Botany
Landrina is a procumbent, branched, hairy or rough herb, 10 to 14 cm long. Branches are greenish or purplish, ascending, stout and 4-angled. Leaves are ovate, spatulate, or elliptic, 1 to 3.5 cm long, 0.8 to 1.7 cm wide, pointed or rounded at the tip. Flowers are 4 to 6, occurring in whorls in the axils of leaves. Calyx-teeth are linear-lanceolate. Corolla is pale blue or white, 5 to 10 mm in length. Fruit is a hairy capsule about 5 mm long. Seeds are oblong, granulate, opaque, unusually variable, 3 mm or less in length.
Distribution
In open, dry places at low and medium altitudes, from the Batan Islands to Batangas and Laguna in Luzon, and in Mindoro, Panay and Basilan.
Also occurs in India to China and Malaya.
Properties
Roots possess properties similar to sarsaparilla.
In decoction, considered an alterative.
Parts used
Leaves.
Uses
Culinary
In the Konkan, the plant is eaten with other herbs as vegetable.
Folkloric
In the Philippines, leaves are brewed in decoction and used as astringent for hemorrhoids.
In Martinique, plant is used as tonic and stimulant. Also used for hemorrhoids.
Leaves applied to the head in cases of headache, with it cooling effect, somewhat allaying the pain.
The seeds in confection are cooling and demulcent; used for dysentery and diarrhea.
Seeds considered by some as aphrodisiac.
Used as alternative therapy for diabetes.
In Siddha medeicine, seeds used to cure diarrhea; roots used as tonic.
Studies
• Cardiac Benefits: Study showed BHE-treated rat hears showed improved post-ischemic ventricular function and reduced myocardial infarct size and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Results suggest BHE has a potential as a plant-based nutraceutical for the management of cardiovascular diseases.
• Antibacterial: Study of extracts of Borreria hispida showed antibacterial activity against B subtilis, B pumilus, S aureus, P aeruginosa, E coli and K. pneumonia, with the methanolic extract found to be the most effective. Results supports its use as remedy for superfical bacterial and fungal infections in traditional medicine.
• Antioxidant: In vitro study showed the methanolic extract of the whole plant of Borreria hispida to yield a high amount of flavonoids and a potential source of natural antioxidant.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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