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Botany
An erect, branched
shrub reaching 0.5 to 1.5 meteres in height. Leaves are oblong
to rhomboid, 1 to 4 cm 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 cnm diameter. Fruit has
8 to 10 carpels which are smooth or somewhat wrinkled, about
2.5 mm long and awned.
Medicinal properties
Demulcent, diaphoretic,
diuretic, emollient, stomachic, tonic.
Sudorific, appetite stimulant.
Distribution
A very common weed in
the Philippines.
Constituents and properties
• Roots are
considered febrifuge, cooling, astringent, tonic.
• 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.
Parts used
Whole plant.
Uses
Folkloric
Decoction of the roots is
used as a gargle for toothaches; internally, as a stomachic.
Decoction of bitter for fever.
A decoction from any plant part used for irregular menses.
Pulped leaves applied externally for stomach aches.
Pulped leaves with Blumea balsifera (dalapot) applied externally for
headaches.
Plant parts with coconut oil externally for itching.
Decoction of roots 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.
Cataplasm of fresh leaves promote maturation of abscesses.
The leaves have been used as tea.
The flowers are used for wasp stings.
Root decoction has been used for bronchitis and asthma.
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.
Others
Stem yields a good fiber.
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.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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