Botany
The plant is a woody evergreen shrub, densely branching with thick masses of tiny, green leaves.
Distribution
Recently introduced.
Used as a border plant.
Popular indoor plant, especially for bonsai.
Properties and constituents
• Contains the alkaloid buxine which causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. (See Toxicity below)
• Cycloprotobuxine, another alkaloid present in small amount, is being investigated as an anticancer agent.
Uses
Folkloric
• No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
• In Tunisia, considered antineoplastic.
• In Italy, employed as antimalarial.
Superstition
• Believed to prevent witches from entering households. Because of its compactness and smallness of leaves, witches, with their penchant for counting leaves and twigs of trees, are stymied trying the count and recount the number of leaves.
Studies
• Phytochemials / Steroidal Alkaloids: Phytochemical investigation of roots of B sempervirens isolated seven new steroidal alkaloids.
• Butyrylcholinesterase Activity: Chloroform extracts from the plant species of eight families were screened for their anticholinesterase activity on AChE and BChE enzymes. Three extracts, including Buxus sempervirens, were the most active against butyrylcholinesterase enzymes.
• Analgesic Activity: In a study of extracts of B sempervirens for analgesic activity, the aerial parts showed varying degrees of analgesic activitry while the roots showed highly significant analgesic effect in a dose-dependent manner.
Toxicity
• Livestock: Anecdotal reports of poisoning to farm animals. Accidental grazing may cause respiratory failure and death.
• Buxine: Buxine, the principal alkaloid, can cause respiratory paralysis in humans and livestock.
Availability
Wild-crafted. |
