Scientific name: Phyllanthus niruri Linn.
Common name: Seed on the leaf / pick-a-back
Local name: Dukung anak
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Plant: Dukung anak is a small erect annual herb growing up to a height of 50 - 70 cm.
Leaves: The leaves are bipinnate compound in nature. The leaflets are green, entire and alternately arranged with an elliptical blade, measuring about 6 - 10 mm. The leaflet stalk is absent while the compound leaf petiole is present and is green in color
Stem: The stem is glabrous, green and erect with spreading branches.
Inflorescence/Flower: The flowers are borne solitary on the underside of the leaves. The bracts are triangular in shape, scaly with each bract holding one flower. There are 2 types of flowers; the male and the female, both of which are very minute, measuring only 1 mm in length. There are 5 corolla lobes, which are polypetalous, glabrous and cream-green in color. There is a single laminar shaped stamen, which is inserted near base of corolla tube. There is one style.
PLANT PARTS USED: Whole herb
Kidney problems : decoction or juice of leaves and roots taken orally Coughs: decoction of young leaves taken orally Cuts, bruises and ulcers : leaf poultice is applied topically
INDUSTRIALLY IMPORTANT CHEMICALS
- Geraniin
- Niruriside
- Phyllanthin
- Rutin
Traditional use:
- water boiled with the plant is taken to treat diarrhoea.
- reported to lower hypertension and purify the bloodeffective in healing wounds and scurf.
- when boiled with goat’s milk and given to children or babies it is said to cure jaundice. It has been reported that hepatitis was cured when goat’s milk boiled with the plant was consumed for a period of 1-2 months.
- according to scientific study, the plant contains a bitter compound, phyllanthin and hydrophyllanthin. Other compounds are tannin, saponine,phyltetralin, nirtetralin, niranthin and calcium oxalate.
- Precaution- as it contain calcium oxalate which is hazardous if taken by patients suffering from stones in the bladder
1 comment:
One of the herbal plants in pharmacology is meniran. Stimuno for toddlers/children and adults there are contraindications, do not expect to be drunk by pregnant women, breastfeeding women, patients with hypersensitivity against meniran plants (Phyllanthus niruri) and patients suffering from autoimmune diseases.
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