(Myrtaceae) Baeckea frutescens L.

Local name(s): 

Medicinal use(s): influenza; gastro-intestinal disorders

Part(s) used: twigs

Field Characters: Small tufty dhrub, about 1-2 m high. Stem slender, much branched. Leaves opposite, very narrow, shiny, glabrous. Flowers white, solitary in the axil of the leaves. Fruits a capsule, small, circular opening.

Locality: Bolikhamxay Province, Bolikhamxay District, Houa Koun Village.

Habitat: 

Altitude:  m asl. 

Collector(s): S. Bouamanivong

Collection number(s): LAOS_730

Collection Date: May 31, 2005

Additional information:  

Voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA, under accession no. 2282965
Project: ICBG.

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 


Plants of the World onlineFlora of China Vol. 13 Page 330GBIF | Global Biodiversity Information FacilityPham Hoang Ho - Cayco Vietnam vol. 2, p. 67, plant #4200

Medicinal properties:

Hou J-Q, Guo C, Zhao J-J, et al. Anti-inflammatory Meroterpenoids from Baeckea frutescens. J Nat Prod 2017, 80, 8, 2204–2214. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.7b00042

Huong DTL, Duc DX, et al. Baeckea frutescens L.: A Review on Phytochemistry, Biosynthesis, Synthesis, and Pharmacology.  Natural Product Communications 2023,18(7): 1–22. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a76d/bd8e5a92b262c96e7479bebd853eef5b9a28.pdf?skipShowableCheck=true

Jia B, Zhang M, Jiang X, et al. 6-C-methylquercetin in Baeckea frutescens exerts anti-prostate cancer effect via ErbB/PI3K/AKT pathway. Phytomedicine 2025, Volume 139, 156463, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2025.156463 

Yu QW, Wang H, Huo JT, et al. Suppression of Baeckea frutescens L. and its components on MyD88-dependent NF-κB pathway in MALP-2-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. J Ethnopharmacol 2017, 207:92-99. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.05.034