Taxonomy and ethnobotany of Acmella (Asteraceae) in Thailand

Abstract

Abstract. Panyadee P, Inta A. 2022. Taxonomy and ethnobotany of Acmella (Asteraceae) in Thailand. Biodiversitas 23: 2177-2183. Thai toothache plant is an ethno-species, referred to as any species in the genus Acmella of the aster family (Asteraceae). The plants are used commonly in Thailand as vegetables and medicine. However, in earlier phytochemistry and ethnobotanical studies, missed scientific names: Acmella olearcea and Spilanthes acmella, were applied to these species. In this study, we have clarified the identity of these ethno-species and related species in the genus Acmella. There were six species of Acmella in Thailand, including two native species and four introduced species. The keys and brief description of these species are provided. In ethnobotanical studies, A. oleracea and S. acmella were mentioned as nearly 80% of total use records. These names could be referred to A. paniculata which is one of the native species and most widely distributed. Although there were a reasonable amount of studies on the Thai toothache plant, more comparative studies for their bioactivities are still needed according to the taxonomical confusion of their names.

Chromosome number variation in the genus <i>Acmella</i> (Asteraceae) from Thailand

“…radicans. In contrast, the ciliate and well-developed cork-like margins of the achene observed in this study differed from those reported in the studies of Jansen (1985a) and Panyadee and Inta (2022), who reported a lack of cork-like margins. In addition, taxa with a radiate head comprised four recognized species: Acmella brachyglossa, A. ciliata, A. radicans var.…”

“…radicans as taxa with discoid heads. The inflorescence and achene characteristics of A. paniculata corroborated previously reported features (Jansen 1985a, Chung et al 2008, Koyama et al 2016, Panyadee and Inta 2022. This species exhibited a discoid head with a yellow color and an achene with ciliate and clear cork-like margins; however, a radiate head was also observed in other samples from Thailand (Koyama et al 2016).…”

“…The plant materials used in this study were grown in pots at Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai Campus for taxonomic and cytogenetic analyses. Twenty-four accessions were taxonomically identified (Table 1) using vegetative and reproductive plant parts based on Jansen (1985a), Chung et al (2008), Koyama et al (2016), and Panyadee and Inta (2022). Voucher specimens were deposited at the Prince of Songkla Herbarium (PSU), Biology Program, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University.…”

“…Owing to their spicy and pungent flavor, inflorescences are commonly used as vegetative and medicinal plants to remedy toothache and oral diseases (Chakraborty et al 2002), thereby giving the Acmella species the name "toothache plant" or "Phak Phed". Moreover, Acmella oleracea (L.) R. K. Jansen and Spilanthes acmella (L.) Murray have found extensive use in ethnobotanical and phytochemical studies in Thailand, with their presence confirmed through voucher specimens within this plant group (Panyadee and Inta 2022). In particular, A. oleracea, characterized by its large and cylindrical discoid capitula with a yellow color, is famous for relieving dental and oral pain (Jansen 1985a, Chung et al 2008.…”

“…In particular, A. oleracea, characterized by its large and cylindrical discoid capitula with a yellow color, is famous for relieving dental and oral pain (Jansen 1985a, Chung et al 2008. Panyadee and Inta (2022) strongly proposed that A. oleracea may be misapplied as Phak Phed and that samples of S. acmella in Thailand could be referred to as A. paniculata with a small discoid yellow head. Thus, A. paniculata, a native species, can be referred to as the typical Phak Phed in Thailand.…”