 Botany
Paanbalibis is a diffusely spreading, laxly branched, smooth or somewhat hairy herb, with the branches sometimes attaining a length of 2 meters. Leaves are scattered, ovate, elliptic, or oblong, 1 to 4 centimeters long, sometimes wavy, pale beneath, with rounded or pointed apex, and usually rounded base. Cymes are very lax and panicled with slender branches. Flowers are minute. usually fascicled or subumbellate on the ultimate branchlets, pink, and about 1.5 millimeters long. Fruit is glandular, narroly oblong-obovoid, about 3 millimeters long.
Distribution
- Throughout the Philippines in open places, in settled areas at low and medium altitudes.
- A common weed in and about town.
- Pantropic.
Constituents
- Plant has yielded Boerhaavic acid, punarnavine, potassium nitrate, tannins, phlobaphenes.
- Ash analysis yielded potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, nitrate, phosphates, silica and sulphates.
Studies have yielded b-sitosterol, a-2-sitosterol, palmitic acid, tetracosanoic, hexacosonoic, stearic, arachidic acid, urosilic acid, among others.
- Phytochemical screening yielded flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides and sterols in the alcoholic root.
Properties
Early studies have reported the diuretic effect of the liquid extract of the dry or fresh plant. The diuretic effect appears prominent on certain types of ascites, ie, liver cirrhosis. The diuretic effect was attributed to punarnavine, an alkaloid that reported increases blood pressure and urination.
Considered diuretic, stomachic, laxative, expectorant and emetic.
Root is considered purgative, anthelmintic, febrifuge.
Also reported abortifacient, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, rejuvinative, tonic.
Parts used
Roots, leaves, seeds.
Uses
Edibility
A neglected and underutilized
vegetable.
Good source of vitamins C, B2 and B3.
In southeastern Nigeria, leaves are cooked and eaten as vegetable.
Folkloric
Root, in powder, decoction or infusion, used as laxative.
Used as diuretic, in strangury, gonorrhea and other internal inflammations.
In moderate doses, used in asthma; in large doses, used as emetic.
Infusion of whole plants used as mild laxative and febrifuge in children; also used for convulsions.
Used to regulate menstruation.
In the Gold Coast, used in the treatment of yaws.
In the Antilles, used as a stimulant , tonic, vermifuge, emetic, sudorific and as antispasmodic.
In Martinique, roots used for snake bites.
In Uruguay, roots considered antidysenteric and emetic.
In Ayurveda, considered bitter, cooling, astringent to bowels; used for biliousness, leucorrhea, anemia, asthma. Leaves used in dyspepsia, tumors, abdominal pains and splenic enlargements. Roots used as diuretic, expectorant, vermifuge, analgesic and to improve renal and hepatic functions.
In Chinese traditional medicine, used to move blood and break up stasis, regulate menses, strengthen the bones and tendons; for pain, malnutrition, dysmenorrhea, vaginal dishcarge.
In Nigeria, used for boils, epilepsy, convulsions, guinea worms, asthma, fever, constipation.
In Nepal, used for snakes bites, headaches, pain, hemorrhoids, jaundice, gout, asthma, round worms, excessive menstruation, cough and hemoptysis.
In India, used for asthma, cough, urethritis, edema, ascities, nephritis.
Studies
• Anti-Diabetic
: (1) Study investigating the effect of oral administration of an aqueous solution of B. diffusa leaf extract on normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in blood glucose and a significant increase in plasma insulin levels in nomral and diabetic rats. The effect was more prominent than glibenclamide. (2) Study of leaf extract of Bd produced dose-dependent reduction in blood glucose probably through rejuvenation of pancreatic B-cells or through extrapancreatic action. (3) Extracts of Bd showed significant increase in glucose tolerance; the methanolic extract showed more activity.
• Hepatoprotective
: Study showed the alcoholic extract of the whole plant of Bd exhibited hepatoprotective activity against experimentally induced carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity in rats and mice.
• Antitumor / Chemopreventive
: Study demonstrated the chemopreventive property of topical treatment of Bd extract on DMBA-induced skin papillomagenesis in male Swiss albino mice.
• Anticonvulsant
: Study showed the crude methanolic extract of Bd and its liriodendrin-rich fraction showed a dose-dependent protection against PTZ-induced convulsions.
• Antiproliferative / Anti-Estrogenic
: Study of methanol extract of Bd showed moderate to very strong inhibition in MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. Results demonstrated antiproliferative and antiestrogenic properties and suggests a therapeutic potential in estrogen dependent breast cancers.
• Antistress / Adaptogenic / Immunomodulatory
: Study of ethanol extracts of roots of Bd showed increased stress tolerance in swim endurance test and cold restrain stress. Immunomodulatory activity was shown by increased carbon clearance, indicating stimulation of the reticuloendothelial system. There was an increase in DTH response to SRBC in mice, corresponding to cell mediated immunity and indicating stimulatory effects on lymphocytes and accessory cell types.
• Spasmolytic / Rotenoid Derivatives
: Study showed the methanol extract of roots of Bd exhibited a significant spasmolytic activity in guinea pig ileum, probably through a direct effect on smooth muscle. Phytochemicals isolated one new and 6 known rotenoid derivatives.
• Eupalitin / Anti-Osteoporosis Activity
: Invention relates to a process of isolation of bioactive eupalitin from Bh possessing anti-osteoporosis activity by extraction of powdered leaves.
• Antibacterial
: In a study of the leaves of five different plants belonging to different family, the methanol extracts of Bd, T cardiofolia and E alba leaves showed significant in vitro antimicrobial activity.
• Nutritive Properties
: Study showed Bd as vegetable contains saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids. The vitamin constituents were vitamins C, B3, B2; mineral contents, Ca, Na, and Mg. Results suggest that the leaves as cheap sources of vitamins, macro- and micro-nutrients can be incorporated into the human and animal diet. Its flavonoid and vit C contents also suggest a potential source of antioxidants.
• Immunomodulatory: Study of alkaloidal fraction was studied for its effect on cellular and humoral functions in mice. Results showed an in vivo immunostimulatory activity without an in vitro effect.
• Cytological Effects: Study of the mitotic effects of root extracts of B. diffusa on the root tips of Crinum jagus were investigated. Results showed root extracts of Bd can accumulate metaphase and inhibit mitoses and presents an alternative to the rather expensive colchicene for cytological studies.
• Antihyperglycemic / Renoprotective: Study of an ethanolic extract of Bd in alloxanized diabetic rats showed it to be a potent renoprotective and antihyperglycemic agent in diabetic animals.
• Anticonvulsant / Calcium Channel Antagonism: Study results reiterated the anticonvulsant activity of a methanolic extract of Bd roots. It suggests the anti-convulsant activity could be due to calcium-channel antagonistic action.
• Antistress: Study of a hydroethanolic extract (80%) of Boerhaavia diffusa (HEBD) and a polyherbal formulation (Punarnava mandur) PHF-09 containing Boerhaavia diffusa showed antistress activity in a dose-dependent manner.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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