Arnebia densiflora
| Arnebia densiflora | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Boraginales |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Genus: | Arnebia |
| Species: | A. densiflora
|
| Binomial name | |
| Arnebia densiflora (Ledeb. ex Nordm.) Ledeb.
| |
Arnebia densiflora, (also called Macrotomia cephalotes) is a plant species belonging to the family Boraginaceae. It is native to Greece and Turkey. Arnebia densiflora has been investigated for its wound-healing abilities.
Etymology[edit]
Arnebia is the generic name derived from the Arabic name "shajaret el arneb". Densiflora is a Latin epithet that means "dense of flowers".[1]
Synonyms[edit]
- Lithospermum densiflorum Ledeb.
- Macrotomia cephalotes (A. DC.) Boiss.
- Macrotomia densiflora (Ledeb.) McBride[2]
Description[edit]
Small clump-forming from a robust, somewhat woody rootstock with erect, hispid, unbranched stems 25-40cm high. Basal leaves linear elliptic to narrowly lanceolate, 10-15cm long with stalks to 4cm; stem leaves smaller and sessile, velvety-hairy. Flowers are yellow, 3.5-4.5 cm long by 1.2-1.6 cm across densely planted on the ends of stems and branches. It flowers from early to late summer. All aerial parts are pubescent.[3]
Habitat[edit]
Arnebia densiflora prefers mountain areas and places with dry and sunny rocky soils. It is native to Greece and Turkey on volcanic or limestone slopes and cliffs at 750-2600m.[3]
Medicinal use[edit]
Arnebia densiflora has been investigated for its wound healing abilities.[4]
Arnebia densiflora is one of the five species of Boraginaceae family grown in Turkey.[4] Several species of Boraginaceous plants are used as folk medicine in Turkey and eastern Mediterranean countries.[4]
The pigmented root of Arnebia densiflora, known locally as ‘Eyilik,’ is added to olive oil and applied on open wounds and cuts in Anatolia.[4]
In Malatya, roots of Arnebia densiflora are dipped in butter.[4] After removing the root pieces the butter is mixed with beeswax to prepare an ointment for open wounds.[4] Roots of Arnebia densiflora are also used as a natural-dye to color Anatolian carpets.[4]
The medicinal effect might have to do with the high naphthoquinone content in the roots barks.[4]
Taxonomy[edit]
Arnebia densiflora was first described by Carl Friedrich von Ledebour.[5]
It was first published in Flora Rossica Enumeratio sive Plantarum in Totivs Imperii Rossici Provinciis europaeis, Asiaticis, et americanis Hucusque Observatarum 3 (1.8): 140. 1847 [3]
References[edit]
- ^ "Dictionary of Botanical Epithets".
- ^ "The Plant List".
- ^ a b c "Tropicos".
- ^ a b c d e f g h Akkol, Esra Küpeli; Koca, Ufuk; Peşin, Ipek; Yılmazer, Demet; Toker, Gülnur; Yeşilada, Erdem (2009). "Exploring the wound healing activity of Arnebia densiflora (Nordm.) Ledeb. by in vivo models". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 124 (1): 137–141. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2009.03.019. PMID 19500923.
- ^ "Catalogue of Life: 2014 Annual Checklist".