Biophytum (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Biophytum DC.
- Protologue: Prodr. 1: 689 (1824).
- Family: Oxalidaceae
- Chromosome number: x= 9, 10; B. sensitivum: 2n= 18
Major species
- Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC.
Vernacular names
- Malaysia: daun payong, payong ali
- Indonesia: krambilan (Javanese)
- Philippines: damong-bingkalat (Tagalog).
Origin and geographic distribution
Biophytum is a genus of about 70 species with a pantropical distribution; 7 species occur in Malesia, of which 2 are introduced.
Uses
In Peninsular Malaysia, B. adiantoides and B. sensitivum are probably not distinguished from each other and are used in the same way. The whole pounded plant, or its ash mixed with some other plants, is made into a poultice to treat stomach-ache in small children. In Indonesia, the plant is roasted in a banana leaf and eaten with lime juice for stomach-ache, while children are given the roots to chew for this purpose. B. sensitivum is also widely applied in South-East Asia as an anti-inflammatory in the treatment of a sore throat, abscesses, chronic wounds, contusions and fevers. In Indonesia, Thailand and India, a decoction of the dried flowering plant is administered to treat chest illnesses including tuberculosis, asthma and feverish breathing. A decoction of the roots is taken against gall or bladder stones, and is also used to treat gonorrhoea. In India, the bruised plant is applied to burns. B. sensitivum is said to contain a plant-insulin, useful for treating diabetes, and is used as such in Thailand. Crushed with water, the plant is topically applied in Brazil against scorpion bites. The stem and leaves are used as an antihiccup. In India, a decoction of the whole plant of B. reinwardtii is applied against fevers, chicken pox and rashes. B. sensitivum is used in Malaysia and India as a magic plant, because of its sensitive leaves, which suggest modesty or youth, and the plant is taken to restore these qualities. In West Africa, it is taken for protection against snake-bites.
Biophytum is not medicinally used in Indo-China, but in Vietnam it is used as a condiment.
Production and international trade
Biophytum is only used on a local scale.
Properties
Several flavonoids were isolated from the whole plant of B. sensitivum, e.g. isoorientin-2’-O-rhamnoside, isoorientin-7-O-glucoside and isovitexin-2’-O-rhamnoside. The roots and stems contain the biflavonoid amentoflavone (13',II8-biapigenin), in concentrations of 0.35% and 0.26%, respectively. In vitro, the latter compound was also found to be a selective inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase (COX-1), an enzyme which is part of the prostaglandin synthesis cascade, and thus involved e.g. in inflammatory reactions and pain. In the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema test, an aqueous extract of the plant was found to be most active. The hypoglycaemic effect of an extract of the leaves was investigated in alloxan induced diabetic male rabbits, with different degrees of intensity: subdiabetic (alloxan recovered), mild diabetic and severely diabetic. Following single dose administration, there was a fall over 2.5 hours in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of 27% in subdiabetic rabbits and 38% in mild diabetic rabbits, accompanied by a significant improvement in the oral glucose tolerance test. More significant improvements occurred following another week of treatment.
The alcohol extract of the whole plant of B. sensitivum was found to have significant antifungal and antibacterial activities in vitro.
Description
- Erect annual herbs or sympodially branched dwarf shrubs.
- Leaves in tufts (spirally arranged) at the end of the stem, paripinnate; petiolate; stipules setaceous; leaflets opposite, terminal pair mostly different from the others, distal half of base cuneate, proximal half rounded to truncate; subsessile, rachis prolonged into mucro.
- Inflorescence a terminal pseudo-umbel, peduncles many, bracteate; pedicel short, articulate at base.
- Flowers actinomorphic, 5-merous; sepals free, glabrous inside; petals contort, coherent above the claw, glabrous; stamens 10, filaments connate at base into a ring, shorter ones with callus at base, anthers dorsifixed, 2-celled, dehiscing extrorsely by longitudinal slits; disk absent; ovary superior, 5-celled; styles 5, terminal, hetero-, tri- or homostylous; ovules 3-6 per cell in 2 rows.
- Fruit an ellipsoid, 5-celled capsule, dry, dehiscent into a 5-rayed star or indehiscent; seeds 1-6 per cell.
- Seed with white aril, thin, at maturity ejaculatory.
- Seedling with epigeal germination.
Growth and development
B. sensitivum flowers and fruits throughout the year.
Other botanical information
The subdivision of Biophytum into several sections is unsatisfactory, but no complete revision of the genus exists at present. Biophytum is closely related to Oxalis, which differs from the first genus by the fewer, non-pinnate leaflets, and the valves of the capsule remaining attached to the central axis. In B. adiantoides and B. reinwardtii some reduced leaves may occur in the pseudo-umbel. The species referred to as B. sensitivum in African floras is a different one: B. helenae Busc. & Muschl. It is perennial, has a corolla 1.5-2 times as long as the calyx, has more pairs of leaflets, and the seeds have 2 longitudinal ridges, with transverse rows of small tubercles.
Ecology
B. reinwardtii and B. sensitivum are weeds found in anthropogenic localities, while B. adiantoides is mainly found in open forest undergrowth.
Propagation and planting
Biophytum is propagated by seed. In India, seeds of B. sensitivum show a dormancy period of 8.5-9 months when collected at the beginning of the dry period, and show a considerable decrease in germination rate after 11-12 months. The optimal temperature for germination is 30-40°C.
Diseases and pests
In India, Biophytum is sometimes attacked by the leaf spot fungus Pseudocercospora biophytiicola.
Harvesting
Mostly, whole Biophytum plants are pulled up, but sometimes only the leaves are harvested.
Handling after harvest
Harvested plants of Biophytum are used fresh or are dried for storage.
Genetic resources and breeding
B. reinwardtii and B. sensitivum are rather widespread, occurring in ruderal conditions, and therefore do not seem to be threatened by genetic erosion. B. adiantoides, however, is a forest dweller with a more restricted distribution and may therefore be more at risk when harvested from the wild in large quantities.
Prospects
The antidiabetic effect of B. sensitivum is interesting, but since only limited information is available on its nature, further research is needed. Moreover, the activity of amentoflavone and possible other flavonoids on prostaglandin synthesis might be of interest as lead compounds in the development of future anti-inflammatory substances.
Literature
- Bucar, F., Jackak, S.M., Noreen, Y., Kartnig, T., Perera, P. & Bohlin, L., 1998. Amentoflavone from Biophytum sensitivum and its effect on COX-1/COX-2 catalysed prostaglandin biosynthesis. Planta Medica 64(4): 373-374.
- Jachak, S.M., Bucar, F. & Kartnig, T., 1999. Antiinflammatory activity of extracts of Biophytum sensitivum in carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema. Phytotherapy Research 13(1): 73-74.
- Puri, D. & Baral, N., 1998. Hypoglycemic effect of Biophytum sensitivum in the alloxan diabetic rabbits. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 42(3): 401-406.
- Quisumbing, E., 1978. Medicinal plants of the Philippines. Katha Publishing Co., Quezon City, the Philippines. pp. 441-442.
- Sasidharan, V.K., 1997. Search for antibacterial and antifungal activity of some plants of Kerala. Acta Pharmaceutica (Zaghreb) 47(1): 47-51.
- Veldkamp, J.-F., 1971. Biophytum. In: van Steenis, C.G.G.J. (Editor): Flora Malesiana. Series 1, Vol. 7. Wolters-Noordhoff Publishing, Groningen, the Netherlands. pp. 159-166.
Selection of species
Authors
- R.C.K. Chung
