Phyllanthus

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Phyllanthus

Indian gooseberry, Phyllanthus emblica

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Phyllanthaceae
Tribe:	Phyllantheae
Subtribe:	Flueggeinae
Genus:	Phyllanthus L.

Diversity

About 800 species

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The genus Phyllanthus (of the family Phyllanthaceae) comprises trees, bushes, and annual or biennial herbs distributed in all tropical and subtropical regions on Earth. Leafflower is the common name for all Phyllanthus species. The circumscription of this genus has been so confusing that in the 1990s, a major reorganization of Phyllanthus was carried out.

1 Synonymy
2 Selected species
3 Medical interest
4 Gallery

[edit] Synonymy

See Taxonomy of the Phyllanthaceae

[edit] Selected species

Phyllanthus abnormis
Phyllanthus acidus - Otaheite gooseberry
Phyllanthus acuminatus - Jamaican gooseberry tree
Phyllanthus debilis
Phyllanthus diffusus
Phyllanthus emblica - Indian gooseberry
Phyllanthus epiphyllanthus
Phyllanthus fraternus
Phyllanthus mirabilis - the only succulent species of this genus
Phyllanthus myrtifolius
Phyllanthus niruri - Chanca piedra
Phyllanthus reticulatus
Phyllanthus urinaria - chamberbitter

For full list, see List of Phyllanthus species.

[edit] Medical interest

Phyllanthus plants have been traditionally used to cure a wide number of diseases. In Ayurvedic medicine of India, for example, Phyllanthus is prescribed for jaundice, gonorrhea and diabetes (internal use) as well as poultices, skin ulcer and other skin problems (external use). Infusions are made from young shoots as a treatment of chronic dysentery.

Recent researches have pointed out that plants of this genus basically contain lignans (e.g. phyllanthine and hypophyllanthine), alkaloids and flavonoids (e.g. quercetin).

Phyllanthus seems to stop the development of hepatitis B because it blocks DNA polymerase - the enzyme needed for this disease's virus to reproduce.^{[citation needed]} In this respect, P. urinaria and P. niruri do best.

[edit] Gallery

Phyllanthus acidus	Phyllanthus acidus Fruits	Phyllanthus juglandifolius	Phyllanthus juglandifolius
Phyllanthus mirabilis Cultivated plant	Phyllanthus mirabilis Branch tip	Phyllanthus mirabilis Leaves	Phyllanthus mirabilis Folded together leaves at night