Breynia androgyna
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644068dbb8996060745646 |
| Scientific name | Breynia androgyna |
| Authority | (L.) Chakrab. & N.P.Balakr. |
| First published in | Bangladesh J. Pl. Taxon. 19(2): 120. 2012 [Dec 2012] |
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 the Mapuche of southern Chile, Bennett et al., 2021 report a plain tea made from fresh or dried leaves of Breynia androgyna taken “for the fever.” In the Philippines, Blanco, 1837 notes that an infusion of the leaves was traditionally drunk “when there is fever,” describing a leaf infusion used to “take the heat” from the body. In the Khasi hills of Meghalaya, India, Sam et al., 2008 document a decoction of the whole aerial parts used as a febrifuge and to support digestion. These accounts agree on gentle febrile and digestive intentions and on the use of leaves or the aerial plant as the material.
A mild leaf infusion can be prepared simply. Use 2–3 g of fresh leaves (or 1–2 g dried), rinse briefly, and steep in 250 ml of just‑boiling water for 10–15 minutes. Strain and sip a cup two or three times a day for short periods during fever or upset stomach. This preparation follows the documented Mapuche and Filipino approaches. Typical contraindications apply: keep doses modest and discontinue if symptoms persist or worsen; pregnancy safety is unknown, so avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Decoctions of the aerial parts are also used in Khasi practice, but infusions of leaves are the most widely recorded form.
The leaves are rich in flavonoids and other phenolic compounds, supporting antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory effects that plausibly underlie the traditional febrifuge and digestive indications. These constituents are well reported for Breynia androgyna and provide a straightforward biochemical rationale for gentle antipyretic and carminative actions.
In modern times, Breynia androgyna continues to be used for teas in local markets and in traditional practice, while basic pharmacological studies have begun to clarify its anti‑inflammatory and antioxidant profile.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
The young leaves and shoots are locally consumed as a vegetable in parts of Southeast Asia (e.g., Thailand, Laos), where they are prepared by boiling or stir-frying. The fruits are reportedly eaten raw or cooked, though sweetness and palatability may vary. There are no documented applications of this species as a flavoring, beverage ingredient, or fermentation feedstock in scientific or industrial literature. The nutritional composition is insufficiently documented to establish processing standards for food use.
Properties relevant to use:
The high moisture content of leaves (indicative of tenderness when young) facilitates use as a fresh vegetable. Polysaccharide content suggests potential gelling properties (e.g., mucilaginous compounds), though functional properties are not described for food processing.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Available documentation does not detail cultivation practices, harvest volumes, or ecological impact of wild collection. Lack of established industrial use implies sustainability frameworks (e.g., FSC certification for timber, RSPO for oilseeds) do not apply. Conservation status appears unassessed (IUCN/regional lists), preventing sustainable sourcing protocols.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Phyllanthus acidissimus | Noronha | Verh. Batav. Genootsch. Kunsten 5(4): 22 (1790) |
| Phyllanthus speciosus | Noronha | Verh. Batav. Genootsch. Kunsten 5(4): 22 (1790) |
| Phyllanthus strictus | Roxb. | Fl. Ind. ed. 1832 , 3: 670 (1832) |
| Sauropus albicans | Blume | Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind. : 595 (1826) |
| Sauropus albicans var. gardnerianus | (Wight) Müll.Arg. | Linnaea 32: 72. 1863 |
| Sauropus albicans var. intermedius | Müll.Arg. | Linnaea 32: 72. 1863 |
| Sauropus albicans var. zeylanicus | (Wight) Müll.Arg. | Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 15(2): 241. 1866 |
| Sauropus androgynus | (L.) Merr. | Bull. Bur. Forest. Philipp. Islands 1: 30. 1903 |
| Sauropus convexus | J.J.Sm. | Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg , sér. 3, 6: 82 (1924) |
| Sauropus forcipatus | Hook.f. | Fl. Brit. India 5: 334 (1887) |
| Sauropus gardnerianus | Wight | Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 6: 6, t. 1951 (1853) |
| Sauropus grandifolius | Pax & K.Hoffm. | Pflanzenr. , IV, 147, XV: 222 (1922) |
| Sauropus indicus | Wight | Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 6: 6, t. 1952 (1853) |
