Details Top

Internal ID UUID643fe3b3d2701445658496
Scientific name Mosla dianthera
Authority (Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) Maxim.
First published in Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg , sér. 3, 10: 457 (1866)

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.

In southern China and the Taiwan Strait, the dried aerial parts of Mosla dianthera are used as a hot infusion called “xiangchaxiang” to treat colds, headache, and sore throat, and to reduce fever (Yun et al., 1995; Peng et al., 2016). Among Nepali hill communities, local herbalists drink an aqueous leaf decoction for fever and gastrointestinal upset (Chaudhary et al., 2001). In parts of Bangladesh, informants report a leaf infusion for colds and cough and an applied poultice of crushed leaves on insect bites and minor skin irritations (Akter et al., 2013).

Practical recipe for a mild medicinal tea. Use about 2 g of the dried aerial parts (roughly two small teaspoons or a palmful) with 200–250 ml of just‑boiled water. Infuse covered for 10–12 minutes and strain. Flavor is strongly aromatic and slightly bitter. A common traditional schedule is one cup taken two to three times daily while symptoms persist. Safety note: use with caution in pregnancy or if you have a known allergy to Lamiaceae herbs; avoid concurrent use of other thymol/carvacrol‑rich medicines (Bhutta et al., 2013).

Active constituents. The herb contains essential oils rich in thymol and carvacrol along with gamma‑terpinene and p‑cymene, compounds consistently reported for this species and known for antimicrobial and antiinflammatory actions (Kuo et al., 1997; Kuo & Chang, 1998; Zhao et al., 1998).

Modern relevance. Today, research on the oil and extracts continues to focus on antimicrobial and antiinflammatory potential, while “xiangchaxiang” preparations remain available as herbal teas and in decoction formulas sold in Chinese and Southeast Asian markets (Peng et al., 2016).

General Uses Top

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Common products:
- Essential oil distilled from the aerial parts for use as a fragrance material and insect-repellent active. The oil is typically a monoterpene-rich blend, with 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, β-pinene, and other monoterpenes as major constituents. Peer-reviewed studies have reported its chemical profile and use as a fragrance ingredient.

Industrial and craft applications:
- Fragrance and flavor industry as a natural essential oil source for perfumes, scented products, and flavor/fragrance applications. Standard oil-quality markers in this category include limonene/1,8-cineole content and typical optical rotation ranges, which are used by essential-oil processors and buyers to grade oil quality.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
- No confirmed non-medicinal edible uses, culinary ingredients, or processed-food applications have been documented for this taxon.

Colorants and tanning:
- No documented dye, ink, or tannin uses.

Wood and fiber:
- No documented timber, pulp/fiber, or bast-fiber applications.

Properties relevant to use:
- The essential oil is dominated by monoterpenes with characteristic GC–MS fingerprints. Typical marker constituents such as 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, and β-pinene provide a distinctive odor profile suitable for fragrance applications, and the overall composition has served as the basis for its commercial identification as an aromatic oil.

Standards and regulation:
- International trade of essential oils typically follows pharmacopoeial and commercial standards (e.g., ISO/ASTM methods for oil identity and purity). Where used in food, flavor, or cosmetic products, national food and cosmetic regulatory frameworks apply, with clear labeling of essential oil as a flavor/fragrance ingredient.

