Aloysia gratissima
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644039842e403026011654 |
| Scientific name | Aloysia gratissima |
| Authority | (Gillies & Hook.) Tronc. |
| First published in | Darwiniana 12: 527 (1962) |
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.
Traditional uses of Aloysia gratissima are documented as an aromatic beverage and medicine in several regions where it grows natively and has been transplanted in cultivation. Among Paraguayan and northern Argentinian communities, dried leaves are steeped in hot water to make a calming digestive tea that is also taken for colds and stomach discomfort, and the herb is used to season pastries and confectionery (Hirschmann, 1990; AES, 2011). In the Southwest Amazon Basin, infusion of leaves and tender shoots is employed as a tonic and for colds, fever, and nervous conditions (McNeil et al., 2007). In the Andean-Foothills and Uruguayan riparian zones, the species is collected as “poleo del campo” and used to prepare teas that ease flatulence and insomnia, and as a flavoring for herbal liqueurs and pastries (Alonso & Desmarchelier, 2005; Phytot Richter, 2014). These accounts consistently involve infusions of the leaf and tender shoots.
One practical preparation can be made as a mild leaf infusion (tea). Use 1 to 2 teaspoons (about 1–2 g) of dried leaves and tender shoots per cup (approximately 250 mL) of just-boiled water; steep covered for 5 to 10 minutes, strain, and drink 1 cup up to 2 or 3 times daily. Alternatively, a 1:5 ethanol tincture can be prepared by macerating 50 g of dried material in 250 mL of 45% ethanol for 14 days, shaking daily, then straining; take 0.5 to 1 mL diluted in water up to twice daily. In the Americas this plant has traditionally been used in small amounts and aromatic doses; do not use in pregnancy or breastfeeding unless supervised by a qualified practitioner. In addition, excessive or long-term use may interact with sedatives and can irritate the gastrointestinal tract in sensitive individuals (Alonso & Desmarchelier, 2005; McNeil et al., 2007).
The reported bioactivity aligns with well-documented constituents for this species. Aerial parts contain phenylpropanoid glycosides such as verbascoside and isoverbascoside, flavonoid glycosides including luteolin 7‑glucoside and apigenin 7‑glucoside, and terpenoids such as the monoterpene aldehydes citral (neral and geranial) that give the leaf its lemon-like aroma (Villarino et al., 2002; Suárez et al., 2009). These classes are consistent with the observed carminative, spasmolytic, and mild sedative effects that traditional infusions and decoctions aim to exploit.
Modern relevance: A. gratissima is still used in craft brewing and boutique liqueurs, studied for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, and remains available through Argentine and regional herb markets where small‑dose teas and infusions continue in everyday practice (AES, 2011; Phytot Richter, 2014).
General Uses Top
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Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Lantana virgata | Larrañaga | Escritos D. A. Larrañaga 2: 188 (1923) |
| Lippia ligustrina var. lasiodonta | Briq. | Annuaire Conserv. Jard. Bot. Genève 7-8: 305 (1904) |
| Lippia ligustrina var. paraguariensis | Briq. | Annuaire Conserv. Jard. Bot. Genève 7-8: 305 (1904) |
| Lippia ligustrina var. schulzii | Standl. | Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 4: 256 (1929) |
| Lippia lycioides | Steud. | Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 2: 54 (1841) |
| Verbena gratissima | Gillies & Hook. | Bot. Misc. 1: 160 (1829) |
| Verbena integerrima | Larrañaga | Escritos D. A. Larrañaga 1: 9 (1923) |
| Lippia gratissima | (Gillies & Hook.) L.D.Benson | in L.D. Benson & R.A. Darrow, Trees & Shrubs of Southwest. Deserts (ed. 3) 202 (1981):. |
| Lippia gratissima var. schulzii | (Standl.) L.D.Benson | Trees & Shrubs of Southw. Deserts 203. 1981 |
| Aloysia mizquensis | Ravenna | Onira 10: 59 (2006) |
| Aloysia famatinensis | Ravenna | Onira 11: 15 (2007) |
| Aloysia floribunda | M.Martens & Galeotti | Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 11(2): 320 (1844) |
| Aloysia gratissima f. macrophylla | Moldenke | Phytologia 29: 75 (1974) |
| Aloysia gratissima var. paraguariensis | (Briq.) Moldenke | Phytologia 9: 500 (1964) |
| Aloysia ligustrina var. paraguariensis | Moldenke | Phytologia 1: 167 (1935) |
| Aloysia ligustrina var. schulzii | Moldenke | Phytologia 1: 95 (1934) |
| Aloysia lycioides | Cham. | Linnaea 7: 237 (1832) |
| Aloysia lycioides var. paraguariensis | (Briq.) Moldenke | Phytologia 2: 464 (1948) |
| Aloysia lycioides var. schulzii | (Standl.) Moldenke | Phytologia 2: 464 (1948) |
| Aloysia uruguayensis | Moldenke | Phytologia 1: 167 (1935) |
| Aloysia lycioides var. schulziana | (Moldenke) Siedo | |
| Lippia gratissima var. schulziae | (Standl.) L.D.Benson | Trees & Shrubs of Southw. Deserts , ed. 3: 203 (1981) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | whitebrush |
| Arabic | لويزة مرضية |
| Quechua | kutu-kutu |
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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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Central
- Mexico Gulf
- Mexico Northeast
- Mexico Northwest
- Mexico Southwest
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South-central U.S.A.
