Gen info
Genus Drosera Vahl, popularly known as Sundews, is one of the largest genuses of carnivorous plants with over 105 species belonging to the family Droseraceae. The species use mucilage-secreting glandular hairs to trap prey.
The earliest documented use of Drosera species dates back to the 12th Century, when Matthaeus Platearius, an Italian physician, described it use as a cough remedy.
Botany
Bain is a perennial tuberous herb. The tuber is usually 4-6 centimeters under the soil surface. Aerial parts are 5 to 50 centimeters high. with erect, leafy stem, 8 to 25 centimeters high. Leaves are alternate, long-petioled, lunate-peltate, more evident at the soil surface. Flowers are usually white, but may be varaible in color. Sepals are ovate, smooth, erose or fimbriate. Seeds are obovoid, with prominently reticulated fascia.
Distribution
- Common in Bontoc and Benguet Subprovinces, and Zambales Province in Luzon.
- On open, grassy slopes, in thin pine forests, at an altitude of from 1,000 to 1,800 meters.
- Also occurs in India to Japan, and southward to Tasmania.
Constituents
- Leaf extract yields a proteolytic enzyme.
- Contains naphthoquinones like plumbagin, droserone, hydroserone, besides flavanols, quercetin, gossypetin, gossypin, isogossypetin and proteolytic enzymes of the pepsin type (Yoganarasimhyan, 2002).
Properties
Bitter, acrid, and caustic flavor.
Parts used
Leaves, aerial parts.
Uses
Folkloric
- Igorots dry and powder to leaves to place in the cavity of aching teeth.
- Plant is used in phthisis.
- Used for asthma, hoarseness, and whooping cough.
- In Kumaon leaves, bruised and mixed with salt, are used as blister. The same practice is done in Kanawar, with the use of salt.
Studies
• Antimicrobial / Caires / Periodontitis: A chloroform extract of the aerial parts of Drosera peltata showed the most significant antimicrobial activity against oral bacteria. Results suggest DP could be used in the treatment of oral infectious diseases like dental caries and periodontitis.
• Constituents: Study of whole plant of D. peltata var. lunata yielded five crystalline compounds: plumbagin, droserone, hydrodroserone, beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol.
• DCBT1234-Lung KR / Respiratory Benefits / COPD: (1) In a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical study comparing 6 months of a plant based formulationn of 3 herbs (Bryonia alba, Drosera peltata, and Cephaelis ipecacuanha) against a combination of oral salmeterol, theophylline and bromhexine (STB) and both against placebo, patients treated with DCBT 1234-Lung KR showed statistically significant (95%) improvement in FEV1 and PaO2 (oxygen) compared with STB in control of symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, expectorations, disability and sleep disturbances. (2) Using FEIV1 and arterial blood gases values, DCBT1234-Lung KR was equivalent, if not better than present day treatment with salbutamol, theophylline and bromhexine combination in COPD.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Ingredient of many cough preparations.
A solitary or an ingredient of 200-300 registered medications.
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