| Botany
Siempreviva is an erect, simple, smooth and robust plant,
less than a meter high. Leaves are opposite, fleshy, pinnatisect, 8
to 15 centimeters long, with the lobes distant, spreading, subentire, toothed
or somewhat lobed and lanceolate, and few. Infloresence is terminal and peduncled.
Flowers are about 1.5 centimeters long. Sepals are green and lanceolate. Limb
of the corolla is spreading, and about 2 centimeters in diameter.
 Distribution
- Introduced into the Philippines.
-
Occasionally cultivated in gardens.
- Also occurs in India to tropical Africa, and to China and Java.
Constituents
- Leaves reported to contain
chlorophyl, fat, a yellow organic acid, cream of tartar, sulphate of
calcium, free tartaric acid and calcium oxalate.
- Leaves also reported to contain malic acid.
Properties
- Leaves considered styptic, astringent and antiseptic.
Parts used
Leaves.
Uses
Folkloric
• In the Philippines pulped leaves are
applied to chronic ulcers and sores; also used for headaches.
• Malays poultice the chest with
leaves for colds and coughs.
• In Ambonia, leaves used for poulticing
fevered heads and bodies.
• In traditional Indian medicine, fresh leaves are bruised or
roasted over fire and applied as poultice to bruises and contusions
to relieve inflammation and prevent discolorations.
• Used as a styptic to fresh cuts, abrasions and wounds. Also
used for venomous insect bites.
• Juice mixed with butter, 1:2, taken internally for diarrhea, dysentery, lithiasis,
cholera and phthisis.
• In Indo-China, leaves are used
as topicals for ulcers.
• In the Antilles, used for headaches
and as an emollient.
• In southern India leaf extract applied externally for joint pain.
Studies
• Cytotoxicity
/ Anticancer: Study
of effects of several plants on in vitro proliferation of hormone dependent
breast cancer and colon cancer lines showed the hexane extract of Kalanchoe
lacinita was effected against cellular proliferations of MCF-7 (hormone
dependent breast cancer cell lines.
Availability
Seasonal fruiting
and ubiquitoous market produce. |