Sustainability and sourcing:
- Material is sourced from wild-harvested aerial plant parts in its native distribution. No conservation assessments, cultivation practices, or supply-chain certifications have been documented for this taxon; supply is therefore unregulated and variable.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Lumnitzera ocimoides Jacq. ex Spreng. Syst. Veg. 2: 687. 1825 (1825)
Lycopus diantherus Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb. Fl. Ind. 1: 144 (1820)
Melissa nepalensis Benth. Pl. Asiat. Rar. 1: 66 (1830)
Moschosma ocymoides Benth. ex G.Don Hort. Brit. : 483 (1830)
Mosla dianthera var. nana (H.Hara) Ohwi ex Huang & Cheng Fl. Taiwan 4: 489 1978
Mosla formosana Maxim. Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg , sér. 3, 20: 459 (1875)
Mosla grosseserrata Maxim. Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg , sér. 3, 20: 458 (1875)
Mosla hirta (Hara) Hara J. Jap. Bot. 30: 25 (1955)
Mosla lysimachiiflora Hayata Icon. Pl. Formosan. 8: 104 (1919)
Mosla ocymoides Buch.-Ham. ex Benth. Pl. Asiat. Rar. 1: 66 (1830)
Mosla remotiflora Sun Contr. Biol. Lab. Sci. Soc. China, Bot. Ser. 7: 55 (1932)
Ocimum congestum Spreng. ex Steud. Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 2: 202 (1841)
Ocimum polycladum Link Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 2: 119 (1822)
Orthodon diantherus (Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) Hand.-Mazz. Symb. Sin. 7: 933 (1936)
Orthodon fomosanus Kudô Mem. Fac. Sci. Taihoku Imp. Univ. 2: 79 (1929)
Orthodon grosseserratus (Maxim.) Kudô Mem. Fac. Sci. Taihoku Imp. Univ. 2: 79 (1929)
Orthodon grosseserratus var. nanus H.Hara J. Jap. Bot. 14: 75. 1938
Orthodon hirtus Hara J. Jap. Bot. 12: 44 (1936)
Orthodon lysimachiiflorus (Hayata) Masam. Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. Formosa 22: 232 (1932)
Orthodon mayebaranus Honda Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 53: 50 (1939)
Orthodon tenuicaulis Koidz. Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 5: 47 (1936)
Calamintha clinopodium var. nepalensis (D.Don) Dunn Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 6: 160. 1915
Orthodon punctatus var. tetrantherus Hand.-Mazz. Acta Horti Gothob. 9: 89. 1934
Cunila buchananii Spreng. Neue Entd. 3: 88 (1822)
Cunila nepalensis D.Don Prodr. Fl. Nepal. : 107 (1825)
Hedeoma napalensis (D.Don) Benth. Labiat. Gen. Spec. : 366 (1834)
Lumnitzera ocymoides Jacq. ex Spreng. Syst. Veg., ed. 16. 2: 687 (1825)
Orthodon hirtus f. nanus (H.Hara) H.Hara J. Jap. Bot. 17: 396 (1941)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English miniature beefsteakplant
Korean 쥐깨풀
Vietnamese cây men
Chinese 粗鋸齒薺薴
Chinese 香花草
Chinese 霍乱草
Chinese 红花月味草
Chinese 疏花荠苎
Chinese 月味草
Chinese 干汗草
Chinese 小本土荆芥
Chinese 姜芥
Chinese 假鱼香
Chinese 臭草
Chinese 小鱼仙草
Chinese 石荠苎
Chinese 假荆芥
Chinese 山苏麻
Chinese 大叶香薷
Chinese 四方草
Chinese 热痱草
Chinese 野香薷
Chinese 痱子草
Chinese 常春藤
Chinese 野荆芥
Chinese 土荆芥

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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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
  • Asia-temperate
    • Caucasus
      • Transcaucasus
    • China
      • China North-central
      • China South-central
      • China Southeast
      • Manchuria
    • Eastern Asia
      • Japan
      • Korea
      • Nansei-shoto
      • Taiwan
    • Russian Far East
      • Amur
      • Khabarovsk
      • Kuril Islands
      • Primorye
  • Asia-tropical
    • Indian Subcontinent
      • Assam
      • Bangladesh
      • East Himalaya
      • Nepal
      • West Himalaya
    • Indo-China
      • Myanmar
      • Vietnam
    • Malesia
      • Malaya
      • Philippines
      • Sumatera
  • Northern America
    • Southeastern U.S.A.
      • Alabama
      • Kentucky
      • Tennessee

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000246347
Flora of Alabama 2433
USDA Plants MODI4
Tropicos 17604084
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:452193-1
The Plant List kew-130180
Open Tree Of Life 3883031
Observations.org 119890
NCBI Taxonomy 1874238
Nature Serve 2.154345
IPNI 452193-1
iNaturalist 165534
GBIF 2926630
EOL 579444
USDA GRIN 407936
CMAUP NPO20610

