Botany
The plant is a shrub that grows to a height of 2 meters. Leaves are alternate, oblong, acuminate, up to 15 cm long and 5 cm wide, bright green above and crimson red below. Flowers are small and greenish.
Distribution
Recently introduced to the Philippines.
Garden cultivation; easy indoor growth.
Native to China and Japan.
Uses
Folkloric
• No known folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
Studies
• Cytotoxicity / Anti-Cancer:
In a study of 120 plant extracts from 29 Indonesian plants tested in vitro cytotoxicity in cultured human lung, colon and stomach cancer cells, five extracts derived from E alba and Excoecaria cochinchinensis displayed potent cell-line selective cytotoxicity.
• Diterpenoids:
Study of extract of leaves and twigs isolated three new highly oxygenated diterpenoids.
• Chemical Constituents:
Study of stems and roots yielded 8 compounds: shikimic acid, 1-cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid-5-hydroxy-3,4-isopropylidene-dioxy, oxy-bis(5-methylene-2-furaldehyde), beta-sitosterol, tetracosanoic acid, steric acid and hentriacontane.
• Antimicrobial / Anti-Acne:
Study showed the ethanolic and water extracts of E cochinchinensis to be effective against S aureus and Propionibacterium acnes. The water extract also showed outstanding activity against clindamycin resistant S aureus. Phytochemical analysis showed tannin and phenolic compounds. The study was looking for data for the development of anti-acne products from natural plant extracts.
• Megastigmane Glucosides / Excoecariosides:
Study isolated two new megastigmane glucosides – excoecariosides A and B – from the leaves together with seven known compounds.
Availability
Wild-crafted. |
