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Information obtained from Godofredo U. Stuart Jr. M.D. (StuartXchange)
Botanical Description
Botanical Description
CommonName/s: Texas sage Scientific Name: Leucophyllum frutescens
An evergreen shrub native to the state of Texas in the United States that belongs to the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. Commonly known as silver leaf, this shrub grows to a height of four to eight feet, with arching branches and woolly, silvery grey, simple, alternating, pubescent leaves. The blooms are lavender to purple, and they appear sporadically all year long. Small flowers cover the entire plant during the main flush. The silvery stems have a striking appearance.
Taxonomical Classification
Taxonomical Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Sub kingdom: Tracheobionta
Superdivision: Spermatophyta
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Leucophyllum
Species: Leucophyllum frutescens
Properties
Properties
-Drought tolerance
Once grown, it drought-tolerant, making it ideal for arid and semi-arid climates.
-Soil Preference
It thrives on well-drained soils, which might be sandy, rocky, or calcareous.
-Sunlight
Full sun is required to produce abundant flowers while maintaining a compact form.
-Diseases and Pests
Usually resistant to pests and diseases, yet in poorly drained soils, root rot can occasionally affect it.
Habitat/Distribution
Habitat/Distribution
Dry, calcareous soils desert arroyo and scrub areas; widely cultivated in Texas.
Constituents
Constituents
Phytochemical Constituents:
-flavonoids
-phenolic acid
-tannins
-terpenoids
Uses
Uses
Industrial Use:
-Landscaping Ornamental plant
Pharmaceutical Use:
-Used in northeastern Mexico for fever, jaundice, diarrhea, liver, and lung problems, including tuberculosis. Leaf decoction used as a tea to treat fever, chills, bronchitis, and lung congestion brought on by colds. A crude medication used in Mexican and American traditional medicine to treat liver problems, diarrhea, respiratory illnesses, and cataracts.
Pharmacological use: Hepatoprotective Effect
-It has been demonstrated that verbascoside, a substance that was separated from Leucophyllum frutescens, can protect rats' livers from harm. It dramatically lowers AST and ALT levels in the liver and lessens thioacetamide-induced hepatocyte damage.
Antimicrobial activity
-Leucophyllum frutescens is a possible option for natural antimicrobial drugs since extracts from the plant show antibacterial activity against a variety of bacteria and fungus.
Properties of Antioxidants
-The plant has flavonoids and phenolic chemicals, both of which have potent antioxidant properties. These substances aid in oxidative stress reduction and free radical scavenging.
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