Botany
The plant is a trailing herb with weak stems rooting at the nodes to a length of 60 cm long. Leaves are dimorphic, 4-ranked, bright blue-green; the strobili are four-angled and 2 cm long.
Distribution
Native to China.
Recently introduced to the Philippines.
Properties and constituents
• Jui
Uses
Folkloric
• No recorded folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
• In China, used to treat acute infectious jaundiced hepatitis, cholecystitis, enteritis.
Studies
• Anti-Viral / Biflavonoids: Previous studies have yielded chromone glycosides (uncinoside A and B) which has shown good anti-tumor and anti-viral activity. This study isolated a new biflavonoids with five known compounds and one known phenolic acid. Preliminary study found the ethyl acetate extract exhibited good anti-HSV1 and Anti-COX B3 virus activity.
• Bioflavonoids / Anti-Anoxic:
Study of ethanolic extract of S uncinata isolated four new and three known bioflavonoids. Compounds 4 and 5 showed potent anti-anoxic effect in the anoxic PC12 cell assay.
• Benzoic Acid Flavonoid:
Study yielded a new flavonoid from the ethanol extract of S uncinata – 6-(5-carboxyl-2-methoxyphenyl)-apigenin, a first of a flavanoid with a benzoic substituent at C-6.
Availability
Wild-crafted. |
