Botanical Overview
Hedyotis lawsoniae is a species in the Rubiaceae family. The coffee family (Rubiaceae) includes trees, shrubs, and herbs with opposite leaves and interpetiolar stipules. The flowers are typically tubular with four or five petals. The family includes coffee (Coffea), quinine-producing Cinchona, and numerous other medicinal species with alkaloid constituents. Phytochemical data for this species are limited at present.
General Description
Hedyotis lawsoniae is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae that is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Family Context
The Rubiaceae family is large and primarily tropical. Notable medicinal members include:
- Indian Mulberry — 56 documented uses
- Madder — 41 documented uses
- Gardenia — 34 documented uses
- Lojabark — 32 documented uses
Geographic Distribution
Hedyotis lawsoniae has been recorded in Sri Lanka, and ZZ.
Active Compounds
Phytochemical research has identified 2 compounds in this species: betulin, betulinic-aicd.
Research Status
Although this species has documented phytochemical constituents, its ethnobotanical and clinical documentation remains incomplete. Systematic pharmacological studies are needed to validate the traditional uses attributed to this species.