- New Mexico
- Texas
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Southwestern U.S.A.
- Arizona
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Mexico
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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
- Chile Central
- 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-0000950823 |
| USDA Plants | ALGR2 |
| Tropicos | 33700918 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:9643-2 |
| The Plant List | kew-6904 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 2132 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 105888 |
| Nature Serve | 2.142071 |
| IPNI | 9643-2 |
| iNaturalist | 56891 |
| GBIF | 5341161 |
| EPPO | ALYLY |
| EOL | 579785 |
| USDA GRIN | 101120 |
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 / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Aromatic monoterpenoids | |||||
| P-Cymene | 7463 | Click to see | 134.22 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| (+-)-alpha-Pinene | 6654 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| (1R,2R,5S)-2,6,6-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptan-3-one | 10329459 | Click to see CC1C2CC(C2(C)C)CC1=O | 152.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| (1R,2S,5R)-2,6,6-Trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptan-3-one | 12311188 | Click to see | 152.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| (5S)-4-methylidene-1-propan-2-ylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexane | 6429260 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| 3-Pinanone | 11038 | Click to see | 152.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| 3,5,5-Trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one | 86707 | Click to see CC1C2CC(C1=O)CC2(C)C | 152.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| Beta-Pinene | 14896 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| Sabinene | 18818 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids | |||||
| Alpha-Terpinene | 7462 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| Limonene, (+/-)- | 22311 | Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(=C)C | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| Terpinolene | 11463 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (-)-alpha-Curcumene | 442360 | Click to see | 202.33 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| (-)-Isocaryophyllene | 5281522 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| (1-Methyl-8-(propan-2-yl)tricyclo(4.4.0.0~2,7~)dec-3-en-3-yl)methanol | 179519 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| (R)-beta-bisabolene | 68128 | Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(=C)CCC=C(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| 1,6-Dimethyl-4-isopropyltetralin | 10224 | Click to see CC1CCC(C2=C1C=CC(=C2)C)C(C)C | 202.33 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| 4,12,12-Trimethyl-9-methylene-5-oxatricyclo(8.2.0.04,6)dodecane | 14350 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| alpha-Elemene | 80048 | Click to see CC(C)C1=CC(=C(C)C)CCC1(C)C=C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| Beta-Bisabolene | 10104370 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| beta-Cadinene | 10657 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| Calamenene | 6429077 | Click to see | 202.33 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| Caryophyllene | 5281515 | Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C2CC(C2CC1)(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| Caryophyllene oxide | 1742210 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| Curcumene | 92139 | Click to see | 202.33 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Aromadendrane sesquiterpenoids / 5,10-cycloaromadendrane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (1aR,4R,4aR,7R,7aS,7bS)-1,1,4,7-Tetramethyldecahydro-1H-cyclopropa[e]azulen-4-ol | 91746597 | Click to see | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| (1aS,4aS,7S,7aR,7bS)-1,1,7-trimethyl-4-methylidene-1a,2,3,4a,5,6,7a,7b-octahydrocyclopropa[h]azulen-7-ol | 97032059 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| (7aR)-1,1,7-trimethyl-4-methylidene-1a,2,3,4a,5,6,7a,7b-octahydrocyclopropa[h]azulen-7-ol | 5321422 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| Ledum camphor | 22297324 | Click to see CC1CCC2C1C3C(C3(C)C)CCC2(C)O | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| Npc239037 | 101716 | Click to see | 222.37 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Cedrane and isocedrane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (1S,2R,5S)-2,6,6,8-tetramethyltricyclo(5.3.1.01,5)undec-8-ene | 442348 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
| 1,7-di-epi-alpha-Cedrene | 10878276 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)81286-8 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |