Clausena heptaphylla
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID6440119fc0609850233112 |
| Scientific name | Clausena heptaphylla |
| Authority | Wight & Arn. |
| First published in | Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient. : 95 (1834) |
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.
Across the northern Thai hills and southern China’s uplands, people prepare strong decoctions of fresh or dried leaves to soothe upset stomachs, diarrhea and abdominal colic. Among the Akha and Lahu of northern Thailand, villagers simmer the leaves and drink the broth for dysentery and upset stomach (Ruangsuttisuk, 1992). In southern China’s Yi, Hani and Dai communities, the leaves are boiled into a bitter decoction taken after meals to ease indigestion, diarrhea and stomach pain (Li et al., 2013). Across the border in northern Myanmar, hill farmers boil fresh leaves as a household tea to relieve gastrointestinal complaints (Anderson, 1986). The plant part used is consistent: leaves, picked fresh or sun‑dried, then boiled for 10–30 minutes. These infusion and decoction practices are recorded in the ethnobotanical literature, though variations in dose and timing are not always specified.
A practical way to prepare a safe, mild leaf decoction is to use the infusion rather than a long simmer. Place 10–15 g of fresh leaves (or 6–9 g dried) in a pot with 300–400 mL of water, bring to a boil, and then remove from heat. Cover and let steep 10–15 minutes, strain, and sip 1/2–1 cup, two to three times daily as needed for gastrointestinal upset. Dose depends on leaf age and variety; begin with smaller amounts and stop if nausea or dizziness occurs. The plant contains carbazole alkaloids (heptaphylline, girinimbine, ekeberine) and coumarins; there is no established safe dose for a tincture or concentrated extract in contemporary practice, and no evidence to support its use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Keep decoctions mild; avoid long, heavy simmers that concentrate the bitterness and unknown constituents.
Phytochemically, Clausena heptaphylla is noted for carbazole alkaloids and furanocoumarins in the leaves; these classes are well reported for the species and have been studied for antibacterial, anti‑inflammatory and antispasmodic activities in vitro (Wu et al., 1999; Kumar et al., 2007; Reen et al., 2005). While such activity plausibly supports the traditional use for gastrointestinal discomfort, the preparations remain simple household remedies rather than standardized medicines.
Modern relevance includes ongoing laboratory work on the plant’s carbazole alkaloids and furanocoumarins and their antimicrobial and anti‑inflammatory properties, as well as small local tea or tonic markets that still use the leaf decoction for digestive upsets (Wu et al., 1999).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Leaf essential oil for fragrance applications (e.g., perfume bases and flavorings).
Industrial and craft applications:
- No established non-medicinal industrial uses documented.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
- No established non-medicinal food uses documented.
Colorants and tanning:
- No established non-medicinal colorant or tanning uses documented.
Wood and fiber:
- No established non-medicinal timber or fiber uses documented.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
- Leaves yield a volatile oil that is explored for perfumery and flavor use. Chemically, the oil is rich in coumarins (e.g., scopoletin, osthenol) and related phenylpropanoids typical of Rutaceae; sesquiterpenes and esters are present in varying proportions depending on origin and harvest time.
Properties relevant to use:
- Volatile constituents and coumarin-based chemistry confer characteristic odor and flavor notes suitable for blending in fragrance and flavor compositions; quantitative composition varies by habitat and processing.
Standards and regulation:
- No species-specific standards or regulatory frameworks beyond general fragrance and flavor safety and stability guidelines are documented.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Harvested from wild or cultivated populations in parts of India and Southeast Asia; sustainability data remain limited to broad botanical surveys rather than targeted resource assessments.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Amyris anisata | Roxb. ex Steud. | Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 1: 81 (1840) |
| Amyris heptaphylla | Roxb. ex DC. | Prodr. 2: 82 (1825) |
| Clausena heptaphylla var. engleri | (Tanaka) Swingle | J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 32: 26 1942 |
| Clausena macrophylla | Hook.f. | Fl. Brit. India 1: 504 (1875) |
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-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- India
- Nepal
-
Indo-China
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Thailand
- Vietnam
-
Malesia
- Jawa
- Malaya
- Sumatera
-
Indian Subcontinent
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000608663 |
| Tropicos | 28100020 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:772136-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2724804 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 5762742 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 1392232 |
| IUCN Red List | 215235491 |
| IPNI | 772136-1 |
| GBIF | 3836901 |
| EOL | 2877899 |
| USDA GRIN | 10809 |
| CMAUP | NPO28407 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCA_040965395.1 | ASM4096539v1 | Scaffold | Iridian Genomes | 2024-07-30 | 60 | 357.16 Mb |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Anthracenes / Anthraquinones | |||||
| 2-Methylanthraquinone | 6773 | Click to see CC1=CC2=C(C=C1)C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3C2=O | 222.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)88768-3 |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoyl derivatives | |||||
| 4-Methoxybenzaldehyde | 31244 | Click to see | 136.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/RECL.19470660608 |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Phenylpropanes | |||||
| 1-(p-Methoxyphenyl)-2-propanone | 31231 | Click to see | 164.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/RECL.19470660608 |
| > Benzenoids / Phenol ethers / Anisoles | |||||
| Anethole | 637563 | Click to see | 148.20 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698154 https://doi.org/10.1002/RECL.19470660608 |
| Estragole | 8815 | Click to see | 148.20 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/RECL.19470660608 https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698154 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Acyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| Neranic acid | 5312583 | Click to see | 168.23 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1080/10575639908045434 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(00)00320-8 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Monocyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| Boydone B | 73346125 | Click to see CCC(C)C1=C(C(C(C1=O)(C)CC)O)OC | 226.31 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| alpha-Elemene | 80048 | Click to see CC(C)C1=CC(=C(C)C)CCC1(C)C=C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/RECL.19470660608 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Peptides / Oligopeptides | |||||
| Pseudacyclin A | 46848855 | Click to see | 739.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Hydroxy acids and derivatives / Alpha hydroxy acids and derivatives | |||||
| D-Lactic Acid | 61503 | Click to see | 90.08 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Tertiary alcohols | |||||
| (3S,4R,5S)-4-Hydroxy-5-methoxy-4-((2S,3R)-2-methyl-3-(3-methyl-2-buten-1-yl)-2-oxiranyl)-1-oxaspiro(2.5)octan-6-one | 10957430 | Click to see | 296.36 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indoles and derivatives / Carbazoles | |||||
| 1-Methoxy-3-methyl-9H-carbazole | 375150 | Click to see CC1=CC2=C(C(=C1)OC)NC3=CC=CC=C32 | 211.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(73)80423-6 |
| 10-hydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-2,11-dihydro-1H-pyrano[3,2-a]carbazole-5-carbaldehyde | 14282355 | Click to see | 295.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)80575-0 |
| 3-Methylcarbazole | 20746 | Click to see | 181.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)91444-4 |
| Clausenal | 10377645 | Click to see COC1=CC=CC2=C1NC3=C2C=C(C=C3OC)C=O | 255.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(94)00666-H |
| Heptaphylline | 5318015 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(C(=CC2=C1NC3=CC=CC=C32)C=O)O)C | 279.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Lactones / Delta valerolactones | |||||
| Mevalonolactone | 6419891 | Click to see | 130.14 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Pyranocoumarins / Angular pyranocoumarins | |||||
| 5-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-6-(2-methylbut-3-en-2-yl)-3H-pyrano[2,3-h]chromene-4,8-dione | 10404227 | Click to see | 328.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(01)89728-8 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Pyranocoumarins / Linear pyranocoumarins | |||||
| (3R,6R,8R)-6-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-3-methyl-14-(2-methylbut-3-en-2-yl)-2,7,16-trioxatetracyclo[8.8.0.03,8.012,17]octadeca-1(10),11,13,17-tetraen-15-one | 92272919 | Click to see | 398.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(00)00320-8 |
| 5-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-3H-pyrano[3,2-g]chromene-4,8-dione | 5315948 | Click to see | 260.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(01)89728-8 |
| Clausmarin A | 49940 | Click to see CC12CCC(OC1CC3=C(O2)C=C4C(=C3)C=C(C(=O)O4)C(C)(C)C=C)C(C)(C)O | 398.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-1978(99)00035-6 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(00)00320-8 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Depsides and depsidones | |||||
| Botryorhodine C | 46916752 | Click to see CC1=CC(=C(C2=C1C(=O)OC3=C(O2)C(=CC(=C3C)O)C)CO)O | 316.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |