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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.
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