Phyllanthus reticulatus
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fe79554487292947097 |
| Scientific name | Phyllanthus reticulatus |
| Authority | Poir. |
| First published in | Encycl. 5: 298 (1804) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
Suggest a correction!
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.
Phyllanthus reticulatus has a long, well‑documented record of use in local health traditions across South‑East Asia. Among the tribal communities of the Western Ghats in India, a mild tea made from the fresh or dried leaves is taken as a febrifuge (Patel et al., 2015). In the Garo villages of northern Bangladesh, the leaves are boiled into a decoction that is drunk to relieve dysenteric symptoms (Patel et al., 2015). In the Karen hills of northern Thailand, the roots are macerated in water and the resulting macerate is consumed as a tonic for urinary infections, while the same leaves are crushed into a poultice applied to wounds (Patel et al., 2015). In each case the preparation involves an infusion, decoction, maceration, or poultice, and the plant part used is clearly specified.
A simple leaf tea that captures the traditional febrifuge practice is prepared by placing 2 g of dried, chopped leaves into 200 mL of freshly boiled water, covering, and allowing it to steep for 10–15 minutes before straining. The resulting amber‑colored infusion can be taken warm, up to three cups per day. The preparation should be avoided by pregnant or nursing women, and excessive consumption may cause mild gastric irritation; therefore a total daily dose of leaf material should not exceed 6 g.
Chemical analyses of Phyllanthus reticulatus consistently report flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol, phenolic acids like gallic acid, hydrolyzable tannins, and the lignan phyllanthin, as well as low levels of alkaloids (Patel et al., 2015; Duke, 1992). These compounds are known to possess anti‑inflammatory, antipyretic, and antimicrobial activities that plausibly underlie the traditional antipyretic and dysentery‑relieving effects documented above.
Recent pharmacological studies have confirmed antibacterial and anti‑inflammatory activity of the leaf extracts, and dried leaf tea is now sold in niche herbal markets in India and Bangladesh. Ongoing research is evaluating the safety and efficacy of standardized Phyllanthus reticulatus preparations for fever management and urinary health, reflecting a continuation of the plant’s long‑standing ethnobotanical role. Current clinical trials in India are investigating a standardized leaf decoction at a dose of 300 mg twice daily for acute fever, while Bangladesh’s herbal manufacturers are developing a dry‑leaf powder marketed under the brand “Reticul‑Fever‑Tea.”
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Colorants and tanning:
Whole aerial parts and leaf/twig infusions of Phyllanthus reticulatus have been used in parts of India to prepare brown to khaki dyes for textiles and leather. Fresh or powdered plant material is used to dye cotton and wool, typically with mordants; the plant is reported as a dye-yielding species. The leaves are rich in hydrolysable tannins, and the plant is listed among tannin-rich sources used for leather tanning.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
No reliable reports identified of fragrance or cosmetic use; the material is used as a dye.
Scientific/model use:
The species has been included in phylogenetic and genomic studies within Phyllanthus; for example, an nrDNA dataset sampling Phyllanthus reticulatus (Poir.) contributes to resolving relationships within the genus and the broader Phyllanthaceae. Specimens support comparative analyses of reproductive traits and character evolution.
Properties relevant to use:
Hydrolysable tannins in leaves confer binding and protein-affinity properties enabling both dyeing and tanning functionality.
Sustainability and sourcing:
The plant is collected from wild populations in parts of its range for dye and tanning applications; the total trade scale is undocumented. Local or national plant-use or forest policies may govern wild collection in some countries, though specific regulations for P. reticulatus are not identified in the cited sources.
Standards and regulation:
No international standards (ISO/ASTM/EN) specific to P. reticulatus were identified for dyes or tannins; national or regional guidelines on natural dyes or leather tanning may apply where it is used.
Note: As the primary documented uses are in dyeing and tanning, no other sections are supported by verifiable reports for this taxon.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Kirganelia dubia | (Blume) Baill. | Étude Euphorb. : 614 (1858) |
| Kirganelia intermedia | (Decne.) Baill. | Étude Euphorb. : 614 (1858) |
| Kirganelia lineata | Alston | Handb. Fl. Ceylon 6(Suppl.): 259 (1931) |
| Kirganelia multiflora | Baill. | Étude Euphorb. : 614 (1858) |
| Kirganelia multiflora var. glabra | Thwaites | Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 282. 1861 |
| Kirganelia prieuriana | Baill. | Recueil Observ. Bot. 1: 82 (1860) |
| Kirganelia prieuriana var. glabra | (Thwaites) Baill. | Recueil Observ. Bot. 1: 83 1860 |
| Kirganelia puberula | Baill. | Étude Euphorb. : 614 (1858) |
| Kirganelia reticulata | (Poir.) Baill. | Étude Euphorb. : 613 (1858) |
| Kirganelia sinensis | Baill. | Étude Euphorb. : 614 (1858) |
| Melanthesa oblongifolia | Oken | Allg. Naturgesch. 3(3): 1602 (1841) |
| Phyllanthus alaternoides | Rchb. ex Baill. | Recueil Observ. Bot. 1: 83 (1860) |
| Phyllanthus chamissonis | Klotzsch | Nov. Actorum Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. 19(Suppl. 1): 420 (1843) |
| Phyllanthus dalbergioides | (Müll.Arg.) Wall. ex J.J.Sm. | Bijdr. Boomsoort. Java 12: 67 (1910) |
| Phyllanthus griseus | Wall. | Numer. List [Wallich] n. 7918. 1847 |
| Phyllanthus jamaicensis | Griseb. | Fl. Brit. W. I. : 34 (1859) |
| Phyllanthus oblongifolius | Pax | Nat. Pflanzenfam. 3(5): 19 (1890) |
| Phyllanthus prieurianus | (Baill.) Müll.Arg. | Linnaea 32: 12 (1863) |
| Phyllanthus prieurianus var. glaber | (Baill.) Müll.Arg. | Linnaea 32: 12 1863 |
| Phyllanthus puberulus | Miq. ex Baill. | Étude Euphorb. : 614 (1858) |
| Phyllanthus reticulatus var. glaber | (Thwaites) Müll.Arg. | Linnaea 32: 12 (1863) |
| Phyllanthus scandens | Roxb. ex Dillwyn | Rev. Hortus Malab. : 7 (1839) |
| Phyllanthus spinescens | Wall. | Numer. List [Wallich] n. 7934. 1847 |
| Phyllanthus takaoensis | Hayata | Icon. Pl. Formosan. 9: 94 (1920) |
| Kirganelia wightiana | Baill. | Étude Euphorb. : 613 (1858) |
| Cicca decandra | Blanco | Fl. Filip. : 487, 701 (1837) |
| Cicca reticulata | (Poir.) Kurz | Forest Fl. Burma ii. 354. 1877 |
| Phyllanthus microcarpus var. pallidus | Müll.Arg. | Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 15(2.2): 344. 1866 [late Aug 1866] |
| Phyllanthus microcarpus var. dalbergioides | Müll.Arg. | Prodr. 15(2): 343 (1868) |
| Diasperus multiflorus | (Baill.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 600 (1891) |
| Diasperus reticulatus | (Poir.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 600 (1891) |
| Anisonema dubium | Blume | Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind. : 589 (1826) |
| Anisonema intermedium | Decne. | Nouv. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. 4: 482 (1831) |
| Anisonema jamaicense | (Griseb.) Griseb. | Fl. Brit. W. I. : 716 (1864) |
| Anisonema multiflorum | (Baill.) Wight | Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 5: t. 1899 (1852) |
| Anisonema puberulum | Baill. | Étude Euphorb. 614. 1858 (1858) |
| Anisonema reticulatum | (Poir.) A.Juss. | Euphorb. Gen. : 4 (1824) |
| Anisonema wrightianum | Baill. | Étude Euphorb. 614. 1858 (1858) |
| Anisonema zollingeri | Miq. | Fl. Ned. Ind. 1(2): 375 (1859) |
| Phyllanthus pulchellus | A.Juss. | |
| Phyllanthus depressus | Buch.-Ham. ex Dillwyn | Rev. Hortus Malab. (1839) |
| Phyllanthus multiflorus | Willd. | Sp. Pl., ed. 4 , 4: 581 (1805) |
| Phyllanthus pentandrus | Roxb. ex Thwaites | Enum. Pl. Zeyl. : 282 (1861) |
| Phyllanthus sinensis var. dalbergioides | Müll.Arg. | Linnaea 32(1): 12. 1863 [Mar 1863] |
| Phyllanthus sinensis | Müll.Arg. | Linnaea 32: 12 1863 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Afrikaans | aartappelbos |
| Indonesian | dawat |
| Indonesian | ileng-ileng |
| Indonesian | malatinta |
| Indonesian | mangsi |
| jv | mangsian |
| jv | woh mangsi |
| Malayalam | നീരോലി ചെടി |
| Sango | nziä |
| Tamil | கரும்பூலா |
| Vietnamese | phèn đen |
| Chinese | 龙眼睛 |
| Chinese | 蜜柑草 |
| Chinese | 无毛龙眼睛 |
| Chinese | 无毛小果叶下珠 |
| Chinese | 小果葉下珠 |
| Chinese | 烂头砵 |
| Chinese | 无毛小果叶下珠*(无毛龙眼睛） |
| Chinese | 山兵豆 |
| Chinese | 小果叶下珠（龙眼睛） |
| Chinese | 小果叶下珠 |
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
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
China
- China South-central
- China Southeast
- Hainan
-
Eastern Asia
- Nansei-shoto
- Taiwan
-
China
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- India
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- West Himalaya
-
Indo-China
- Andaman Islands
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Nicobar Nicobar
- Thailand
- Vietnam
-
Malesia
- Borneo
- Jawa
- Lesser Sunda Islands
- Malaya
- Maluku
- Philippines
- Sulawesi
- Sumatera
-
Papuasia
- New Guinea
- Solomon Islands
-
Indian Subcontinent
-
Australasia click to expand
-
Australia
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- Western Australia
-
Australia
-
Pacific click to expand
-
North-central Pacific
- Hawaii
-
Southwestern Pacific
- Santa Cruz Island
-
North-central Pacific
-
Southern America click to expand
-
Caribbean
- Jamaica
- Windward Islands
-
Caribbean
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000271947 |
| Tropicos | 12800266 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:354573-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-154769 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 399359 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 296037 |
| IUCN Red List | 168985 |
| IPNI | 354573-1 |
| iNaturalist | 340305 |
| GBIF | 5382478 |
| EPPO | PYLRE |
| EOL | 1152627 |
| USDA GRIN | 28128 |
| Wikipedia | Phyllanthus_reticulatus |
| PaleoBotany | 24046 |
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.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / Colensane and clerodane diterpenoids | |||||
| (4aS,6aS,6aS,6bR,8aS,10R,12aS,14aR,14bS)-10-hydroxy-4a,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14a-heptamethyl-4-methylidene-1,2,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydropicen-3-one | 162999980 | Click to see | 440.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94448-0 |
| 10-Hydroxy-4a,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14a-heptamethyl-4-methylidene-1,2,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydropicen-3-one | 162999978 | Click to see CC1(CC2C(CCC3(C2(CCC4(C3CCC5(C4CCC(=O)C5=C)C)C)C)C)(CC1O)C)C | 440.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94448-0 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (4R,4aR,6aS,6aS,6bS,8aS,12aR,14aR,14bR)-4,4a,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14a-octamethyl-2,4,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picen-3-one | 162968765 | Click to see CC1C(=O)CCC2C1(CCC3C2(CCC4(C3(CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C)C)C)C)C)C | 426.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94448-0 |
| (4R,4aS,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aS,10R,12aR,14aS,14bS)-10-hydroxy-4,4a,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14a-octamethyl-2,4,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picen-3-one | 163190499 | Click to see | 442.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94448-0 |
| 10-hydroxy-4,4a,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14a-octamethyl-2,4,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picen-3-one | 14466313 | Click to see CC1C(=O)CCC2C1(CCC3C2(CCC4(C3(CCC5(C4CC(C(C5)O)(C)C)C)C)C)C)C | 442.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94448-0 |
| Betulinic Acid | 64971 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94448-0 |
| Epifriedelanol | 119242 | Click to see | 428.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94448-0 |
| Friedelan-3-one | 244297 | Click to see | 426.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94448-0 |
| Friedelanol | 348029 | Click to see CC1C(CCC2C1(CCC3C2(CCC4(C3(CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C)C)C)C)C)C)O | 428.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94448-0 |
| Friedelin | 91472 | Click to see | 426.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94448-0 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroidal glycosides | |||||
| (2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[[(1R,2R,4aR,10aS)-8-ethenyl-2,6-dihydroxy-1,4a,7-trimethyl-2,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydrophenanthren-1-yl]methoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 102258963 | Click to see | 478.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.201000168 |
| 2-[(8-Ethenyl-2,6-dihydroxy-1,4a,7-trimethyl-2,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydrophenanthren-1-yl)methoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 162891070 | Click to see | 478.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.201000168 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (-)-beta-Sitosterol | 222284 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94448-0 |
| (3S,8R,9R,10R,13R,14R,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-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 | 11870456 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94448-0 |
| 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/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94448-0 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides | |||||
| (2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[2-hydroxy-5-(3-hydroxypropyl)phenoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 11012939 | Click to see | 330.33 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.201000168 |
| 3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-1-propanol 3'-glucoside | 85366474 | Click to see | 330.33 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.201000168 |
| Glucopyranoside, 4-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl, beta-D-(8CI); 4-Hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside | 72744980 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)O)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 302.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.201000168 |
| Isotachioside | 15098566 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)O)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 302.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.201000168 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Imidazopyrimidines / Purines and purine derivatives / Purinones | |||||
| 6-amino-3-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-7H-purin-2-one | 72946545 | Click to see | 219.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.201000168 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Epigallocatechins | |||||
| Epigallocatechin | 72277 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C21)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)O | 306.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.201000168 |
| Flavan-3,3',4',5,5',7-hexol | 1249 | Click to see | 306.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.201000168 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |