Botany
A climbing, herbaceous.
hairy or smooth slender vine. The name derives from the distinct odor
of carbon bisulphide when the leaves are crushed. Leaves are ovate to
oblong-ovate, 6 to 10 cm long, 3.5 to 5 cm wide, pointed at the tip, rounded
or slightly heart-shaped at the base. Flowers are stalkless, in axiallary,
lax, peduncled inflorescences. Corolla is about 1 cm long, cylindrical,
pale purple to white outside, deep purple and villous inside; limb is
spreading with 5 undulate lobes. Fruit is rounded, about 5 mm diameter.
Distribution
In thickets at low and medium
altitudes.
Properties
In Ayurveda, considered alterative, antiarthritic, antispasmodic, cardiac, diaphoretic. expectorant and stomachic.
Constituents
Upon distillation, a
volatile oil is obtained with the offensive odor of the fresh crushed
leaves.
Two alkaloids are obtained: a- and b-Paederine.
The leaves yield an indole.
Leaves are rich in carotene and vitamin C.
Considered anodyne, emollient, carminative, tonic, stomachic, vermifuge.
Plant yields friedelan-3-1, beta-sitosterol and epifriedelinol.
Leaves yield iridoid glycosides, asperuloside, paederoside and scandoside;
sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, ursolic acid, palmitic acide and
methyl mercaptan. The methyl mercaptan is responsible for the foetid odor
of the plant.
Uses
Folkloric
Used for rheumatism.
The leaves, boiled and mashed, applied to the abdomen for urinary retention.
Decoction of leaves also used for urinary retention and for urinary bladder
stones.
Decoction-soaked cloths applied to the forehead for fevers and taken internally
at the same time.
Bark decoction used as emetic.
Decoction of leaves used for antirheumatic baths.
Pounded leaves applied to the abdomen for flatulence.
Decoction of roots for expelling gas.
Fruit used for toothaches and to blacken the teeth.
Decoction of whole plant used for abdominal pain, abscesses, arthritis.
In many Asia traditional
therapies, used for diarrhea and dysentery.
In Bangladesh, used for
diarrhea. Poultice of leaves used to relieve distention and flatulence
Roots and bark used as emetic, and in the treatment of piles and liver
inflmmation.
Fruit used for toothache.
In India used for rheumatism
and stiffness of the joints. Poultice of leaves applied to abdomen to
relieve distention and flatulence. Juice of the root is used for piles,
liver and spleen ailments.
In Ayurveda, used for asthma, bowel problems, diarrhea, diabetes, rheumatism and seminal weakness. Extract applied to toothaches.
Studies
• Antidiarrheal:
Study showed P. foetida reduced the purging index in a dose-dependent manner in magnesium sulfate-induced diarrhea, reducing gastrointestinal motility and enhanced morphine-induced reduction of motility. Results showed PF has antidiarrheal activity by inhibiting intestinal
motility supporting its use in traditional medicine.
• Antiinflammatory:
Study of the butanol fraction of a methanol extract of the defatted leaves of P. foetida showed significant inhibition of granulation tissue formation in cotton-pellet implanted rats, decreased liver aspartate transaminase activity and presence of disease-modifying antirheumatic activity. Resuts showed some rationale for its ethnomedical anti-inflammatory use.
• Antispasmodic: Ethanolic
extract exhibited antispasmodic activity on isolated guinea-pig ileum.
• Anthelmintic:
Juice of leaves showed potent anthelmintic effect against bovine
helminths–Strongyloides spp, Trichostrongylus and Haemonchus spp.
• Antitussive
Activity : Study showed the ethanolic extract of P foetida
had a cough suppressant effect, with decrease in cough intensity and frequency.
The effect was less than codeine but similar to non-narcotic dropropizine.
The effect could be related to its demonstrated antiinflammatory activity.
• Antioxidant
Activity : Study showed that P. foetida had high antioxidant
activity, with fresh samples having higher phenolic contents and better
antioxidant activity than the dried samples. It suggests PF could be a
significant source of natural antioxidant compounds.
• Hepatoprotective
Activity : Study showed the methanol extract to have
moderate hepatoprotective activity.
• Anticancer
Activity : Study showed the 50% ethanolic extract to
have anticancer activity against human nasopharyngeal epidermoid carcinoma
in tissue culture.
Availability
Wildcrafted.
|
