Anuang, Kyllinga monocephala Rottb., WHITEHEAD SPIKEHEDGE, Dan sui shui wu gong: Philippine Medicinal Herbs / Alternative Medicine

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Family • Cyperaceae
Anuang
Kyllinga monocephala Rottb.
WHITEHEAD SPIKEHEDGE
Dan sui shui wu gong

Scientific names	Common names
Kyllinga monocephala Rottb.	Anuang (Tag.)
Kyllinga nemoralis (J.R. et G. Forst.) Dandy ex H. & D.	Barubotones (Bis.)
Kyllinga triceps Blanco	Bolobotones (Bis.)
Kyllinga mindorensis Steud.	Borobotones (Bis.)
Kyllinga gracilis Kunth	Botoncillo (Span., Bis.)
Cyperus kyllingia Engl.	Bosobotones (Bis.)
Dan sui shui wu gong (Chin.)	Borsa-ñga-dadakkel (Ilk.)
	Baki-baki (S. L. Bis.)
	Bosikad (C. Bis.)
	Boskad (Bis.)
	Busikad (P. Bis.)
	Katutu (Mag.)
	Kurukamoting-orig (Bik.)
	Malabotones (Bis.)
	Mutha (Tag.)
	Mustra (Tag.)
	Puñgos (S. L. Bis.)
	Sangsangitan (Bon.)
	Sud-sud (Bis.)
	Uli-uli (Bag.)
	Nut grass (Engl.)
	White-flowered kyllinga (Engl.)
	Whitehead spikesedge (Engl.)
	White water sedge (Engl.)
*Mutha* is a common name shared by both Cyperus rotundus (botobotones) and Kyllinga monocephala (anuang, borobotones). They have similar characteristics, and K. monocephala has been questioned on its use as a substitute. Rhizomes have similar appearances, and as crude drugs are hard to differentiate.

Other vernacular names

CHAMORRO: Botoncillo, Chaguan lemae, Chaguan lemai, Chaguan ni, Manonogcha lemai.

FIJIAAN: Pako.

HAWAIIAN: Kili'o'opu, Mau'u mokae.

MANGAREVAN: Mutie iwa.

MAORI: Matie karanga, Mauku 'ōniāni, Neke 'enua, Tama 'enua

POHNPEIAN: LIimeiseri, Lingkarak tikitik, Rehlingkarak.

PUKAPUKAN: Vayavaya.

SAMOAN: Mo'u upo'o, Mo'u upo'o, Mutia, Ta'ata'a vili taliga, Tuise, tuise.

TAHITIAN: Matie Tahiti, Mo'u upoo, Pakopako, Pakopako 'ae kuma.

TONGAN: Pakopako, Tuise.

Botany
Anuang is a perennial creeping hedge, more or less glabrous, arising from long-creeping rootstocks. Stems are usually solitary, 10 to 40 centimeters high, and 3-angled. Leaves are shorter than the stem, up to 15 centimeters in length or longer, 3 to 4 millimeters wide; with the bracts similar. Spikes are ovoid, simple, white, 8 to 13 centimeters long. Spikelets are very numerous, 3 to 3.5 millimeters long, the flowering glume distinctly winged along the keel. Inflorescence is a globose terminal head, 5 to 10 millimetrs in diameter. Fruit is a nut , up to 1.5 millimeters long, oblong to suborbicular, with a lens-shaped achene.

Distribution
- In waste places, open grasslands, etc., at low and medium altitudes throughout the Philippines.
- A major weed in improved pastures.
- Pantropic.

Properties
- Oil distilled from the roots is dark yellowish-green, with a pleasant odor and pungent taste.
- Considered diuretic, sudorific, refrigerant, demulcent and tonic.
Parts used
Oil, roots, rhizome.

Uses
Folkloric
- Decoction of fresh roots used as sudorific in malaria with chills.
- Decoction of rhizome used as diuretic; mixed with oi, used externally for various forms of dermatoses.
- Decoction of root used as refrigerant, demulcent and tonic; used to relieve thirst in diabetes.
- Oil distilled from the root used to relieve itching.
- Oil used internally for torpor of the liver.
- Shares other properties and uses like Cyperus rotundus.

Studies
• Analgesic / Hypoglycemic: Methanol extract study in mice showed K. monocephala to lower blood glucose level when admiistered 15 min after a glucose load. The extract also exhibited analgesic activity, significantly reducing the number of writhes in mice administered intraperitoneally with acetic acid to induce abdominal constriction.
• Antidiabetic: Different extracts of K. monocephala rhizomes were studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. An aqueous extract showed significant antidiabetic property. The antidiabetic effect was attributed to its main phytoconstituents--flavonoids and tannins.
• a-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity: Study screened 80% aqueous ethanolic extracts of selected plants used as remedies for diabetes for potential a-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Except for A. bilimbi, all the plants, which included Kyllinga monocephala, exhibited significant enzyme inhibitory activity.