Belamcanda chinensis (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

1, flowering plant habit; 2, flower; 3, dehisced fruit showing the seeds (Achmad Satiri Nurhaman)

Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC.

Protologue: Redouté, Liliac. 3: t. 121 (1805).

Family: Iridaceae

Chromosome number: n= 16, 64, 2n= 32

Synonyms

• Ixia chinensis L. (1753),
• Belamcanda punctata Moench (1794),
• Pardanthus chinensis (L.) Ker Gawler (1804),
• Gemmingia chinensis (L.) O. Kuntze (1891).

Vernacular names

• Blackberry lily, leopard lily, leopard flower (En)
• Indonesia: brojo lintang, jamaka (Sundanese), semprit (Javanese)
• Philippines: abaniko (Tagalog), abanico (Spanish), palma (Spanish, Tagalog)
• Thailand: waan meetyap (northern), waan haangchaang (Bangkok)
• Vietnam: xạ can, rẻ quạt, la cho.

Origin and geographic distribution

B. chinensis occurs in northern India, northern Vietnam, eastern China, Korea and southern Japan. It is often planted as an ornamental, and has locally semi-naturalized on a small scale, e.g. in Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and the Moluccas. It is also planted for ornamental purposes in the Philippines, but has not naturalized there. In China and Japan it is planted as a medicinal plant. It is also locally naturalized in North America.

B. chinensis was introduced as an ornamental from China into Great Britain and continental Europe at the end of the 17th Century or early 18th Century, and to North America in the late 18th Century. Now it is a common garden plant in North America and Japan.

Uses

The rhizome of B. chinensis is much used against inflammations of the throat and upper respiratory tract such as laryngitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, cough and asthma. It is given for purifying the blood and in Vietnam also against swollen liver and spleen, and to treat snake bites. The rhizome is recommended as an expectorant, antitussive, deobstruent and carminative, and is used in tonics and as a purgative. In Vietnam it is also considered diuretic. It is reported as a remedy for gonorrhoea in Malaysia. In Indonesia, it has been reported to be chewed with Piper betle L. leaves after childbirth in Sumatra, and to be used as a poultice to treat lumbago; it is also applied as a medicinal plant in northern Sulawesi. Locally in Peninsular Malaysia the rhizome has been used in a medicinal bath after childbirth.

With its attractively blotched orange flowers and its fruits showing the glossy black seeds, blackberry lily is commonly planted as an ornamental in the tropics and in more temperate regions.

Production and international trade

The trade in rhizomes of B. chinensis, often dried and sliced, is mainly from China, but no statistics are available.

Properties

The rhizomes of B. chinensis taste bitter and acrid. Several highly oxygenated isoflavonoids have been isolated from the rhizomes, including tectorigenin, irigenin, iristectorigenin, belamcanidin, methyl-irisolidone, irisflorentin and noririsflorentin, which are thought to be responsible for the allergy-inhibiting activity. Furthermore, nine iridals have been isolated, the most important of which is belamcandal (28-acetoxy-14,15-dihydro-26-hydroxy-19-methylidenespiroirida-15,17-dienal). This compound stimulates the throat membrane, but it is unstable and decomposes during drying processes; no stimulation is thus reported when the dried rhizomes are applied. An aqueous extract of the rhizomes has been screened for possible inhibitory activity against HIV-1 proteases, using a fluorogenic assay. In this test, the effective concentration was found to be 25 μg/ml. The dimeric 1,4-benzoquinones belamcandaquinones A and B have been isolated from the seeds; the first of these compounds showed specific cyclo-oxygenase inhibitory activity. Belamcandol A and B, two alkenyl- (pentadecyl-) phenols and ardisianone A, an alkenyl-1,4-benzoquinone, have also been isolated from the seeds. Using the cytosol of isolated guinea-pig polymorphonuclear leucocytes, belamcandol A and ardisianone A were found to be specific 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors. The belamcandaquinones are probably derived from ardisianone A and belamcandol B.

Adulterations and substitutes

The rhizome of Iris species, such as I. japonica Thunb., also contains iridals, has the same activity on the throat membrane and is used for disorders of the throat.

Description

• A perennial, erect, glabrous herb, 50-150 cm tall, with short, creeping, stoloniferous rhizome with round scars of old stems, usually without leaf remnants; stem corymbosely branched in the upper part.
• Most leaves crowded in the lower half of the stem, distichous and folding over, ensiform and obliquely linear-lanceolate, 20-60 cm × 2-4.5 cm, nearly erect, with long spathaceous base and somewhat distinct veins, vivid green to glaucous, pellucid-margined; one short leaf present at the base of each branch of stem.
• Inflorescence a cyme, only top branches with flowers, each cyme with 2 membranous floral sheaths (spathes), (3-)6-12 flowered.
• Flowers rather small, shrivelling spirally after flowering; pedicel terete, 2-4 cm long, persistent, with indistinct articulation below the ovary; perianth actinomorphic, tepals short connate at base, oblong, 2-3.5 cm long, outer 3 slightly longer than inner 3, clawed, spreading, yellow outside with orange margins, bright orange with dark red blotches inside, outer tepals with longitudinal dark red nectaries at base of upper side; stamens 3, placed before the outer tepals, 1.5-2 cm long, with free filiform filaments and linear, basifixed anthers; ovary inferior, ovoid and slightly trigonous, 8-10 mm long, 3-celled, short-beaked, style about 15 mm long, orange-yellow, 3-fid with style-arms gradually thickened upwards.
• Fruit an oblong or obovoid, trigonous capsule with 3 deep longitudinal furrows, 1.5-3 cm long, opening with 3 loculicidal valves, many-seeded.
• Seeds subglobose, 4-5 mm in diameter, glossy black, remaining attached to the central placenta by the raphe for some time after the fruit opens.

Growth and development

After germination, B. chinensis grows slowly but steadily, and may flower within one year of sowing the seed. The flowers are open for a few hours only, from dawn to noon, and 1-2 flowers open at a time within one cyme. It has been reported that apomixis may occur in B. chinensis. The plant is short-lived.

Other botanical information

The monotypic genus Belamcanda belongs to the tribe Irideae. Morphological, anatomical, cytological and palynological investigations suggest it is particularly closely related to Iris dichotoma Pall. An intergeneric hybrid between B. chinensis and I. dichotoma is available from commercial plant growers; the hybrid is vigorous and partly fertile.

The root tip karyotypes may exhibit inconstancy in their chromosome complement. Cells with 2 n = 28, 30 and 32 can be present; 2 n = 30 has been reported to be most frequent. This type of polymorphism along with aneusomy within different cells of the same tissue has been attributed to the often vegetative means of propagation; it is thought that cells with altered karyotype enter the growing tips of daughter shoots during propagation.

Ecology

In Java, B. chinensis is semi-naturalized in forest edges, brushwood and waste places at 750-2100 m altitude. In Vietnam, it is usually found in savannas. It grows well in the full sun, but also in partial shade. It tolerates moderate frost, but should be protected from severe cold (below -15 °C). In more temperate regions, B. chinensis easily adapts to a wide range of soils.

Propagation and planting

B. chinensis is usually propagated by dividing the rootstock in spring or early autumn in temperate regions, or from seed. In the United States it was found that after stratifying the seed for 60 days at a temperature of 5°C germination occurred one month later. Controls of seed without stratification failed to germinate. Seed can be sown in an equal mixture of Sphagnum moss and quartz sand. Seedlings require little care.

Diseases and pests

Tomato spotted wilt virus can attack B. chinensis plants. A mosaic virus found on Iris fulva Ker Gawler can also infect B. chinensis, causing yellowish streaks and sometimes faint general yellowing of leaves and occasionally downward curling or twisting of young leaves and deforming of fruits. Pestalotiopsis disseminata has been reported to cause leaf spots in India, and the leaf miner Amauromyza belamcandae has been reported in Japan. Aphid colonies may cluster on the leaves.

Handling after harvest

In markets in China rhizomes of B. chinensis are sold in hard longitudinal slices which are dark brown outside with transverse markings and a few rootlets, and pale yellowish-brown inside. However, it has been reported that some of the active compounds (e.g. belamcandal) decompose easily on drying and so it is recommended to use fresh rhizomes for medicinal purposes.

Genetic resources and breeding

B. chinensis is planted widespread as an ornamental and locally also as a medicinal plant. It is assumed that the genetic diversity is not endangered, and germplasm collections are not known to exist.

