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Family Polygonaceae
Malabato
Fallopia scandens (L.) Holub
CLIMBING FALSE BUCKWHEAT
Duan xu luo kui shu

Scientific names Common names
Anredera scandens (L.) Moq. Malabato (Tag.)
Bilderdykia scandens (L.) Greene Olibato (Tag.)
Fagopyrum scandens (L.) Gross Climbing false buckwheat (Engl.)
Fallopia scandens (L.) Holub False buckwheat (Engl.)
Polygonum cristatum Engelm. & A.Gray  
Polygonum scandens Linn.  
Reynoutria scandens (L.) Shinners  
Tiniaria cristata (Engelm. & A.Gray) Small  
Tiniaria scandens (L.) Small  
Anredera scandens (L.) Moq. is a synonym of Fallopia scandens (L.) Holub The Plant List
Fallopia scandens (L.) Holub is an accepted name The Plant List

Other vernacular names
CHINESE: Duan xu luo kui shu.
MEXICAN: Sacasil.

Etymology
Fallopia derives from the 16th century Italian anatomist Gabriello Fallopio, while scandens comes from the Latin word "to climb."

Botany
Malabato is a smooth, somewhat juicy, herbaceous, annual vine, arising from large, fleshy tuberous roots. Stems are green or purplish, and slender. Leaves are shining, somewhat fleshy, ovate to oblong-ovate, 5 to 10 centimeters in length. Racemes are axillary, solitary, erect, usually simple, and 12 to 20 centimeters long. Flowers are numerous, pale-greenish, and about 3 millimeters long. Sepals are broadly winged down the back.

Distribution
- Abundant in thickets at low and medium altitudes in Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Batangas Provinces in Luzon.
- Introduced species from tropical America.

Constituents
- Study of dried rhizomes yielded a new naturally occurring retrochalcone, 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-5-formyl-3-methylchalcone. (see study below) (7)

Properties
- Studies have suggested antibacterial and antioxidant properties.

Parts used
Roots.

Uses

Folkloric
- In the Tagalog regions, the tuberous roots are used as topical to hasten the ripening of boils.
- Elsewhere, rhizomes used for the treatment of fractures and flesh wounds.


Studies
Retrochalcone:
Studies yielded a new retrochalcone, 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-5-formyl-3-methylchalcone, isolated from the rhizomes of Anredera scandens. (2)
Antioxidant: Study of the tuber polysaccharide exhibited distinct inhibitory action to superoxide anion free radicals. (3)
Antibacterial: Study evaluated an ethyl acetate leaf extract for antibacterial activity against Shigella flexneri. The MBC (Minimum Bactericidal Concentration) was 8%. Phytochemical analysis of the leaf extract yielded polyphenols and saponins. (4) Study of methanol extract of dried rhizome yielded a naturally occurring retrochalcone, which exhibited moderate activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC=13.5 µg/ml) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC=15 µg/ml). (see constituents above) (7)

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Godofredo U. Stuart Jr., M.D.

Last Update November 2015

IMAGE SOURCE: Polygonum scandens / Robert Tatina - USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest National Technical Center, Lincoln. - Not copyrighted image / USDA
IMAGE SOURCE: Line drawing / Polygonum scandens L. - climbing false buckwheat / USDA -NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. USDA Natural Resourcse Conservation Service / Not copyrighted image / USDA

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Taxon: Fallopia scandens (L.) Holub / USDA / Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
(2)
A retrochalcone from Anredera scandens / Fernando Calzada, Rachel Mata et al / Phytochemistry
Volume 29, Issue 8, 1990, Pages 2737-2738 / doi:10.1016/0031-9422(90)85235-8
(3)
Study on Content Determination and Antioxidant Activity in vitro of Polysaccharide Produced by Anredera scandens / ZHAO Jin-li, ZHANG Ya-ru, SONG Juan / Acta Agriculturae Jiangxi, 2011-10
(4)
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY TEST OF ETHYL ACETATE EXTRACT OF BINAHONG LEAF (Anredera scandens (L.) Moq.) AGAINST Shigella flexneri WITH THE PROFILE OF THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY / Lilies Kusuma Wardhani, Nanik Sulistyani / Jurnal Ilmiah Kefarmasian, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2012 : 1-16
(5)
Anredera scandens (L.) Moq. (accepted name) / Chinese name / Catalogue of Life, China
(6)
Fallopia scandens / Plant Diversity Website
(7)
Anredera scandens / Phytochemical Potential of Tropical Plants / edited by Kelsey R. Downum, John T. Romeo, Helen A. Stafford

It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page.

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