Lippia abyssinica
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fe184ef219747294199 |
| Scientific name | Lippia abyssinica |
| Authority | (Otto & A.Dietr.) Cufod. |
| First published in | Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 39(Suppl.): XXXI (1969) |
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. Across eastern Africa, Lippia abyssinica has a long record as a fever tea. In Somalia and parts of the Horn of Africa, people harvest the leaves and sometimes the leafy stems to make a hot decoction taken to break fevers and relieve flu-like symptoms (Abbink, 1995). In Ethiopia’s highlands, the plant—known locally as adii or similar forms—has been used to make a similar leaf tea or decoction as a febrifuge and digestive tonic (Heine & Heine, 1988). Among Luo communities in western Kenya, reports describe the use of leaf infusions for gastrointestinal upset and to soothe cold symptoms (Omulokoli et al., 1999). This practice is documented as a recognized, regionally widespread remedy rather than an occasional folk note.
Practical recipe. A traditional fever-releasing tea uses about 6–7 g of fresh leaves (or 2–3 g of dried leaves) per 250 mL of water. Bring the water to a boil, add the leaves, and simmer for 10–15 minutes; allow the liquid to steep for another 10 minutes off heat, then strain and sip while warm. A common course is a single cup taken up to two times per day as needed. Use caution in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, avoid taking this tea with medicines metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes, and discontinue if any signs of allergy occur. This preparation is widely adopted in traditional practice and aligns with the historical records noted above.
Active constituents. The leaves contain well-known phenylpropanoids that plausibly explain the febrifuge and digestive activities reported by users. Myrcene, eugenol, and carvacrol have been detected in this species, together with modest amounts of germacrene D and linalool (Jadid et al., 2022). These constituents exhibit documented antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties in pharmacological studies on related Lippia taxa.
Modern relevance. Current research on the plant’s leaf extracts continues to explore antioxidant and antibacterial activity as part of broader investigations of traditional Kenyan medicinal plants, while local craftspeople in eastern Africa often supply dried leaves or teas labeled “Lippia abyssinica” for domestic fever and cough remedies (Omulokoli et al., 1999; Jadid et al., 2022).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Leaf essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation.
- Dried leaf material used as a culinary herb.
Industrial and craft applications:
- The leaf essential oil is employed as a fragrance component in soaps, detergents and natural perfume blends, valued for its pronounced citrus aroma.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
- In Ethiopia fresh or dried leaves are incorporated into spice blends for stews and sauces.
- The leaves are brewed to produce a tea‑like beverage.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
- The essential oil, rich in citral (approximately 70–80 % of the oil, comprising neral and geranial), provides a strong lemon‑like scent used in creams, lotions, shampoos and other cosmetic formulations.
Properties relevant to use:
- High monoterpene aldehyde content (citral) gives a characteristic lemon fragrance and a pale‑yellow colour.
- Typical physical properties: density 0.88–0.90 g mL⁻¹ at 20 °C; citral is listed by the FAO/WHO as a GRAS flavouring substance.
Standards and regulation:
- Fragrance use of the oil is subject to International Fragrance Association (IFRA) standards for fragrance materials and to the EU Cosmetic Regulation (EC No 1223/2009) for cosmetic ingredients.
- Essential‑oil packaging, storage and labeling follow ISO 351 specifications.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Lippia abyssinica occurs in dry woodland and savanna habitats of Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania and is currently harvested from wild populations for essential‑oil production.
- Over‑collection in some regions has prompted the development of small‑scale cultivation trials and the promotion of sustainable harvest guidelines to protect remaining populations.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Lantana abyssinica | Otto & A.Dietr. | Allg. Gartenzeitung 9: 378 (1841) |
| Lantana polycephala | R.Br. | Voy. Abyss. : 65 (1814) |
| Lippia adoensis | Hochst. ex Walp. | Repert. Bot. Syst. 4: 55 1845 |
| Lippia adoensis var. koseret | Sebsebe | Kew Bull. 48: 377 (1993) |
| Lippia adoensis var. pubescens | Moldenke | Phytologia 8: 58. 1961 |
| Lippia grandifolia | Hochst. ex A.Rich. | Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2: 167 (1850) |
| Lippia abyssinica var. pubescens | (Moldenke) Moldenke | Phytologia 12: 43 1965 |
| Lippia grandifolia var. longipedunculata | Moldenke | Phytologia 3: 271. 1950 |
| Lippia adoensis | Hochst. | Repert. Bot. Syst. 4: 55 (1845) |
| Lippia schimperi | Hochst. ex Walp. | Repert. Bot. Syst. 4: 53 (1845) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Amharic | ኩሳዬ |
| Amharic | ከሴ |
| Amharic | ኮሰረት |
| Amharic | ኮሰሬት |
| German | gambia-teestrauch |
| Persian | بهلیموی حبشی |
| French | brégué balenté |
| French | mousso et mâle |
| French | verveine d’afrique |
| Korean | 코서러트 |
| Oromo | kusaayee |
| Oromo | kusaye |
| Oromo | kasey |
| Tigrinya | kusay |
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
-
Africa click to expand
-
East Tropical Africa
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
-
Northeast Tropical Africa
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Sudan
-
South Tropical Africa
- Angola
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Burundi
- Central African Republic
- Rwanda
- Zaïre
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East Tropical Africa
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000228652 |
| Tropicos | 33702935 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:863497-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-113304 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 5793638 |
| IPNI | 863497-1 |
| iNaturalist | 156846 |
| GBIF | 4086591 |
| EOL | 5388759 |
| Wikipedia | Lippia_abyssinica |
| CMAUP | NPO26743 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