Prospects

The presence of some active compounds in rhizomes and seed of B. chinensis makes it an interesting medicinal plant for home-garden use and perhaps also for large-scale planting. Its ornamental value adds to the promising prospects for planting in South-East Asia, where it seems most suited for mountainous regions. The reported inhibitory activity against HIV-1 protease deserves more research.

Literature

• Abe, F., Chen, R.-F. & Yamauchi, T., 1991. Iridals from Belamcanda chinensis and Iris japonica. Phytochemistry 30(10): 3379-3382.
• Chimphamba, B.B., 1973. Intergeneric hybridization between Iris dichotoma Pall. and Belamcanda chinensis Leman. Cytologia 38(3): 539-547.
• de Padua, L.S., Lugod, G.C. & Pancho, J.V., 1981. Handbook on Philippine medicinal plants. Vol. 3. Documentation and Information Section, Office of the Director of Research, University of the Philippines at Los Baños, the Philippines. p. 29.
• Fukuyama, Y., Kiriyama, Y., Okino, J. & Kodama, M., 1993. Belamcandaquinones A and B, novel dimeric 1,4-benzoquinone derivates possessing cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity. Tetrahedron Letters 34(47): 7633-7636.
• Fukuyama, Y., Okino, J. & Kodama, M., 1991. Structures of belamcandols A and B isolated from the seed of Belamcanda chinensis. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 39(7): 1877-1879.
• Geerinck, D.J.L., 1977. Iridaceae. In: van Steenis, C.G.G.J. (Editor): Flora Malesiana. Series 1, Vol. 8. Sijthoff & Noordhoff International Publishers, Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. p. 82.
• Schulze, W., 1971. Die systematische Stellung der Iridaceen-Gattung Belamcanda Adans. [The taxonomic position of the Iridaceae genus Belamcanda Adans.]. Feddes Repertorium 81(8-9): 519-526.
• Scott, B., 1987. Plants for the landscape: blackberry lilies. American Horticulturist 66(8): 10-11, 13.
• Xu, H.X., Wan, M., Loh, B.N., Kon, O.L., Chow, P.W. & Sim, K.Y., 1996. Screening of traditional medicines for their inhibitory activity against HIV-1 protease. Phytotherapy Research 10(3): 207-210.
• Yamaki, M., Kato, T., Kashihara, M. & Takagi, S., 1990. Isoflavones of Belamcanda chinensis. Planta Medica 56(3): 335.

Other selected sources

• Backer, C.A. & Bakhuizen van den Brink Jr, R.C., 1963-1968. Flora of Java. 3 volumes. Noordhoff, Groningen, the Netherlands. Vol. 1 (1963) 647 pp., Vol. 2 (1965) 641 pp., Vol. 3 (1968) 761 pp.
• Barnett, O.W. & Alper, M., 1977. Characterization of Iris fulva mosaic virus. Phytopathology 67(4): 448-454.
• Burkill, I.H., 1966. A dictionary of the economic products of the Malay Peninsula. Revised reprint. 2 volumes. Ministry of Agriculture and Co operatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol. 1 (A-H) pp. 1-1240. Vol. 2 (I- Z) pp. 1241-2444.
• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1948-1976. The wealth of India: a dictionary of Indian raw materials & industrial products. 11 volumes. Publications and Information Directorate, New Delhi, India.
• Heyne, K., 1950. De nuttige planten van Indonesië [The useful plants of Indonesia]. 3rd Edition. 2 volumes. W. van Hoeve, 's Gravenhage, the Netherlands/Bandung, Indonesia. 1660 + CCXLI pp.
• Mihan, P.A. & Belanger, J.O., 1974. Propagation of Belamcanda chinensis by seed. Plant Propagator 20(3): 24.
• Nguyen Van Duong, 1993. Medicinal plants of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Mekong Printing, Santa Ana, California, United States. 528 pp.
• Quisumbing, E., 1978. Medicinal plants of the Philippines. Katha Publishing Co., Quezon City, the Philippines. 1262 pp.
• Srivastava, A.K. & Purnima, 1990. Numerical and structural inconstancy in the chromosome complements of Belamcanda chinensis DC. (Iridaceae). Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences (Plant Sciences) 100(3): 205-210.

Authors

• N. Bunyapraphatsara & R.H.M.J. Lemmens