Laggera alata
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Laggera alata Common Names: Laggera, Winged Laggera Scientific
Classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Asterids Order: Asterales Family: Asteraceae Genus: Laggera Species: L. alata Synonyms: Blumea alata (D. Don) DC., Laggera aurita var. alata (D. Don) Sch.Bip. Morphological Description Laggera alata is
a perennial herbaceous plant, typically growing 0.6–1.5 m tall, recognized for
its distinctive winged stems and dense inflorescences. Its key features
include: · Habit: Erect or ascending herb, often viscid-pubescent with
glandular hairs. · Stem: Green to purplish, prominently winged, covered with short,
sticky hairs. · Leaves: Elliptic to lanceolate, 5–15 cm long, 2–5 cm wide, with
serrate-toothed margins, sessile or shortly petiolate, aromatic when crushed. · Flowers: Small, purple to pinkish, 5–8 mm long, arranged in dense
terminal or axillary capitula; florets tubular, bisexual. · Fruit: Achenes, 1–2 mm long, cylindrical, ribbed, with a white
pappus of bristles for wind dispersal. The plant’s winged stems
and clustered flower heads make it a distinctive member of the Asteraceae
family (Getahun et al., 2019). Distribution and Habitat Laggera alata is
native to tropical regions of Africa and Asia, with a broad distribution: · Africa: Nigeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda. · Asia: China (Yunnan, Guangxi), India, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar. It thrives in open,
disturbed habitats such as roadsides, grassy fields, wastelands, and secondary
forests, at elevations of 100–2,000 m. It prefers well-drained, sandy to loamy
soils (pH 5.5–7.0) and tolerates moderate drought (Burkill, 1985). Ethnopharmacology Laggera alata, commonly known as winged stem laggera, is a plant traditionally
utilized in various cultures for its medicinal properties. It has been used to
treat ailments such as colds, fevers, coughs associated with lung heat,
rheumatic arthritis, diarrhea, edema resulting from nephritis, amenorrhea,
injuries from falls, anthrax, furunculosis, scrofula, venomous snake bites,
eczema, and pruritus. Phytochemical investigations have identified compounds
such as eudesmane sesquiterpenes in Laggera
alata, which may contribute to its therapeutic effects. These findings
support the traditional use of Laggera alata in managing various health conditions,
particularly those related to inflammation and liver health. · Anti-inflammatory/Analgesic: Leaf infusions in Nigeria treat arthritis
and headaches. Wu et al. (2006) demonstrated that total phenolics (100 mg/kg)
reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats by 45%, linked to flavonoids. · Antipyretic: Aerial parts in Cameroon reduce fever. Zheng et al. (2003)
found ethanolic extracts (200 mg/kg) lowered yeast-induced fever in rats by
1.5°C, attributed to sesquiterpenes. · Hepatoprotective: Used in China for liver ailments. Wu et
al. (2006) reported flavonoids (50 mg/kg) reduced ALT levels in CCl₄-damaged
rat livers by 40%, suggesting free radical scavenging. · Antimicrobial: Root extracts in Ethiopia combat infections. Onayade et al.
(1990) confirmed essential oils (MIC 50 μg/ml) were effective against Staphylococcus aureus, due to 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene. · Antiviral: Used in folk medicine for hepatitis. Hao et al. (2012)
showed isochlorogenic acid A inhibited HBV replication (86.9% HBsAg reduction)
in HepG2.2.15 cells. Key phytochemicals
include flavonoids, sesquiterpenes (eudesmane derivatives), and phenolic acids
(e.g., isochlorogenic acids) (Getahun et al., 2019; Hao et al., 2012). ⚠ Toxicity Profile: No acute toxicity was observed in rats at 2,000
mg/kg of extract, but sub-chronic doses (>500 mg/kg) caused mild liver
enzyme elevation. Bitter plants may contain higher sesquiterpene levels,
potentially toxic (Wu et al., 2006). Additional Uses · Ecological: Contributes to soil stabilization in disturbed ecosystems
(Burkill, 1985). · Cultural: Used in Yoruba rituals for cleansing and protection (Getahun
et al., 2019). · Economic: Essential oils explored for pharmaceutical and aromatic
applications (Onayade et al., 1990). References
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| Compounds of Laggera alata | |
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