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Family Convolvulaceae
Dwarf morning-glory
Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.
SLENDER DWARF MORNING GLORY

Mao la hua

Scientific names Common names
Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. Dwarf morning-glory (Engl.)
Evolvulus linifolius Linn.

Little glory (Engl.)

Convolvulus alsinoides Linn. Slender dwarf morning-glory (Engl.)

Other vernacular names
CHINESE: Mao la hua.
INDIA: Vishnu kiranthi, Sankhapuspi, Sankhahuli.
SPANISH: Ojo de vibora.

Botany
Evolvulus alsinoides is a very slender, more or less branched, spreading or ascending, usually extremely hairy herb. Stems are 20 to 70 centimeters long, not twining. Leaves are densely clothed with appressed, white and silky hairs, variable, lanceolate to ovate, usually 0.5 to 1 centimeter in length or larger; the apex is blunt with a little point, and the base pointed. Flowers are pale blue or nearly white, 6 to 8 millimeters in diameter. Fruit is a capsule, rounded, usually containing 4 seeds.

Distribution
- Locally abundant, from northern Luzon to Mindanao, in open grasslands at low and medium altitudes.
- Pantropic.

Constituents
- Plant contains a yellow neutral fat, an organic acid and saline substances.
- Yields alkaloids: betaine, shankhapushpine and evolvine.
- Fresh plant contains a volatile oil.
- Studies have reported scopoletin, scopolin, umbelliferone, ferulic acid esters, palmitic, stearic, oleic, 9-methyldecanoic and heptadecanoic acids.
- Plant yields alkaloids, amino acids, carbohydrates, betaine, evolvine, phenolic compounds, proteins, sterols, tannins.

Properties
- Considered alterative, febrifuge, anthelmintic, antiphlogistic, tonic and vermifuge.
- Large doses may cause drowsiness and decreased mobility; however, with no toxic effects.

Parts used
Entire plant.

Uses

Folkloric
- Infusion of entire plant used to cure irregularities of the bowels. Also used as vermifuge and febrifuge.
- In the Goa territory, whole plant used extensively as tonic and febrifuge.
- In decoction or infusion, used as alterative, febrifuge, anthelmintic and antiphlogistic.
- With cumin and milk, used for fevers, nervous debility and loss of memory; also used for syphilis and scrofula.
- Used as sovereign remedy for bowel complaints, especially dysentery.
- In India, used with oil to promote hair growth.
- Roots used by Santals for intermittent fevers in children.
- In Nigeria and India, leaves made into cigarettes and smoked in chronic bronchitis and asthma.
- In west tropical Africa, used as febrifuge, leprosy, pulmonary ailments, stomach troubles, vermifuge and for general healing.
- In Unani and Ayurveda traditional systems, used as nootropic or brain-tonic, used for memory loss, nervous debility, fever, epilepsy and immune disorders.
- Dried leaves rolled into cigarettes and smoked to treat bronchitis and asthma.
- Oil from the plant used to stimulate hair growth.
- In Sri Lanka, roots and stem extract used for dysentery and depression. Leaves used for asthma and mental disturbances.
- In India, decoction of roots used for coughs and colds.
Others
- In the old Sudanese Kingdom, used with other herbs as a charm to exorcise evil spirits causing disease. Women would burn the plant to fumigate the hut during puerperium and use a warm infusion as wash during the 40-day purification.
- In Ghana, the Hausa use the plant in love-potions and religious practices.


Studies
Adaptogenic / Anti-Amnesic:
Evolvulus alsinoides is used in the traditional Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, for its memory enhancement, antiepileptic and immunomodulatory properties. Study of ethanolic extract suggested adaptogenic and anti-amnesic properties with improvement in the peripheral stress markers and scopolamine induced dementia. (2)
Antiulcer / Anticatatonic Activity: Study of alcoholic extract showed marked antiulcer and anticatatonic activity. (3)
Learning Behavior / Memory Enhancement: Study of significant reversal of amnesia induced by scopolamine. Results also showed potent memory enhancing effects. (4)
Anxiolytic / Antioxidant: Study showed significant reduction of neuromuscular coordination indicating muscle relaxant activity at higher doses. Results showed anxiolytic and antioxidant activities of E. alsinoides extracts and substantiates claims for use in stress-induced disorders. (5)
Antioxidant / Insulin Effect: Study evaluated the therapeutic effect of Evolvulus alsinoides on antioxidant activity in pancrease of experimental diabetes. Results showed effective reduction of oxidative stress induced by streptozotocin and potentially increased the insulin level. Results suggest a potential use in the management of diabetes. (8)
Anti-Inflammatory / Antipyretic / Antidiarrheal: Study of an ethanolic extract of whole plant in female albino rats showed anti-inflammatory effect with inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema, antipyretic effect with reduction of hyperpyrexia induced by Brewer's yeast in rats, and marked anti-diarrheal activity against castor oil-induced diarrhea. (9)
Protective Effect on Glycoprotein Alterations in Diabetic Rats: An ethanolic extract showed a beneficial effect on glycoprotein components. Results suggest a potential use for prevention of glycoprotein mediated complications in diabetes mellitus. (11)
Anthelmintic / Antimicrobial: Study evaluated an ethanolic extract of e. alsinoides for anthelmintic and antimicrobial activities. Results showed the extract to be more portent than reference drug piperazine citrate with dose dependent paralysis/death of adult Indian earthworm Pheretima posthuma. Antimicrobial activity showed activity against P. aeruginosa and E coli. comparable to reference control ampicillin trihydrate. (12)
Lipid Effects / Antimicrobial: Study showed an ethanolic extract significantly reduced levels of triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol, and free fatty acids, and increased HDL. Results suggest it may be a useful supplementation for hyperlipidemia prevention in diabetes mellitus. (13)
Hypoglycemic Effects / Antimicrobial: Study showed a whole plant ethanolic extract has significant effect on glucose and protein metabolism, suggesting a potential use in the clinical management of diabetes mellitus. (14)
Cardioprotective Effects: Study evaluated possible attenuation of acute myocardial infarction in isoproterenol (ISP)-treated rat model. Results showed myocardial adaptation by augmenting endogenous antioxidants and protected rat hearts from oxidative stress associated with ISP induced myocardial injury. (15)
Antidyskinesial Activity: Study evaluated a methanol extract of E. alsinoides for antidyskinesial activity using acute reserpine induced dyskinesial rats. Results showed decreased transfer latency on the elevated plus maze task paradigm and reversal of reserpine induced changes in locomotor activity. (16)
Free Radical Scavenging Activity / Glutamate Induced Neurodegeneration: Study evaluated a whole plant extract for antioxidant activity in glutamate induced neurodegeration. Results showed E. alsinoides may be effective in treatment for various neurodegenerative diseases, possibly due to an effective free radical scavenging property. (17)
Gastroprotective Activity / Vishnukranti Kalka Paste: Study evaluated the gastroprotective activity of vishnukrati kalka (paste) prepared from mixing the dry powder of whole plant of Evolvulus alsinoides with cow ghee, bee honey and common sugar. Results showed strong and dose-dependent gastroprotective activity, increasing the pH of gastric juice, mucus, and carbohydrate contents. It was well tolerated without renal toxicity. (18)
Anti-Stress Constituents: Study isolated 2 new and 6 known compounds. Compound 1 ( 2,3,4-trihydroxy-3-methylbutyl 3-[3-hydroxy-4-(2,3,4-trihydroxy-2-methylbutoxy)-phenyl]-2-propenoate) exhibited the most promising antistress effect by normalizing hyperglycemia, plasma corticosterone, CK, and adrenal hypertrophy. (19)
Bactericidal Activity Against H. pylori: Study showed Evolvulus alsinoides has promising bactericidal activity against Helicobacter pylori. (20)
Anti-Inflammatory Activity: Study of chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts showed significant anti-inflammatory activity with carrageenan and formalin induced paw edema models in rats. (21)
Anticonvulsant Activity: Study of a methanolic extract suggested the presence of bioactive principles that may be beneficial in the treatment of epilepsy. Results showed dose-dependent decrease in duration of seizure. (22)

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Last Update January 2014

IMAGE SOURCE: / File:Dwarf Morning-glory (Evolvulus alsinoides) in Talakona forest, AP W IMG 8526.jpg / J M Garg / 16/8/08 / Creative Commons / GNU Free Documentation License / click on image to go to source page / Wikipedia

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Evolvulus alsinoides (Linn.) Linn. / CONVOLVULACEAE / JSTOR PLANT SCIENCE / Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew / Entry from Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol 1
(2)
Adaptogenic and anti-amnesic properties of Evolvulus alsinoides in rodents / Kiran Babu Siripurapu, Prasoon Gupta et al /
Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, Vol 81, Issue 3, July 2005, Pages 424-432 / doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2005.03.003
(3)
Review of Ethnomedicinal Uses and Pharmacology of Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. / Amritpal Singh / Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12: 734-40. 2008.
(4)
Effect of Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. on learning behavior and memory enhancement activity in rodents / Alok Nahata, U K Patil, C K Dixit / Phytotherapy Research, Volume 24, Issue 4, pages 486–493, April 2010 / DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2932
(5)
Anxiolytic activity of Evolvulus alsinoides and Convulvulus pluricaulis in rodents / Alok Nahata, U K Patil, VK Dixit / Pharmaceutical Biology (Formerly International Journal of Pharmacognosy), Volume 47, Number 5, May 2009 , pp. 444-451(8)
(6)
Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) / Catalogue of Life, China 2010
(7)
Evolvulus alsinoides / GLOBinMED
(8)
Efficacy of Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) L. on insulin and antioxidants activity in pancreas of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats / Duraisamy Gomathi, Ganesan Ravikumar, Manokaran Kalaiselvi, Kanakasabapathi Devaki and Chandrasekar Uma* / Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders 2013, 12:39 doi:10.1186/2251-6581-12-39
(9)
Preliminary studies on antiinflammatory, antipyretic, and antidiarrhoeal properties of Evolvulus alsinoides /
U. M. Dhana LEKSHMI, P. Neelakanta REDDY / Turk J Biol 35 (2011) 611-618 / doi:10.3906/biy-0904-19
(10)
Evolvulus alsinoides / Vernacular names / GLOBinMED
(11)
Protective effect of the whole plant extract of Evolvulus alsinoides on glycoprotein alterations in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats / Duraisamy Gomathi, Ganesan Ravikumar, Manokaran Kalaiselvi, Kanakasabapathi Devaki, Chandrasekar Uma / Journ of Acute Disease 06/2013; 2(2) / DOI:10.1016/S2221-6189(13)60116-X
(12)
Evaluation of Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. for anthelmintic and antimicrobial activities / G. K. Dash*, P. Suresh, S. K. Sahu, D. M. Kar, S. Ganapaty, S. B. Panda / JOURNAL OF NATURAL REMEDIES, Vol. 2/2 (2002) 182 -11825
(13)
Effect of Evolvulus alsinoides on lipid metabolism of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats / Duraisamy Gomathi, Ganesan Ravikumar, Manokaran Kalaiselvi, Kanakasabapathi Devaki, Chandrasekar Uma* / Asian Pac J Trop Dis 2013; 3(3): 184-188 / doi:10.1016/S2222-1808(13)60037-7
(14)
HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECT OF EVOLVULUS ALSINOIDES AGAINST STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS / Duraisamy Gomathi, Manokaran Kalaiselvi, Ganesan Ravikumar, Kanakasabapathi Devaki and Chandrasekar Uma* / Indo American Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
(15)
Cardioprotective Effects in Methanolic Extract of Evolvulus Alsinoides Linn on Isoproterenol - Induced Myocardial Infarction in Albino Rats / Sudhakumari, Anil Kumar H.V, Aamir Javed3, Manish Jaiswal, Muralidhar .S. Talkad* / International Journal of Basic Medical Sciences and Pharmacy (IJBMSP) 53 Vol. 2, No. 2, December 2012, ISSN: 2049-4963
(16)
EFFECT OF EVOLVULUS ALSINOIDES ROOT EXTRACTS ON ACUTE RESERPINE INDUCED OROFACIAL DYSKINESIA / K. R. SATHISH, A. AZIZUR RAHMAN, R. BUVANENDRAN, D. OBETH, U. PANNEERSELVAM / International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol 2, Suppl 4, 2010
(17)
Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Evolvulus alsinoides on Glutamate Induced Neurodegeneration / Subramaniyan N K et al / IRJP 2 (1) 2011, 169-174.
(18)
Gastroprotective activity of the paste of Evolvulus alsinoides L. (vishnukranti kalka) in rats / H. G. S. P. Hewageegani, HA.S.Ariyawansal, W,D.Ratnasooriya / Vidyodaya 1. of Sci, (2006) ~ol. 13,pp 23-31
(19)
Anti-Stress Constituents of Evolvulus alsinoides: An Ayurvedic Crude Drug / Kiran Babu et al / Chem. Pharm. Bull. 55(5) 771-775, 2007
(20)
In vitro bactericidal activity of Evolvulus alsinoides L. against Helicobacter pylori / SSN Fernando, HGSP Hewageegana, WD RatnaSOOriya* / Aust J Med Herbalism 18(3)2006
(21)
Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Evolvulus alsinoides Plants Extracts / Purma Aravinda Reddy, J Venkateshwara Rao / DOI: 10.7897/2277-4572.02332 / Journal of Pharmaceutical and Scientific Innovation
(22)
Evaluation of the Anticonvulsant Effect of the Methanol Extract of Evolvulus alsinoides in Mice / Abubakar K.*, Ugwah-Oguejiofor C. J., Usman M. N., Abubakar S. B, Abdulkadir R. / Scholars Academic Journal of Pharmacy (SAJP) Sch. Acad. J. Pharm., 2013; 2(6):436-441


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