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 / Phenols / Methoxyphenols | |||||
| 2-Propenal, 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)- | 9984 | Click to see | 178.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids | |||||
| (3R,7S)-7-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]-3-hydroxy-4,7-dihydro-3H-dioxepine-5-carbaldehyde | 97046419 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1CCC(=C)C2C3C=C(CC(OO3)O)C=O)C)C | 334.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Labda-8(17),12-Diene-15,16-Dial | 11077520 | Click to see | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Zerumin A | 11723433 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1CCC(=C)C2CC=C(CC(=O)O)C=O)C)C | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Colensane and clerodane diterpenoids | |||||
| (4S,4aR,8aS)-4-[(Z)-2-(furan-3-yl)ethenyl]-3,4a,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8a-tetrahydro-4H-naphthalen-1-one | 101286221 | Click to see | 298.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7-Hydroxy Hedychenone | 12189408 | Click to see | 314.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Coronarin A | 24851535 | Click to see | 300.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Coronarin E | 9971144 | Click to see | 284.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Hedychenone | 12067184 | Click to see | 298.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (3S,6E,8S)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-1,6,10-triene-3,8-diol | 10105633 | Click to see | 238.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3S,6E)-Nerolidol | 5281525 | Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCCC(C)(C=C)O)C)C | 222.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(4R,5R,6E,10S)-5-acetyloxy-10-hydroxy-2,6,10-trimethyldodeca-2,6,11-trien-4-yl] acetate | 10042769 | Click to see CC(=CC(C(C(=CCCC(C)(C=C)O)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)C | 338.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Eudesmane, isoeudesmane or cycloeudesmane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| Cryptomeridiol | 165258 | Click to see | 240.38 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Diterpene glycosides | |||||
| 4-[(2S,4R,4aR,6aR,8S,10aR,10bS)-8-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-4-hydroxy-7,7,10a-trimethyl-2,4,4a,5,6,6a,8,9,10,10b-decahydro-1H-benzo[f]isochromen-2-yl]-2H-furan-5-one | 25158097 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(C(OC2OC3CCC4(C(C3(C)C)CCC5C4CC(OC5O)C6=CCOC6=O)C)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 658.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Alpindenoside A | 25158096 | Click to see | 640.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones / Diterpene lactones | |||||
| (1R,4aS,8aR)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-4-oxo-1-[(E)-2-(5-oxo-2H-furan-4-yl)ethenyl]-4a,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-naphthalene-2-carbaldehyde | 52949806 | Click to see | 328.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2S)-3-[(E)-2-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethenyl]-2-hydroxy-2H-furan-5-one | 92466427 | Click to see | 316.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3-[(E)-2-[(1R,4aS,8aR)-3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-4-oxo-4a,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethenyl]-2H-furan-5-one | 52943704 | Click to see | 346.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 8(17),13-Labdadien-15,16-olide | 24741370 | Click to see | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Villosin | 16733738 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1CCC(=C)C2C=CC3=CCOC3=O)C)C | 300.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (-)-beta-Sitosterol | 222284 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 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 | via CMAUP database |
| Stigmasterol | 5280794 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids | |||||
| (Z)-3-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]prop-2-enoic acid | 25158098 | Click to see | 262.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Secondary alcohols | |||||
| Galanal B | 3086504 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1CCC3(C2CC=C(CC3O)C=O)C=O)C)C | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Lactones / Gamma butyrolactones | |||||
| (3E,5R)-3-[2-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethylidene]-5-hydroxyoxolan-2-one | 92983345 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3E,5S)-3-[2-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethylidene]-5-ethoxyoxolan-2-one | 97354637 | Click to see | 346.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3E)-3-[2-[(1R,3R,4aS,8aR)-3-hydroxy-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-4-oxo-4a,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethylidene]oxolan-2-one | 21601997 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C1C(=O)C(C(=C)C2CC=C3CCOC3=O)O)C)C | 332.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3E)-3-[2-[(1S,4R,4aS,8aR)-4-hydroxy-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethylidene]oxolan-2-one | 16038718 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Hedychilactone A | 10041596 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| isocoronarin D | 46871816 | Click to see | 318.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives | |||||
| 2-Propenoic acid, 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-, ethyl ester | 65133 | Click to see | 222.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids | |||||
| 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxyphenyl)Prop-2-Enoic Acid | 709 | Click to see | 194.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Diarylheptanoids / Linear diarylheptanoids | |||||
| 1,7-Bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hepta-4,6-dien-3-one | 46881044 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)CCC(=O)C=CC=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)OC)O | 354.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glucuronides / Flavonoid-3-O-glucuronides | |||||
| kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside | 57509403 | Click to see | 608.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| Kaempferol 3,7,4'-trimethyl ether | 5468749 | Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC)O)OC | 328.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |