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 Botany
Ualis-haba is an erect, branched
shrub reaching 0.5 to 1.5 meteres in height. Leaves are oblong
to rhomboid, 1 to 4 centimeters long, the apex rounded or pointed, the
margins toothed, and the lower surface covered with very short
pale hairs. Flowers occur singly in the axil of the leaves. Calyx
is green. Corolla is yellow, about 1.5 centimeters diameter. Fruit has
8 to 10 carpels which are smooth or somewhat wrinkled, about
2.5 millimeters long and awned.
Properties
Demulcent, diaphoretic,
diuretic, emollient, stomachic, tonic.
Sudorific, appetite stimulant.
Distribution
A very common weed in
the Philippines.
Constituents
• Seven ecdysteroids, including three new compounds were isolated. Four – ecdysone, 20-hydoxyecdysone, 2-deoxyecdysone, 2-deoxy-hydroxyecdysone-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside and 20-hydroxyecdysone-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside–were reported for the first time.
• Phytoscreening of a methanol extract yielded alkaloids, flavonoids, and reducing sugars.
Properties
- Considered appetite stimulant, demulcent, diaphoretic,
diuretic, emollient, stomachic, sudorific and tonic.
-
Roots are
considered febrifuge, cooling, astringent, tonic.
Parts used
Whole plant.
 Uses
Folkloric
- In the Philippines decoction of the roots is
used as a gargle for toothaches; internally, as a stomachic.
- Decoction of bitter bark used for fever.
- A decoction from any plant part used for irregular menses.
- Plant used for poulticing ulcers, boils, swellings, broken bone, cuts, herpes.
- Plant poultice used as application for chicken pox.
- Pulped leaves applied externally for stomach aches.
- Pulped leaves with Blumea balsifera (dalapot) applied externally for
headaches, and to the gums for toothaches.
- Plant parts with coconut oil applied externally for itches and scurf.
- In Cuba, decoction of roots used for infantile diarrhea.
- The roots when crushed with ginger, held in the mouth, for toothaches.
- The leaves and juice, taken by mouth for stomach cramps.
- Fresh leaves are mucilaginous and emollinet and a cataplasm used to promote maturation of abscesses.
- Pulped roots applied to sore breasts.
- In Amboina, crushed roots held in mouth for toothaces; also, chewed with ginger.
- Juice swallowed for abdominal cramps.
- In Borneo, reported use as abortifacient.
- Juice of pounded leaves used for fevers.
- Flowerw applied to wasp stings.
- The leaves have been used as tea.
- The flowers are used for wasp stings.
- In India, mucilaginous roots used as demulcent and emollient.
- Root decoction has been used for bronchitis and asthma; also for fevers and various abdominal troubles.
- In Johore medicine, used for rheumatism.
- Decoction of old root used to relieve constipation.
- Hindus use it for fever, nervous and urinary diseases.
- In Ayurveda, widely used in the treatment of fever; also, as diuretic.
- In Indonesia, a traditional medicinal plant for the treatment of gout.
Edibility
- Tea: In some parts of Mexico, leaves reportedly used as substitute for tea.
Others
- Fiber: Stem yields a good fiber; considered a good substitute for jute.
Studies
• Cytotoxicity / Antibacterial: Cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity
of Sida rhombifolia (Malvaceae) grown in Bangladesh: The
ethyl acetate extract showed potent cytotoxicity. Extracts showed weak
antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative
test organisms.
• Antioxidant: Evaluation
of In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Sida rhombifolia (L.) Ssp. retusa
(L.) : All the extracts showed effective free radica
scavenging activity, reducing activity, and superoxide scavenging activity.
The results indicate S. rhombifolia is a potential source of natural
antioxidants.
• Antibacterial / Antifungal: In a study of nine Zairean medicinal plants, six extracts, including Sida rhombifolia, demonstrated marked antibacterial activity agaiinst K pneumonia, S aureus, Strep mutans and significant antifungal activity against A niger, C albicans and M gypseum. Most of the bactericidal and fungicidal consstituents were found in the ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions.
• Anti-Arthritic: Results of study of aerial parts of Sida rhombifolia on adjuvant-iinduced arthritis, motor performance, distance traveled and histopath findings showed it to be useful in the treatment of arthritis.
• Antinociceptive / Anti-Inflammatory: Results showed the leaves of S rhombifolia possessed antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities confirming its traditional uses for pain and inflammatory ailments.
• Anti-Gout / Xanthine-Oxidase Inhibitor: Earlier studies have reported that flavonoids from the crude extract possessed invitro inhibitory activity against xanthine oxidase. Study results showed the crude extract flavonoids had an inhibitory effect from 48 to 71%.
• Toxicity Studies: Acute and subchronic toxicity studies of the water extract of the root of Sida rhombifolia failed to show toxicity evidence in male and female rats.
• Antibacterial / Fruit Extracts: Study of fruit extracts showed significant in vitro antibacterial activity against most of the test bacteria. Phytochemical screening yielded alkaloids, flavonoids, and reducing sugars in the methanolic extract.
• Hypoglycemic: Study of aqueous extract of S. rhombifolia ssp. retusa leaves showed significant hypoglycemic effects in normal rats but marginal activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
• Bioactive Components / Antibacterial: Study yielded major phytochemical compounds such as vasicinol, Ephedrine vasicinone, and Hypaphorine. The methanol extract was effective against all phytopathogens. Results suggest a potential source of compounds against bacterial diseases in humans and plants.
• Anthelmintic: Study results showed potent antioxidant and anthelmintic activitiy. Antioxidant activity was tested using DPPH, NO scavenging and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays. Anthelmintic activity was evaluated using the Indian earthworm Pheretima posthuma.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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