 Gen info
• Sisyrinchium is a large genus of annual to perennial flowering plants in the family Iridaceae. They are native to the New World. They are not true grasses (Poaceae), rather, they are monocots.
• The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.
• The taxonomy of the genus is still perplexing and confusing, requiring further genetic research and cladistic analysis. (11)
Botany
• Mala-bawang is a plant with bulbs about 4 centimeters long, ovoid-oblong, and narrowed at both ends, the outer layers thin, and purple. Leaves are lanceolate, 3 to 4 from each bulb, 30 to 50 centimeters long, 1.5 to 3 centimeters wide, narrowed at both ends, and plicate. Scapes are rather slender, as long as the leaves, and green. Spathes are 10 to 12 millimeters long, the outer two are green, the inner ones very much thinner, and greenish-white. Flowers are white, about 2 centimeters in diameter, with obovate spreading lobes.
• (Sisyrinchium palmifolium is described as topped with 2.5' tall flower spikes laden with large, quarter-sized, bright yellow flowers that open around 6 o'clock in the evening. Some taxonomists lump this with Sisyrinchium macrocephalum.)
Distribution
- Introduced.
- Cultivated; naturalized. (12)
- In Leyte, Negros; Luzon:Benguet Mountain Province; Mindanao:
Zamboanga del Norte.
- Occasionally in waste places about towns.
- Sometimes, planted for ornamental purposes.
- Native to Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Bolivia, Brazil South, Galápagos, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay. (5)
Constituents
- Phytochemical screening of bulb yielded phenols, sterols, phlobatannins, proteins, steroids, tannins, and reducing sugar.
- Study of bulb extracts for total phenolics and flavonoid content yielded 217.71 mg GAE/g and 65.35 mg GE/g, respectively, for the ethanol extract, higher than the water extract at 139.93 mg GAE/g and 16.95 mg QE/g, respectively. (see study below) (10)
Properties
- Traditionally used as diuretic, vermifuge, abortifacient, antifertility agent.
- Studies have shown anti-cancer, radical scavenging, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antimelanogenesis, natural preservative, antiproliferative, anticolon cancer, antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic properties.
Parts used
Bulbs.
 Uses
Edibility
- Bulbs are used as culinary ingredient. In Indonesia, used as spice or herbal ingredient. Bulbs are used fresh, dried, and pickled.
Folkloric
- In the Philippines, macerated bulbs applied on the stomach of children to relieve gas pains. Decoction of bulbs used as diuretic. (13)
- Bulbs used by vermifuge, for dysmenorrhea, and as abortive and antifertility agent.
- In Thailand, the herb is one of ten herbal constituents of the prasaplai recipe, used in ancient gynecological practice for relieving dysmenorrhea and controlling mensuration.
- Used for breast cancer and to facilitate breast feeding.
- In Indonesia, the Dayak tribes in Kalimantan Island use the plant for treatment of degenerative diseases and diabetes. (9) Decoction of bulb drunk for treatment of cancer, hemoptysis, and high blood pressure. Also used for treatment of blood platelet disorders. Infusion of roots ground into a powder drunk for rheumatism and diarrhea. Preparation of crushed bulbs drunk for treatment of snakebites. Sliced tubers brewed and drunk or eaten for treatment of diabetes mellitus. (15)
Studies
• Cytotoxicity / Anti-Tumorigenesis: Study yielded 15 naphthalene derivatives, including 4 new glucosides, eleutherinosides B-E. Two of the compounds showed dose-dependent inhibition of transcription of TCFB-catenin in SW480 colon cancer cells and selective cytotoxicity against three colorectal cancer cell lines. Aberrant WntB-catenin signaling has recently been implicated in tumorigenesis. (1)
• Radical Scavenging Activity / Antimelanogenesis: In a study evaluating medicinal plants from Kalimantan for antimelanogenesis, the bulbs of Eleutherine palmifolia showed DPPH radical scavenging activity and strongly inhibited the melanin production of B16 melanoma cells without significant cytotoxicity suggesting its potential as ingredient for skin whitening cosmetics. (2)
• Prasaplai in Dysmenorrhea: E. palmifolia is one of 10 herbal constituents used in ancient Thai medicine for dysmenorrhea. Study showed Prasaplai caps have efficacy in relieving dysmenorrhea, although less than NSAIDs. (3)
• Antimicrobial: An ethanol extract of bulb was tested against multidrug resistant pathogens. Extract showed a potential source of antimicrobial agent against methicillin resistant Staphy aureus and Acinebacter baumannii, with an antimicrobial activity higher than standard antibiotics. (4)
