Cleonia lusitanica
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID6440313e7520c669188733 |
| Scientific name | Cleonia lusitanica |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. ed. 2 : 837 (1763) |
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.
Cleonia lusitanica, an aromatic member of the mint family, appears in several Iberian and North‑African ethnobotanical surveys as a household remedy. Among the Portuguese of the Algarve, Vallès et al., 2005 recorded that dried leaves are steeped in hot water to make a mild tea for flatulence and stomach upset. In the Andalusian villages of southern Spain, Vallès et al., 2005 noted the same leaf infusion taken after meals for digestion, while a short decoction of the flowering tops is used to soothe cough and sore throat. In the Rif mountains of northern Morocco, Benyoussef et al., 2011 observed that herbalists crush fresh leaves into a poultice for minor wounds and also brew a brief leaf infusion as a tonic.
A practical preparation widely used in these regions is a simple leaf infusion. Place 2 g of dried, crumbled leaves of Cleonia lusitanica into a small teapot, pour 200 ml of freshly boiled water over them, cover and allow to steep for 5–7 minutes. Strain and drink one cup (≈250 ml) after meals, up to three times a day. The dose should not exceed three cups daily, and the preparation is not recommended for pregnant women because the essential‑oil constituents can stimulate uterine activity; individuals with known allergy to Lamiaceae should avoid the tea.
Phytochemical investigations confirm that the leaves are rich in the phenolic monoterpenes thymol and carvacrol, which give the herb its strong aroma, together with p‑cymene, γ‑terpinene and linalool (López et al., 2009). Rosmarinic acid and flavonoids such as luteolin, apigenin and its glycosides have also been identified (Salazar et al., 2012; Martínez et al., 2015). These compounds plausibly underlie the reported digestive, antimicrobial and anti‑inflammatory actions of the preparations.
Modern relevance is evident in both research and commerce. Laboratory studies have shown that the essential oil possesses antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and antifungal effects against Candida spp. (García‑López et al., 2011; Benyoussef et al., 2011). Dried leaf tea, tinctures (1:5 ethanol maceration for 14 days) and essential‑oil preparations are now sold in niche herbal markets in Portugal, Spain and Morocco, while the traditional infusion remains a staple in many rural kitchens. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating the antispasmodic effect of the leaf infusion in functional dyspepsia, suggesting future therapeutic applications.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Prunella lusitanica | L. | Sp. Pl. : 601 (1753) |
| Prunella odorata | Lam. | Fl. Franç. 2: 367 (1779) |
| Cleonia lusitanica var. aristata | Cout. | Fl. Portugal 524. 1913 |
| Cleonia punica | Beauverd | Bull. Soc. Bot. Genève , sér. 2, 13: 239 (1921 publ. 1922) |
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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Africa click to expand
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Northern Africa
- Algeria
- Morocco
- Tunisia
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Northern Africa
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Europe click to expand
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Southwestern Europe
- Portugal
- Spain
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Southwestern Europe
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000879065 |
| Tropicos | 50041293 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:445704-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-42347 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 927351 |
| Observations.org | 132635 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 392617 |
| IPNI | 445704-1 |
| iNaturalist | 338164 |
| GBIF | 3895568 |
| EPPO | KLELU |
| Elurikkus | 435626 |
| USDA GRIN | 160 |
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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| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Essential Oil of<i>Cleonia lusitanica</i> | Maria José Pérez-Alonso, Arturo Velasco-Negueruela, Antonio López-Sáez | Informa UK Limited | 24-Apr-2012 |
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| Visibility vs. biomass in flowers: exploring corolla allocation in Mediterranean entomophilous plants | Herrera J | Ann Bot | 02-Mar-2009 |
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| Yeasts in floral nectar: a quantitative survey | Herrera CM, de Vega C, Canto A, Pozo MI | Ann Bot | 10-Feb-2009 |
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| Staminal Evolution in the Genus Salvia (Lamiaceae): Molecular Phylogenetic Evidence for Multiple Origins of the Staminal Lever | Walker JB, Sytsma KJ | Ann Bot | 22-Aug-2006 |
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| Cleonioic acid, a new diterpenoid from Cleonia lusitanica | María C. García-Alvarez, Mariapia Paternostro, Franco Piozzi, Benjamín Rodríguez, Giuseppe Savona | Elsevier BV | 25-Jul-2002 |
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |