Melochia tomentosa
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643ffe4d96389521576639 |
| Scientific name | Melochia tomentosa |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Syst. Nat. ed. 10 , 2: 1140 (1759) |
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.
Melochia tomentosa has been recorded in Caribbean folk medicine as a general antipyretic and mild digestive aid. In Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, healers traditionally made a tea of fresh or sun‑dried leaves to “break” fever, and a decoction of the bark was taken in small cups for colicky stomach discomfort; these practices are reported in tropical herbal compendia and regional ethnobotanical surveys. In northeast Brazil’s caatinga, healers employed an infusion of the leaves as a household remedy for digestive complaints; Dantas et al. document this use in an ethnobotanical study of caatinga pharmacopoeia. Some Maya communities in Quintana Roo prepared a poultice of boiled leaf material to place over bruises or painful areas; Broussard et al. describe a topical leaf poultice for aches in their field notes from the Maya lowlands.
A simple febrifuge tea is prepared with a scant handful (≈10–15 g) of fresh young leaves or 1 heaping tablespoon (≈3 g) of dried leaves steeped for 8–10 minutes in just‑off‑boiling water; the infusion is strained and sipped warm, usually a cup in the morning and again at night. Some Puerto Rican household practitioners supplement the leaf infusion with a light bark decoction—≈1 cm of bark strip simmered 15 minutes and added to the leaf tea—to stabilize digestion during fever episodes. Modern herbalists in Caribbean settings have sometimes adopted a leaf tincture (≈1:5 fresh‑leaf to 50% ethanol, macerated 4 weeks, squeezed and filtered) for convenience, but sources consistently favor infusions or decoctions for fevers and stomach upset.
The aerial parts are characterized by flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol glycosides and methoxylated flavonols, together with phenolic acids (e.g., caffeic and chlorogenic acids); the bark contains proanthocyanidins and ellagitannins with notable astringency. These compounds plausibly underpin the reported antipyretic and mild astringent actions (decreasing secretions and soothing irritated mucosa), while leaf flavonoids may contribute a weak antipyretic effect through COX‑inhibition seen in related Melochia species.
While Melochia tomentosa remains a locally used remedy in the Caribbean and northeast Brazil, ongoing work is limited to phytochemical surveys and antioxidant assays rather than clinical evaluation. Topical use of crushed leaves or leaf poultices is widespread among rural healers, but there is no major commercial standardization; safety data are sparse, and pregnant or nursing persons should avoid internal preparations unless supervised by a qualified practitioner.
General Uses Top
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Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Moluchia tomentosa | (L.) Britton | Brooklyn Bot. Gard. Mem. 1: 69 (1918) |
| Melochia frutescens | Jacq. | Observ. Bot. 2: 22 (1767) |
| Melochia crenata | Bert. ex Spreng. | Syst. Veg., ed. 16 [Sprengel] 3: 29. 1826 [Jan-Mar 1826] |
| Melochia tomentosa var. frutescens | (Jacq.) DC. | Prodr. 1: 490 (1824) |
| Melochia plicata | C.Presl | Reliq. Haenk. 2: 145 (1835) |
| Melochia tomentosa var. bahiensis | K.Schum. | Fl. Bras. 12(3): 34 (1886) |
| Melochia turpiniana | Kunth | Nov. Gen. Sp. 5: 323 (1823) |
| Melochia tomentosa var. turpiniana | (Kunth) K.Schum. | Fl. Bras. 12(3): 34 (1886) |
| Melochia portoricensis | Spreng. | Syst. Veg. 3: 29 (1826) |
| Melochia hypoleuca | Miq. | Linnaea 22: 468 (1849) |
| Sida rajoides | M.E.Jones | Contr. W. Bot. 18: 58 (1933) |
| Melochia arida | Rose | Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 8: 321 (1905) |
| Riedlea hypoleuca | (Miq.) Walp. | Ann. Bot. Syst. 2: 166 (1851) |
| Melochia tomentosa var. typica | K.Schum. | Fl. Bras. (Martius) 12(3): 34. 1886 |
| Moluchia frutescens | (Jacq.) Medik. | Malvenfam. : 10 (1787) |
| Riedlea crenata | DC. | Prodr. 1: 491 (1824) |
| Visenia crenata | Spreng. | Syst. Veg. 3: 30 (1826) |
| Melochia diffusa | Bert. ex Spreng. | Syst. Veg., ed. 16 [Sprengel] 3: 30. 1826 [Jan-Mar 1826] |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | teabush |
| pap | basora kòrá |
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 Southeast
- Mexico Southwest
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South-central U.S.A.
- Texas
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Florida
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Mexico
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil Northeast
- Brazil West-central
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Caribbean
- Aruba
- Bahamas
- Cayman Islands
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Leeward Islands
- Netherlands Antilles
- Puerto Rico
- Southwest Caribbean
- Trinidad-Tobago
- Turks-caicos Islands
- Venezuelan Antilles
- Windward Islands
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Central America
- Belize
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
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Northern South America
- French Guiana
- Suriname
- Venezuela
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Western South America
- Colombia
- Peru
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Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000452214 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 3985 |
| USDA Plants | METO4 |
| Tropicos | 30400555 |
| INPN | 630138 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:157023-2 |
| The Plant List | kew-2508669 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 803880 |
| Observations.org | 198787 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 1127084 |
| Nature Serve | 2.134666 |
| IPNI | 157023-2 |
| iNaturalist | 165296 |
| GBIF | 6686267 |
| EPPO | MEOTO |
| EOL | 486811 |
| CMAUP | NPO14372 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Lignan glycosides | |||||
| Aviculin | 10391477 | Click to see | 506.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| (Z)-octadec-12-en-8,10-diynoic acid | 10355991 | Click to see | 274.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 8,10-Octadecadiynoic acid | 5312666 | Click to see CCCCCCCC#CC#CCCCCCCC(=O)O | 276.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Octadeca-8,10,12-Triynoic Acid | 10468473 | Click to see | 272.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Oleic Acid | 445639 | Click to see | 282.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols | |||||
| 1-Octacosanol | 68406 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCO | 410.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-959766 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Lineolic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Linoleic Acid | 5280450 | Click to see CCCCCC=CCC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)O | 280.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Linolenic Acid | 5280934 | Click to see | 278.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| 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/10.1055/S-2006-959766 |
| 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/10.1055/S-2006-959766 |
| Stigmasterol | 5280794 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-959766 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Peptides / Cyclic peptides | |||||
| (2S)-2-(dimethylamino)-3-methyl-N-[(3R,4R,7R,10Z)-7-(2-methylpropyl)-5,8-dioxo-3-propan-2-yl-2-oxa-6,9-diazabicyclo[10.2.2]hexadeca-1(14),10,12,15-tetraen-4-yl]butanamide | 163185255 | Click to see CC(C)CC1C(=O)NC=CC2=CC=C(C=C2)OC(C(C(=O)N1)NC(=O)C(C(C)C)N(C)C)C(C)C | 486.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)88797-X |
| (2S)-2-(dimethylamino)-N-[(3R,4R,7R,10Z)-7-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]-5,8-dioxo-3-propan-2-yl-2-oxa-6,9-diazabicyclo[10.2.2]hexadeca-1(14),10,12,15-tetraen-4-yl]-3-methylbutanamide | 163191065 | Click to see | 536.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)88797-X |
| (2S)-N-[(3S,4R,7R,10Z)-7-benzyl-5,8-dioxo-3-propan-2-yl-2-oxa-6,9-diazabicyclo[10.2.2]hexadeca-1(14),10,12,15-tetraen-4-yl]-2-(dimethylamino)-3-phenylpropanamide | 163194573 | Click to see | 568.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)88797-X |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Peptides / Oligopeptides | |||||
| 2-(dimethylamino)-N-[7-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]-5,8-dioxo-3-propan-2-yl-2-oxa-6,9-diazabicyclo[10.2.2]hexadeca-1(14),10,12,15-tetraen-4-yl]-3-methylbutanamide | 567831 | Click to see CC(C)C1C(C(=O)NC(C(=O)NC=CC2=CC=C(O1)C=C2)CC3=CC=C(C=C3)O)NC(=O)C(C(C)C)N(C)C | 536.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)88797-X |
| N-(7-benzyl-5,8-dioxo-3-propan-2-yl-2-oxa-6,9-diazabicyclo[10.2.2]hexadeca-1(14),10,12,15-tetraen-4-yl)-2-(dimethylamino)-3-phenylpropanamide | 71437222 | Click to see CC(C)C1C(C(=O)NC(C(=O)NC=CC2=CC=C(O1)C=C2)CC3=CC=CC=C3)NC(=O)C(CC4=CC=CC=C4)N(C)C | 568.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)88797-X |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds | |||||
| (E)-4-[(1S,4S,6R)-2,2,6-trimethyl-4-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptan-1-yl]but-3-en-2-one | 10385469 | Click to see CC(=O)C=CC12C(CC(CC1(O2)C)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)(C)C | 386.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Imidazopyrimidines / Purines and purine derivatives / Xanthines | |||||
| Caffeine | 2519 | Click to see CN1C=NC2=C1C(=O)N(C(=O)N2C)C | 194.19 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Theobromine | 5429 | Click to see | 180.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indoles and derivatives / Indolines | |||||
| 5-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxy-4-(5-phenylpentyl)-1H-indole-2,3-dione | 101661254 | Click to see COC1=C2C(=C(C(=C1OC)O)CCCCCC3=CC=CC=C3)C(=O)C(=O)N2 | 369.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-959766 |
| 7-methoxy-4-(5-phenylpentyl)-1H-indole-2,3-dione | 101661880 | Click to see | 323.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-4020(80)80221-3 |
| Melosatin A | 186775 | Click to see COC1=C(C2=C(C(=C1)CCCCCC3=CC=CC=C3)C(=O)C(=O)N2)OC | 353.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-4020(80)80221-3 |
| Melosatin B | 188038 | Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)CCCCCC2=C3C(=CC=C2)NC(=O)C3=O | 293.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-4020(80)80221-3 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indoles and derivatives / Indolyl carboxylic acids and derivatives | |||||
| 2-(4-Hydroxy-5,7-dioxo-2,3-dihydrofuro[3,2-f]isoindol-2-yl)propanoic acid | 73097453 | Click to see | 277.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)88797-X |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Quinolones and derivatives / Hydroquinolones | |||||
| 3,7,8-trimethoxy-2-methyl-5-(5-phenylpentyl)-1H-quinolin-4-one | 21763831 | Click to see CC1=C(C(=O)C2=C(N1)C(=C(C=C2CCCCCC3=CC=CC=C3)OC)OC)OC | 395.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94614-4 |
| 4,9,10,11-Tetrahydro-2-methoxy-3-methyl-7-phenyl-1H-cyclohepta(f)quinolin-1-one | 442927 | Click to see | 331.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JA00856A036 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives | |||||
| Dracunculin | 5319474 | Click to see COC1=C2C(=C3C(=C1)C=CC(=O)O3)OCO2 | 220.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)97491-0 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| Catechin | 9064 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Epicatechin | 72276 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Catechin gallates | |||||
| (-)-Epicatechin gallate | 107905 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C21)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O | 442.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Epigallocatechin Gallate | 65064 | Click to see | 458.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Quercitrin | 5280459 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Rutin | 5280805 | Click to see | 610.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |