Gen info
- Centotheca is a genus of African, Asian, and Pacific Island plants in the grass family.
- The genus was first described by Carl von Linne, and given
- Etymology: The genus name Centotheca means "prickly container", referring to the bristly spikelets. The specific epithet lappacea means "burr-like", referring to the backwards-bending bristles on the lemma (the outermost of two bracts enclosing a grass floret). (3)

Botany
• Perennial from a knotty base. Culms solitary or loosely tufted, erect, smooth, 40–100 cm tall, 4–7-noded. Leaf sheaths smooth or ciliate along one margin; leaf blades broadly lanceolate, 5–15 × 1–2.5 cm, abaxial surface glabrous with cross veins, adaxial surface glabrous or loosely hispidulous, apex long-attenuate; ligule 1–1.5 mm. Panicle open, 12–25 cm, primary branches up to 15 cm, the spikelets clustered around them; pedicels 2.5–3 mm, slender, pubescent. Spikelets ca. 5 mm, florets 2–3; glumes 3–5-veined; lower glume 2–2.5 mm, acute; upper glume 3–3.5 mm, mucronate; lowest lemma ca. 4 mm, 7-veined, glabrous, apex apiculate; second and third lemmas 3–3.5 mm, coarsely setose with tubercle-based, reflexing bristles near upper margins; paleas firm, ciliolate along keels. Caryopsis ellipsoid, 1–1.2 mm.                   (Flora of China)

• Growth form: An erect, perennial grass growing up to 0.3 - 1 m tall. Foliage: Leaves are linear to lanceolate, reaching 5 - 21 cm long and 10 - 35 mm wide. The leaf blades are smooth or pilose (covered in long hairs) with an asymmetrical base that tapers towards the midrib. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem or culms. Stems: Culms (aboveground stems of grasses and grass-like monocots) are thin and wispy, up to 0.3 - 1 m. Flowers: Flowers are known as florets and consist of heavily reduced petals and sepals, anthers, and stigmas. 2-4 florets are clustered together, forming a spikelet, and arranged along the stem; this inflorescence is known as a panicle, growing up to 25 cm long. Fruit: Fruit is an ellipsoidal caryopsis (a type of dry, indehiscent fruit, commonly known as a grain) up to 1 mm long. The backwards-bending bristles on the lemma attract themselves to the fur of animals and to clothing. (Flora & Fauna Web)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- Widespread in the Philippines. In thickets, forests, and clearings from sea level to c 1000 . Shade-loving, usually the only grass in some types of forests. (1)
- Also native to Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Benin, Borneo, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caroline Is., Central African Republic, China South-Central, China Southeast, Congo, Cook Is., DR Congo, East Himalaya, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Hainan, India, Ivory Coast, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Malaya, Maluku, Marianas, Marquesas, Marshall Is., Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Nigeria, Niue, Samoa, Santa Cruz Is., Senegal, Sierra Leone, Society Is., Solomon Is., Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis-Futuna Is. (2)

Constituents
- GC-MS analysis of aerial parts yielded a wide range of compounds, i.e., phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and phytosterols. Column chromatography yielded 4-coumaric acid and 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone. Smoke of dried barbed grass and residue contained phenol derivatives and fatty acids. Highest yield of total phenolics and flavonoid contents were obtained from the hot water and ethanol extract, respectively. Alkaloids were not detected in any of the extracts by TLC screening. (5)

Properties
- Studies have suggest antioxidant, post-partum rejuvenating, anti-tyrosinase, gelatinolytic, estrogenic, anti-aging, skin lightening and tightening, radioprotective properties.

Parts used
Aerial parts.

Uses
Edibility
- No report found on edibility.
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
- In Thailand, used for healing of labial wound and tears and muscle tightening in post labor women. The postpartum woman, wearing a traditional Thai sarong stands over the pile of burning wood fed with dry or fresh grass, the smoke caught by the dress and directed to the woman's vaginal-pudendal area. (Similar to Suob in the Philippines). Alternatively, decoction of grass is drunk. (4) Also  used for diabetes.
- In Tahiti, French Polynesia, leaves used for the treatment of asthma. (•) Aerial parts used for treatment of furunculosis, abscesses, wounds, and various infections. (12)
- In Laos, used by Hmong for retraction of the uterus. (10)
Others
- Fodder: An excellent fodder grass for livestock. (3)
- Ritual: In Jambi Indonesia, used in ritual to start rice harvesting. (11)

Studies
• Anti-Aging: Study of evaluated 95% (v/v) ethanol extract or distilled water decoction for in-vitro anti-aging activities, antioxidant activities, lipid peroxidation, tyrosinase inhibition, gelatinolytic activity (MMP-2 inhibition activity) on human skin fibroblasts, and estrogenic effect in MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. The ethanolic extract exhibited better activities than the aqueous extract on DPPH scavenging, metal chelating, and lipid peroxidation inhibition, along with  mild tyrosinase inhibition activity.  The EtOH also showed strong collagenase inhibition, close to ascorbic acid, and also similar MMP-2 inhibition. At 1000 µg/ml the extract showed estrogenic activity evidenced by increased MCF-7 proliferation. Results suggest potential as anti-aging product. (4)
• Grass Phytoconstituents / Postpartum Care / Roots and Aerial Parts: Study evaluated the elements, antioxidants, and volatile compounds from C. lappacea grass, used in Thailand for postpartum care.  An LC-ESI-QTOF-MS with a DPPH assay identified 12 antioxidant compounds including C- and O-glycosides of luteolin and apigenin from the aerial parts of C. lappacea. In addition, headspace GC-MS analysis revealed volatile constituents after burning it, smoke constituents used in Thai traditional medicine. Nineteen and 25 compounds were found from the roots and aerial parts, respectively. (6)
• Radioprotective: Radiation-induced vascular injury in common tissue is a common adverse effect of radiation therapy. Study evaluated the radioprotective effect of ethanolic extract from C. lappacea in human endothelial cell. Effect on cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. Pretreatment of cells with 0.2 µg/ml of extract for 3 hours prior to radiation demonstrated a radioprotective effect on EA.hy926 cells evidenced by significant increase in cell viability and decrease in abnormal nuclei formation.  Extract treatment of cells in combination with radiation clearly increased the level of Akt phosphorylation. The extract is not toxic and dose not interfere with cell cycle progression of EA.hy926 cells. Results suggest an ideal source of radioprotection for protecting radiation-induced damage to human endothelial cells. (7)
• Skin Lightening and Tightening Effects / Clinical Trial: Study evaluated the clinical efficacy of a topical cream containing C. lappacea extract for improving skin color, firmness, and elasticity in 44 Asian women aged 30-55 with facial melasma. By week4, the cream extract showed significantly stronger melanin reduction effect than control (12% vs 4.68%, p<0.05). Skin firmness and hydration improved significantly, but with not significant difference with control. The cream also significantly improved skin resilience and elasticity. Cream was well tolerated without serious adverse effect. (8)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Extract, powder, herbal gel, seeds in the cybermarket. (SNPS) (RPS) (SH) (EH)

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Poaceae: Centotheca lappacea / Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines
(2)
Centotheca lappacea / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(3)
Centotheca lappacea / National Parks: FLORA & FAUNA WEB
(4)
In vitro Anti-aging Activities of Centotheca lappacea (L) desv. (Ya Repair) Extract / Thavatchai Kamoltham, Jiradej Manosroi, Charinya Chankhampan, Worapaka Manosroi, Aranya Manosroi / Chiang Mai J Sci., 2018; 45(2): pp 846-857
(5)
Chemical Constituents of Centotheca lappacea (L.) Desv. Aerial Parts / Thavatchai Kamoltham, Supattra Rungsimakan,  Kritsana Supan, Pornsiri Rodsienglump / Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine, 2017; 15(1)
(6)
Phytochemical constituents of Centotheca lappacea (L.) Desv. determined with online DPPH assay coupled to LC-ESI-QTOF-MS and headspace GC-MS / Genet Minale, Prapapan Temkitthawon, Kornkanok Ingkaninan et al /  Songklanakarin J Sci Technol., 2021; 43(3): pp 719-728
(7)
The radioprotective potential of Centotheca lappacea (L) desv. extract in human endothelial cell / Jongchai Tinlapat, Kornkanok Ingkaninan, Sutiwan Meethang, Arunee Hematulin et al / JAMS: Journal of Associated Medical Sciences,  2020;p 53(3): pp 55-61 / eISSN: 2539-6056
(8)
Comparative Clinical Evaluation of Centotheca lappacea Extract Cream for Skin Lightening and Tightening Effects in Asian Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study / Oraya Kwangsukstid, Walaiorn Pratchayapruit, Thavatchai Kamoltham, Monthaka Terrachaisakul, Aurachorn Inikanuwat / Journal of Cosmetic Science, 73(1) / ISSN: 1525-7886
(9)
Traditional medical practices for children in five islands from the Society archipelago (French Polynesia) / Francois Chassagne, Jean-Francoi Butaud, Raimana Ho et al / Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 2023 / DOI: 10.1186/s13002-023-00617-0
(10)
Ethnobotany of Hmong ethnic groups in Bolikhamxay p Ethnobotany of Hmong ethnic groups in Bolikhamxay province, rovince, central Laos PDR / Kajonesuk Phengmala, Surapon Saensouk et al / Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 2023; 51(3): Art No 13284 /
DOI: 10.15835/nbha51313284
(11)
Uras: Medicinal and Ritual Plants of Serampas, Jambi Indonesia / Bambang Hariyadi, Tamara Ticktin / Ethnobotany Research & Applications, 2012; 10: pp 139-149
(12)
Antimicrobial Properties of Compounds Isolated from Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. and L.M. Perry and Medicinal Plants Used in French Polynesia / Camille Quenon, Thierry Hennebelle, Vincent Roumy et al / Life, 2022; 12: 733 / DOI: 10.3390/life12050733

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)