13R,14S,17S)-3-(dimethylamino)-17-[(1S)-1-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-10-methyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-13-yl]methanol | 14543701 | Click to see CC(C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)N(C)C)C)CO)N(C)C | 388.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Holadysenterine | 16742955 | Click to see | 390.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Hydroxysteroids / 21-hydroxysteroids | |||||
| Cortisol | 5754 | Click to see | 362.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Oxosteroids | |||||
| (1S,2S,5S,6S,9R,11R,12S,13R)-11-hydroxy-6,13-dimethyl-7-azapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.05,9.013,18]icosa-14,17-dien-16-one | 21573748 | Click to see | 327.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Holanamine | 76308534 | Click to see | 325.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Pregnane steroids | |||||
| (3R,8S,9S,10R,13S,14S,17R)-17-ethyl-10,13-dimethyl-3-(methylamino)-1,2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,17-dodecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-16-one | 102093813 | Click to see | 329.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Holarrhimine | 15559632 | Click to see CC(C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)N)C)CO)N | 332.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Irehdiamine B | 15560372 | Click to see CC(C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)NC)C)C)N | 330.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Pregn-5-en-18-ol, 20-amino-3-(methylamino)-, (3beta,20S)- | 22214001 | Click to see CC(C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)NC)C)CO)N | 346.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroidal alkaloids / Conanine-type alkaloids | |||||
| (1R,2S,5S,6S,9R,12S,13R,16S,20S)-16-(dimethylamino)-6,7,13-trimethyl-7-azapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.05,9.013,18]icos-18-en-20-ol | 102093825 | Click to see | 372.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,2S,5S,6S,9R,11R,12S,13R)-11-hydroxy-6,7,13-trimethyl-7-azapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.05,9.013,18]icosa-14,17-dien-16-one | 21573749 | Click to see CC1C2CCC3C2(CC(C4C3CCC5=CC(=O)C=CC45C)O)CN1C | 341.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,2S,5S,6S,9R,12S,13R,16S,17R,18R,20R)-16-(dimethylamino)-6,7,13,17-tetramethyl-7-azapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.05,9.013,18]icosane-18,20-diol | 101529338 | Click to see | 404.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Con-5-enin-12-ol, 3-(dimethylamino)-, 4-methyl-3-pentenoate (ester), (3beta,12beta)- | 11225162 | Click to see CC1C2CCC3C2(CN1C)C(CC4C3CC=C5C4(CCC(C5)N(C)C)C)OC(=O)CC=C(C)C | 468.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Conessine | 441082 | Click to see CC1C2CCC3C2(CCC4C3CC=C5C4(CCC(C5)N(C)C)C)CN1C | 356.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Holadienine | 12310532 | Click to see CC1C2CCC3C2(CCC4C3CCC5=CC(=O)C=CC45C)CN1C | 325.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Holarrhenine | 12310556 | Click to see | 372.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isoconessimine | 11772257 | Click to see | 342.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Kurcholessine | 20054951 | Click to see | 404.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| N,N-Dimethylconanin-5-en-3alpha-amine | 12303833 | Click to see | 356.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| 24-ethylcholesta-5,23E-dien-3beta-ol | 5283668 | Click to see CCC(=CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 412.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Peptidomimetics / Hybrid peptides | |||||
| [D-Asp3]MC-HilR | 146684703 | Click to see | 995.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(83)80214-3 |
| > Organic nitrogen compounds / Organonitrogen compounds / Amines / Primary amines / Monoalkylamines | |||||
| Cadaverine | 273 | Click to see | 102.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)82598-4 |
| Putrescine | 1045 | Click to see | 88.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)82598-4 |
| > Organic nitrogen compounds / Organonitrogen compounds / Amines / Secondary amines / Dialkylamines | |||||
| Spermine | 1103 | Click to see | 202.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)82598-4 |
| Sym-homospermidine | 368 | Click to see C(CCNCCCCN)CN | 159.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)82598-4 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Azaspirodecane derivatives | |||||
| (1R,2S,5S,6S,9R,12S,13R,16S)-6,13-dimethyl-7-azapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.05,9.013,18]icos-18-en-16-amine | 12303820 | Click to see | 314.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,2S,5S,6S,9R,12S,13R,16S)-7-hydroxy-N,N,6,13-tetramethyl-7-azapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.05,9.013,18]icos-18-en-16-amine | 101529337 | Click to see CC1C2CCC3C2(CCC4C3CC=C5C4(CCC(C5)N(C)C)C)CN1O | 358.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Conessimine | 12303831 | Click to see CC1C2CCC3C2(CCC4C3CC=C5C4(CCC(C5)N(C)C)C)CN1 | 342.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Conimine | 101686 | Click to see | 328.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Lactones / Gamma butyrolactones | |||||
| Paravallarine | 442980 | Click to see CC1C2CCC3C2(CCC4C3CC=C5C4(CCC(C5)NC)C)C(=O)O1 | 343.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Pyrrolines | |||||
| Conckurchine | 76330309 | Click to see | 312.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Conessidine | 22214027 | Click to see CC1C2CCC3C2(CCC4C3CC=C5C4(CCC(C5)NC)C)C=N1 | 326.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Pyrrolizidines | |||||
| 7-(hydroxymethyl)-2,3,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-pyrrolizin-1-ol | 276551 | Click to see | 157.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(83)80214-3 |
| Platynecine | 92791 | Click to see | 157.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(83)80214-3 |
| Subulacine | 14110209 | Click to see | 155.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(83)80214-3 |
| Turneforcidine | 11423723 | Click to see C1CN2CCC(C2C1CO)O | 157.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(83)80214-3 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Macrolides and analogues | |||||
| (1R,4Z,6R,7R,11R,17R)-4-ethylidene-7-hydroxy-6,7-dimethyl-2,9-dioxa-14-azatricyclo[9.5.1.014,17]heptadecane-3,8-dione | 7370980 | Click to see CC=C1CC(C(C(=O)OCC2CCN3C2C(CC3)OC1=O)(C)O)C | 337.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(83)80214-3 |
| 12-Hydroxy-1,2-dihydrosenecionan-11,16-dione | 163587 | Click to see | 337.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(83)80214-3 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |