| Gen
info
The genus Plumbago comprises 10 species from the warm climate parts
of the world. Etymologically, the name derives from plumbum,
meaning lead, referring to its use for lead poisoning. Auriculata means
ear-shaped, referring to the leaf base.
Botany
Semi-climbing, diffusely branched perennial
shrub, growing to 2 meters. Leaves are alternate, simple, entire, oblong
or oblong-spatulate, up to 5 cm long, with the base tapering to a short
petiole. Flowers are short spikelike racemes; calyx is tubular, shorter
than the slender corolla. The corolla tube measures 2 to 2.5 cm long,
five-lobed which are azure blue and spreading. Fruit is a capsule that
splits into five parts.
Distribution
Cultivated in gardens
in towns and urban-suburban areas.
Propagated by seeds and stem cuttings.
Part utilized
Root.
Uses
Folkloric
No reported folkloric
medicinal use in the Philippines.
Name derives from use
for lead poisoning.
In other folklore systems, used for warts, broken bones, headaches.
Used as an emetic and for wound healing.
Also used for preventing nightmares and warding off lightning.
Roots used as toothpaste and for fevers.
In South Africa, powdered
roots or crushed leaves used for headache.
In Tamilnanu, India, Roots
used for piles, epilepsy and jaundice.
Veterinary
In South Africa, the roots
of P auriculata and Pelargonium reniforme are soaked water for one hour,
strained and given to cows to treat diarrhea.
Studies
• Phytochemical Study / Plumbagin:
Crude chloroform extract
study yielded the naphthoquinones plumbagin and epi-isoshinanolone,
steroids sitosterol and 3-O-glucosylsitosterol and palmitic acids. Naphthoquinones
are typical components of Plumbago species showing interesting biological
actitivites.
• Antimalarial
Activity: Extracts
(n-hexane and DMC) of aerial parts of P auriculata showed moderate
activity against Plasmodium falcifarum.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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