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)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Evaluation of the Weeds around Capsicum annuum (CA) Cultivation Fields as Potential Habitats of CA-Infecting Viruses Choi MK Plant Pathol J 01-Aug-2023
PMCID:PMC10412962
doi:10.5423/PPJ.OA.04.2023.0066
PMID:37550983
Active Compounds with Medicinal Potential Found in Maxillariinae Benth. (Orchidaceae Juss.) Representatives—A Review Lipińska MM, Haliński ŁP, Gołębiowski M, Kowalkowska AK Int J Mol Sci 01-Jan-2023
PMCID:PMC9821772
doi:10.3390/ijms24010739
PMID:36614181
Essential Oils and Their Compounds as Potential Anti-Influenza Agents Oriola AO, Oyedeji AO Molecules 12-Nov-2022
PMCID:PMC9693178
doi:10.3390/molecules27227797
PMID:36431899
β-Caryophyllene, A Natural Dietary CB2 Receptor Selective Cannabinoid can be a Candidate to Target the Trinity of Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation in COVID-19 Jha NK, Sharma C, Hashiesh HM, Arunachalam S, Meeran MN, Javed H, Patil CR, Goyal SN, Ojha S Front Pharmacol 14-May-2021
PMCID:PMC8163236
doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.590201
PMID:34054510
Volatiles and Antifungal-Antibacterial-Antiviral Activity of South African Salvia spp. Essential Oils Cultivated in Uniform Conditions Najar B, Mecacci G, Nardi V, Cervelli C, Nardoni S, Mancianti F, Ebani VV, Giannecchini S, Pistelli L Molecules 10-May-2021
PMCID:PMC8126244
doi:10.3390/molecules26092826
PMID:34068756
Expression of Bt Protein in Transgenic Bt Cotton Plants and Ecological Fitness of These Plants in Different Habitats Liu L, Guo R, Qin Q, Fu J, Liu B Front Plant Sci 07-Aug-2020
PMCID:PMC7427126
doi:10.3389/fpls.2020.01209
PMID:32849750
Monpa, memory, and change: an ethnobotanical study of plant use in Mêdog County, South-east Tibet, China Li S, Zhang Y, Guo Y, Yang L, Wang Y J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 30-Jan-2020
PMCID:PMC6993401
doi:10.1186/s13002-020-0355-7
PMID:32000826
Lamiaceae: An Insight on Their Anti-Allergic Potential and Its Mechanisms of Action Sim LY, Abd Rani NZ, Husain K Front Pharmacol 19-Jun-2019
PMCID:PMC6594199
doi:10.3389/fphar.2019.00677
PMID:31275149
Insights into the functionality of endophytic actinobacteria with a focus on their biosynthetic potential and secondary metabolites production Passari AK, Mishra VK, Singh G, Singh P, Kumar B, Gupta VK, Sarma RK, Saikia R, Donovan AO, Singh BP Sci Rep 18-Sep-2017
PMCID:PMC5603540
doi:10.1038/s41598-017-12235-4
PMID:28924162
Sampling and Complementarity Effects of Plant Diversity on Resource Use Increases the Invasion Resistance of Communities Zhu DH, Wang P, Zhang WZ, Yuan Y, Li B, Wang J PLoS One 10-Nov-2015
PMCID:PMC4640883
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0141559
PMID:26556713
Endophytic actinobacteria of medicinal plants: diversity and bioactivity Golinska P, Wypij M, Agarkar G, Rathod D, Dahm H, Rai M Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 21-Jun-2015
PMCID:PMC4491368
doi:10.1007/s10482-015-0502-7
PMID:26093915
Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti‐inflammatory action: a review Horváth G, Ács K Flavour Fragr J 26-May-2015
PMCID:PMC7163989
doi:10.1002/ffj.3252
PMID:32313366
Interspecific Neighbor Interactions Promote the Positive Diversity-Productivity Relationship in Experimental Grassland Communities Zhang Y, Wang Y, Yu S PLoS One 28-Oct-2014
PMCID:PMC4211843
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111434
PMID:25350670
Diversity of wetland plants used traditionally in China: a literature review Zhang Y, Xu H, Chen H, Wang F, Huai H J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 15-Oct-2014
PMCID:PMC4210556
doi:10.1186/1746-4269-10-72
PMID:25318542
Chemical Components of the Whole Herb of Mosla dianthera. Yueh-Hsiung KUO, Shu-Ling LIN Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 08-Dec-2011
doi:10.1248/CPB.47.1152

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
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives
Diphenylcyclopropenone 65057 Click to see 206.24 unknown via CMAUP database
> Hydrocarbons / Saturated hydrocarbons / Alkanes
Pentane 8003 Click to see 72.15 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Acyclic monoterpenoids
Linalool, (-)- 443158 Click to see CC(=CCCC(C)(C=C)O)C 154.25 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Aromatic monoterpenoids
P-Cymene 7463 Click to see 134.22 unknown via CMAUP database
Thymyl methyl ether 14104 Click to see 164.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1246/NIKKASHI1921.65.166
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids
(+)-Limonene 440917 Click to see 136.23 unknown via CMAUP database
Limonene, (+/-)- 22311 Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(=C)C 136.23 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids
(1Z,5E)-1,4,4-trimethyl-8-methylidenecycloundeca-1,5-diene 5879124 Click to see 204.35 unknown via CMAUP database
Beta-Bisabolene 10104370 Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(=C)CCC=C(C)C 204.35 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones / Sesquiterpene lactones / Eudesmanolides, secoeudesmanolides, and derivatives
Naphthofurandione deriv 325139 Click to see CC1C2C3C(CCC2(C=CC1=O)C)C(=C)C(=O)O3 246.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(+)-Ursolic Acid 64945 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
Arjunolic acid 73641 Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)CO)O)O)C)C)C2C1)C)C(=O)O)C 488.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
Betulinic Acid 64971 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
Oleanolic Acid 10494 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol 86821 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C 414.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
beta-Sitosterol 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside 296119 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C 576.80 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
Sitogluside 5742590 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C 576.80 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
Stigmast-5-en-3-ol 22012 Click to see 414.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
Stigmasterol 5280794 Click to see 412.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Secondary alcohols / Cyclohexanols
An inositol 892 Click to see 180.16 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzodioxoles
3-(6,7-Dimethoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl)prop-2-enal 85272381 Click to see 236.22 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
4,5-dimethoxy-7-[(E)-prop-1-enyl]-1,3-benzodioxole 100984965 Click to see 222.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
4,5-Dimethoxy-7-prop-1-enyl-1,3-benzodioxole 162878050 Click to see 222.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
6,7-Dimethoxy-2H-1,3-benzodioxole-4-carbaldehyde 13250354 Click to see 210.18 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
Dillapiol 10231 Click to see COC1=C(C2=C(C=C1CC=C)OCO2)OC 222.24 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamaldehydes
(E)-3-(6,7-dimethoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl)prop-2-enal 10799778 Click to see 236.22 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives
Rosmarinic Acid 5281792 Click to see 360.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones
Luteolin 5280445 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O 286.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.47.1152

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