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Botany:
Small shrub growing to a height of 1-3meters. Leaves
are alternate, petioled 2-11 cm long, broad-ovate, bright green atop,
pale green underneath, with crenulate-serrate margins. Inflorescence
is axillary, solitary, in long pendant spikes, up to 15-40 cm long.
Flowers are small and bright red.
Distribution
Popular garden cultivation for its
decorative red catkins.
Parts
utilized
Bark, flower, leaves, root
Propagated by stem cuttings.
Chemical constituents
and properties
Diuretic.
Emollient, laxative.
Expectorant.
Uses
Folkloric
• Not known in the Philippines for
medicinal applications.
• In indonesia,
a root and flower decoction is used for hemoptysis. Leaf poultice used
for leprosy.
• In Malaya, decoction
of leaves and flowers taken internally as laxative and diuretic for
gonorrhea.
Bark used as expectorant and for asthma.
• In Africa, bark
root used for pulmonary problems; leaf for leprosy, and flower for kidney
ailments and as diuretic.
Studies
• Antimicrobial:
Studies of leaf extracts isolated gallic aicd, corilagin and geranin
responsible for antimicrobial activity.
• Trypanocidal:
Aequous extract of Acalypha hispida leaves suggest trypanocidal effect.
• Anti-ulcer / Anti-tumor:
Studies yielded geraniin and dehydroellagitannins which suggest diverse
biological properties including anti-ulcer and anti-tumor effects, antibacterial
activity against helicobacter pylori and antifungal activity.
• Phytochemicals: Phytochemical studies yield phenolics, flavonoids, hydroxyanthraquinones
and saponins. It also detected steroids , phlobatannins and glycosides.
• Anthocyanins:
Study isolated three anthocyanins from the red flowers of the chenille plant.
Caution
Milky sap from the leaves and stems
are poisonous.
Symptoms: Ingestion causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea; skin contact
may cause acute dermatitis which may be severe.
The toxic principle: diterpene esters.
Availability
Ornamental cultivation. |
