| Botany
An erect, simple, smooth and robust plant,
less than a meter high. Leaves are opposite, fleshy, pinnatisect, 8
to 15 cm long, with the lobes distant, spreading, subentire, toothed
or somewhat lobed and lanceolate. Infloresence is terminal and peduncled.
Flowers are aboutg 1.5 cm long. Sepals are green and lanceolate. Limb
of the corolla is spreading, and about 2 cm in diameter.
 Distribution
Occasional garden cultivation.
Parts used
Leaves.
Constituents
and properties
Leaves reported to contain
chlorophyl, fat, a yellow organic acid, cream of tartar, sulphate of
calcium, free tartaric acid and calcium oxalate.
Leaves also reported to contain malic acid.
Leaves considered styptic, astringent and antiseptic.
Uses
Folkloric
• Pulped leaves are
applied to chronic ulcers and sores. Also used for headaches.
• Malays poultice the chest with
leaves for colds and coughs.
• In Ambonia, leaves used for poulticing
fevered heads and bodies.
• In traditional Indian medicine, leaves are freshly bruised or
roasted over fire and applied as poultice to bruises and contusions
to relieve inflammation and prevent discolorations.
• Used as a styptic to fresh cuts, abrasions and wounds. Also
used for venomous insect bites.
• Juice mixed with butter, 1:2, for diarrhea, dysentery, lithiasis,
cholera and phthisis.
• In Indo-China, leaves are used
as topicals for ulcers.
• In the Antilles, used for headaches
and as an emollient.
Studies
• Cytotoxicity
/ Anticancer: Study
of effects of several plants on in vitro proliferation of hormone dependent
breast cancer and colon cancer lines showed the hexane extract of Kalanchoe
lacinita was effected against cellular proliferations of MCF-7 (hormone
dependent breast cancer cell lines.
Availability
Seasonal fruiting
and ubiquitoous market produce. |