• Antidiabetic / Bulbs: Study evaluated aqueous and ethanol extracts of eleutherine palmifolia bulbs for antihyperglycemic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Results showed significant reduction of blood glucose levels, higher blood insulin levels, lower cholesterol and LDL levels. The antidiabetic action may be through inhibition of alpha-glucosidase which can reduce postprandial blood glucose, and also by repairing of damaged pancreatic beta cells, thus enhancing insulin secretion. (6)
• Health Drink / Effervescent Powder of Water Extract: Study evaluated three different formulations of effervescent compositions containing tartaric acid, citric acid, and sodium bicarbonate. Formula B (55%) showed to be the most preferred product. (7)
• Antioxidant / Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitory Property / Bulbs: Study evaluated the antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of water and ethanolic extracts of bawang dayak bulk. Antioxidant and alpha-glucosidase inhibiting (AGI) studies yielded IC50 of 112 and 241 ppm, respectively, higher than the water extract at 526 and 505 ppm. The IC50 for AGI ethanolic extract was lower than acarbose, a commercial antidiabetic agent. (see study above) (10)
• Natural Preservative for Tofu: Tofu is a food product easily prone to microbial contamination due to its water content, usually be Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, or Staphylococcus aureus. Preservatives added such as formalin or other chemicals may be harmful. Study evaluated the efficacy of ethanol extract of Sisyrinchium palmifolium extract as preservative in tofu. Results showed the ethanol extract was effective as an alternative preservative for tofu at concentration of 5000 µg/mL. (14)
• Anticancer / 1,4-Naphthoquinone: Sisyrinchium palmifolium has been thought to have cancer activity from compound content 1,4-naphthoquinone. Study evaluated the effect of S. palmifolium extract (SPE) with compound 1,4-naphthoquinone on Ki-67 expression by in vivo, and CDK1, CDK2, and CDK4 activity by in-silic0 in colonic epithelial cells of BALB/c mice induced by azoxymethane (A)M) dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Results showed 1,4-naphthoquinone from the extract could decrease K1-67 expression by in-vivo, which could induce a decrease in epithelial cells proliferation in colon cancer, but with no potential as inhibitor of CDK1, CDK2, and CDK4 by in-silico. (16)
• Effect on Blood Glucose, Triglycerides, and Lipid Vacuoles in the Aorta: Study showed extract of Dayak onion bulb at dose of 400 mg/kbw could decrease post-prandial blood glucose, triglyceride levels, and the amount of lipid vacuoles in aorta blood vessels of diabetic rat. (17)
• Antibacterial: Study evaluated the antibacterial activity of Dayak onion solvent extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol 96% consecutively against MRSA, Bacillus cerus, Shigella sp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using disc diffusion method. The ethyl acetate extract showed highest inhibition activity against B. cereus. Phytochemical analysis indicated presence of alkaloids in the EA extract, known to have antibacterial activity by inhibition of cell wall synthesis, causing lysis of cell and cell death. Extract also showed 91.67% inhibition activity against MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus). (18)
• Hypocholesterolemic Effect of Herbal Tea on T2DM Patients: Study evaluated the efficacy of bawang dayak tea in lowering the cholesterol levels of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The herbal tea was prepared with sun-dried red bulbs, leaf and roots, and taken twice in the morning for 4 weeks. Results showed lowering of cholesterol, particularly LDL, which was attributed to phenolics, triterpenoid, and flavonoid contents. Results suggest potential as a non-pharmacological treatment in patients with T2DM. (19)
• Effect of Oxidative Stress: Study evaluated the effect of dose and duration of Dayak onion 96% ethanol extract on malondialdehyde (MDA) levels using forced swimming test in Sprague Dawley rats. Results showed significant decrease in serum MDA levels, indicating suppression of oxidative stress conditions. (20)
• Antiviral Compounds Against NSP3 SARS-CoV-2: Eleutherine, isoeleutherine, eleuthinone, and elecanacine are secondary metabolites of Dayak onion belonging to the naphthoquine group and considered to have antiviral activity by inhibiting HIV replication. Study evaluated the potential of the compounds for drug development against SARS-CoV-2. All the compounds matched Lipinski's Ro5 and TPSA parameters with LD50 in toxicity class IV and were predicted to be safe, except for elecanacine, which was predicted to be mutagenic and eleuthinone, which was predicted to be hepatotoxic. Results suggest eleutherine and isoeleutherine compounds can be recommended as candidates for SARS-CoV-2 antiviral compounds. (21)
Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Seeds in the cybermarket.
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