Subsuban / Polygonum barbatum Linn.: Philippine Medicinal Herbs / Philippine Alternative Medicine

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Family • Polygonaceae
Subsuban
Polygonum barbatum Linn.
KNOTWEED
Mao liao

Other scientific names	a	Common names
Polygonum stoloniferum Blanco	Polygonum serrulatum Hook.	Bukakau (Bik.)
Polygonum persicaria Walp.	Polygonum serulatum Lagasca	Kanubsubang (Pamp.)
Polygonum fissum Blume	Persicaria barbata Linn.	Kaykayu (If.)
Polygonum fissum Hassk.	Persicaria omerostroma (Ohki.)Sasaki.	Saimbangan-tubig (Sul.)
Polygonum fissum Miers.	Polygonum omerostromum Ohki.	Sigan-lupa (Tag.)
Polygonum eruthrodes Miq.		Subsuban (Tag.)
Polygonum stagnimum Miers.		Bearded knotweed (Engl.)
Polygonum barbatum Meisn.		Jointweed (Engl.)
Polygonum barbatum Hook.		Knotgrass (Engl.)
Polygonum barbatum Blume		Smart-weed (Engl.)
Polygonum flaccidum Roxb.		Mao liao (Chin.)

Botany
Subsuban is an ascending, slightly hairy plant, growing to a height of 30 to 60 meters. The stipules are sheathing, and cut into long, filiform cilia which are longer than the tube. Leaves are lanceolate 10 to 15 cm long, smooth except at the ciliate margins, tapering at both ends. Inflorescence is terminal in the upper axils, sparingly branched, with lax and peduncled racemes, 2 - 6 cm long, 5 to 7 mm in diameter. Flowers are in short, slender pedicels. Perianth is white or purplish, 2 mm long and without glands. Fruit is a triangular, black and shiny nut.

Distribution
- In open and wet places at low and medium altitudes, up to 1,400 meters in some regions.
- Also occurs in Aftrica, India, Malaya, Bangladesh, Thailand, and in many other countries in South-East Asia.

Parts used
Leaves, seeds, and roots.

Constituents
- Study of aerial parts yielded sitosterone, viscozulenic acid, and acetophenone.
- Study isolated flavanones from chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of leaves.

Properties
Considered astringent, carminative, parasiticide.

Uses
Edibility
Elsewhere, young leaves and shoots cooked as vegetable.
Folkloric
Sap of pounded leaves applied to wounds as cicatrizant.
In Malabar and Canara seeds are used to relieve colic pains.
Roots are used as astringent.
In China decoction of leaves and stems used to wash wounds and ulcers.
It has been tried for diabetes with no observed benefits.
Sap applied to wounds as antiseptic.
Paste of roots used for treatment of scabies.

Studies
• Anti-Ulcer: A study on the aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of P barbatum showed reduction of gastric volume, total acidity, free acidity and ulcer index. The antiulcer activity may be due to the presence of flavanoids and tannins.
• Wound-Healing: A study of wound healing on albino rats of Wistar strain showed a significant increase in wound closure rate, tensile strength and decrease in epithelization perioe in PB treated group. Study concludes that ethanolic extract of P B had greater wound healing activity than nitrofurazone ointment.
• Phytochemical : Study of aerial parts yielded sitosterone, acetophenone, and viscozulenic acid. Acetophenone is used extensively as a food additive to create various food fragrances, and is also known to possess hypnotic and anticonvulsant property.

Availability
Wildcrafted.