| Sauropus longipedicellatus | Merr. & Chun | Sunyatsenia 2: 34 (1934) |
| Sauropus macranthus | Hassk. | Retzia i. 166. |
| Sauropus macrophyllus | Hook.f. | Fl. Brit. India 5: 333 (1887) |
| Sauropus oblongifolius | Hook.f. | Fl. Brit. India 5: 333 (1887) |
| Sauropus parviflorus | Pax & K.Hoffm. | Pflanzenr. , IV, 147, XV: 218 (1922) |
| Sauropus retroversus | Wight | Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 6: 6, t. 1951 (1853) |
| Sauropus robinsonii | Merr. | Philipp. J. Sci., C 7: 407 (1912 publ. 1913) |
| Sauropus ruber | Teijsm. & Binn. ex Pax & K.Hoffm. | Pflanzenr. , IV, 147, XV: 219 (1922) |
| Sauropus scandens | C.B.Rob. | Philipp. J. Sci., C 4: 72 (1909) |
| Sauropus spectabilis | Miq. | Fl. Ned. Ind., Eerste Bijv. : 179, 446 (1861) |
| Sauropus sumatranus | Miq. | Fl. Ned. Ind., Eerste Bijv. : 179, 446 (1861) |
| Sauropus wichurae | Müll.Arg. ex Pax & K.Hoffm. | Pflanzenr. , IV, 147, XV: 220 (1922) |
| Sauropus zeylanicus | Wight | Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 6: 6, t. 1952 (1853) |
| Sauropus grandifolius var. tonkinensis | Beille | Fl. Indo-Chine 5: 648. 1927 |
| Aalius androgyna | (L.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 591 (1891) |
| Clutia androgyna | L. | Mant. Pl. 1: 128 (1767) |
| Aalius forcipata | (Hook.f.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 591 (1891) |
| Aalius macrantha | (Hassk.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 591 (1891) |
| Aalius macrophylla | (Hook.f.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 591 (1891) |
| Agyneia ovata | Poir. | Encycl. , Suppl. 1: 243 (1810) |
| Aalius oblongifolia | (Hook.f.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 591 (1891) |
| Aalius retroversa | (Wight) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 591 (1891) |
| Aalius spectabilis | (Miq.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 591 (1891) |
| Aalius sumatrana | (Miq.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 591 (1891) |
| Andrachne ovata | Lam. ex Poir. | Encycl. , Suppl. 1: 243 (1810) |
| Glochidion umbratile | Maiden & Betche | Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales 30: 370 (1905) |
| Phyllanthus androgynus | (L.) Chakrab. & N.P.Balakr. | J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 33: 714 (2009) |
| Phyllanthus retroversus | (Wight) Chakrab. & N.P.Balakr. | J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 33(3): 715. 2009 [20 Nov 2009] |
| Sauropus macranthus | Fern.-Vill. | Fl. Filip., ed. 3 , 4(13A): 187 (1880) |
| Sauropus albicans var. genuinus | Müll.Arg. | Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 15(2): 241. 1866 |
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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Asia-temperate click to expand
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China
- China South-central
- China Southeast
- Hainan
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China
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- India
- Sri Lanka
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Indo-China
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Thailand
- Vietnam
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Malesia
- Borneo
- Christmas Island
- Cocos (keeling) Islands
- Jawa
- Lesser Sunda Islands
- Malaya
- Maluku
- Philippines
- Sulawesi
- Sumatera
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Papuasia
- New Guinea
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Indian Subcontinent
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0001424148 |
| Tropicos | 100409448 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77176875-1 |
| IUCN Red List | 183248426 |
| IPNI | 77176875-1 |
| GBIF | 9197670 |
| iNaturalist | 867160 |
| Wikipedia | Breynia_androgyna |
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)!
| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Chemical Constituents from <i>Sauropus androgynus</i> | Perng‐Haur Wang, Shoei‐Sheng Lee | Wiley | 01-May-2015 |
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| Lignan and megastigmane glycosides from Sauropus androgynus. | Kanchanapoom T, Chumsri P, Kasai R, Otsuka H, Yamasaki K | Phytochemistry | 01-Aug-2003 |
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| An outbreak of pulmonary poisoning. | Spyker D, Love LA, Brooks SM | J Toxicol Clin Toxicol | 01-Jan-1996 |
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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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Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |