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Botany
Large climbing
shrub. Leaves are oblong and opposite, rounded at the base. Flowers
tubular and fragrant, white to purpish orange, in clusters on
the same stalk. Narrow 5-angled dried frui, resembling coconuts
in taste.
Graphic/photo
Fruits measuring
35-40 mm (upper and lower rows); seeds (middle row) shaped like
the fruit-shell, measuring 12-15 mm.
Distribution
Grows widely in
thickets. The seeds are easily propagated.
Parts
utilized
Seeds (dried nuts)
and leaves.
Constituents
Fatty oil, 15%; gum; resin.
Studies yield quisqualic acid, quisqualin A.
Considered anthelmintic, antiinflammatory.
Uses
Folkloric
• Anthelmintic: Dried seeds preferable for deworming.
• Adults: Dried nuts-chew 8 to 10 small- to medium-sized dried
nuts two hours after a meal, as a single dose, followed by a half glass
of water. If fresh nuts are used, chew only 4-5 nuts. Hiccups occur
more frequently with the use of fresh nuts.
• Children 3-5 years old: 4-5 dried nuts; 6 - 8 years
old: 5-6 dried nuts; 9-12 years old: 6-7 dried nuts.
• Caution: Adverse reactions - diarrhea, abdominal pain,
distention and hiccups more likely if nuts are eaten in consecutive
days or when fresh nuts are eaten.
• Roasted seeds
for diarrhea and fever.
• Pounded leaves externally for skin diseases.
• Decoction of boiled leaves used for dysuria.
• Ifugao migrants use it for headache.
• In Thailand, seeds used as anthelmintic;
flowers for diarrhea.
• In Bangladesh, used for diarrhea,
fever, boils, ulcers and helminthiasis.
Studies
• Kinetics of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition of Quisqualis indica
Linn. Flower Extract: Flower extract yielded high polyphenol contents
and showed a strong antioxidant acitivity. The QI extract inhibited
acetylcholinesterase activity. Acetylcholine is an important nervous
system neurotransmitter.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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