Botany
Earect and branched plant, about 20 to 80 cm in height. Leaves are narrowly ovate, 4-10 cm long. Involucres are crowded, about 1 cm long, calyx-like, with one flower. The perianth is white, purple, or yellow, 3-4 cm long, with a slightly enlarged and upward cylindrical tube and a spreading limb. Fruit is narrowly ovoid, about 8 mm long, black and finely ribbed.

Distribution
Througout the Philippines in settled areas; cultivated and spontaneous.

Chemical constituents and characteristics
Roots contain oxymethylanthroquinone.
Plant contains trigonelline, an alkaloid, that possess a purgative action.
Also contains galactose and arabinose.
Tubers are weekly purgative and emetic.
Diuretic, purgative, vulnerary.
Root is believed to be aphrodisiac.

Parts used
Leaves, roots, tubers.

Uses
Folkloric
Pounded seed use for making cosmetic powders.
Juice of leaves are soothing when applied to areas of urticaria.
Bruised leaves as poultices for boils and abscesses.
Juices of leaves used internally for gonorrhea.
Infusion of leaves used as a diuretic.
Leaves are anti-inflammatory. Decoction used for abscesses.
Leaf juice used for wounds.
In Peru, root decoction used as diuretic.
In Brazil, Kayapo indians inhale the powdered dried flowers for headaches; the Assurani Indians grate the tuberous seeds and drink it for intestinal parasites. Poultice of leaves and flowers used for eczema, skin infections and itching.
In Mexico, the decoction of entire plant is used vaginal discharge, dysentery,
Nutrition
Leaves are used as emergency food.
Condiment.
Crushed seed used as pepper substitute.
Others
Edible crimson dye from flowers; used as colorant for cosmetics, cakes and jellies. bee and scorpion stings.

Studies
• Antispasmodic: Extract of Mirabilis jalapa exhibits an inhibitory effect on gut smooth muscle contractility probably through a serotoninergic mechanism interacting with other adrenergic systems.
• Antimicrobial: The ethanol extract of Mirabilis jalapa tested against five pathogenic bacterial strains (E. coli, S. aureus, S. typhi, B. cereus, K. pneumoniaa) and toxins showed antimicrobial activities comparable to conventional antibiotics suggesting a potential as agents for biocontrol and chemotherapy.
• Antinociceptive: Study results showed Mirabilis jalapa to have antinociceptive activity in mice, supporting its folkloric use as an analgesic.

Availability
Wild-crafted.