Justicia flava (PROTA)

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Introduction

List of species

General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Vegetable
Medicinal
Forage / feed
Auxiliary plant
Food security
Climate change

Justicia flava (Vahl) Vahl

Protologue: Symb. bot. 2: 15 (1791).

Family: Acanthaceae

Chromosome number: 2n = 26

Synonyms

Justicia sulcata (Vahl) Vahl (1791), Adhatoda flava (Vahl) Nees (1847), Justicia suaveolens (Nees) Lindau (1895).

Origin and geographic distribution

Justicia flava is widespread and occurs all over tropical Africa, but has not been reported from the Indian Ocean Islands; it is also found in the Arabian peninsula.

Uses

In Guinea the leaves of Justicia flava are used as a vegetable collected from the wild. They are cooked into soup or stew. The plant is also considered as a good forage. In Kenya the plant contributes to sand-binding vegetation in coastal dunes and sandy river banks and leaves are burnt to ash to produce a vegetable salt. In Tanzania the leaves are reported to be emetic, in Côte d’Ivoire haemostatic. Preparations are used on cuts and to treat menorrhagia, and blood in the sputum. The whole crushed plant, mixed with vegetable ash, seed of Aframomum species and capsicum pepper is administered by enema against painful menses, or, mixed with lemon juice, taken to induce menstruation. In Côte d’Ivoire the pulped leaves are rubbed on the skin to treat convulsions and feverish pains in babies. In Ghana the plant is used internally and externally against fever, yaws and diarrhoea in children. The inflorescence is said to be a cure for dysentery. An infusion of the plant is taken with egg albumen and coconut juice against palpitations of the heart and leaf sap is used as an eye lotion. In Tanzania leaf sap is taken against hookworm and to treat hydrocele, including bathing the affected parts. The bitter root is chewed by the Masai to cure diarrhoea and coughs.

Properties

The composition of fresh Justicia leaves per 100 g edible portion is: water 86.8 g, energy 138 kJ (33 kcal), protein 3.3 g, fat 0.4 g, carbohydrate 6.2 g, fibre 1.7 g, Ca 510 mg, P 70 mg (Leung, W.-T.W., Busson, F. & Jardin, C., 1968). Four sterols and salicylic acid were isolated from the leaves, stems and roots of Justicia flava. In addition the leaves contain the 3 lignans helioxanthin, (+)-isolariciresinol and justicinol, as well as docosanoic acid and β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside. The lignans were screened for pharmacological activity in mice, but only a mild effect on the central nervous system, demonstrated by decrease in motor activity and ataxia, was observed.

Botany

Erect or trailing, usually perennial herb up to 120 cm tall, pubescent; stem often woody at base. Leaves opposite, simple; petiole up to 1.5 cm long; blade ovate-lanceolate, up to 8 cm × 3 cm. Inflorescence a dense terminal spike up to 20 cm long, continuous or interrupted in the basal part; bracts linear-lanceolate. Flowers bisexual, c. 1 cm long, bright yellow; sepals 5, c. 3 mm long, white hairy; corolla tubular, 2-lipped, lower lip 2-lobed, upper lip 3-lobed; stamens 2, filaments glabrous, one anther cell below the other, tailed; ovary superior, 2-celled, subglabrous, style hairy below, ending in 2 short stigma branches. Fruit a 4-seeded capsule c. 8 mm long, densely hairy, splitting in 2 halves, but remaining connected at base. Seeds compressed globose, brown to black.

Justicia is a large genus comprising 300–600 species. Its taxonomy is badly known and opinions differ about its delimitation because differences between related genera are hardly distinctive. Numerous species can be found in the literature referred to by a variety of names within the genera Adhatoda, Duvernoia, Gendarussa, Justicia, Rostellaria and Rungia. A complete revision of all related genera is urgently needed. Justicia flava is classified in the section Tyloglossa, characterized by spike-like inflorescences and ammonite-like or rugose seeds, and by its pollen type.

The flowers of Justicia flava are much visited by bees and other insects.

Ecology

Justicia flava grows in open habitats, with a wide ecological range from sea-level up to 2300 m altitude. In dry regions it can grow as an annual with smaller flowers.

Management

Justicia flava is not cultivated but collected from the wild. In Guinea it is not removed as a weed when occurring in cultivated fields, but allowed to grow to collect its leaves for vegetable use.

Genetic resources

Justicia flava is widespread and not in danger of genetic erosion.

Prospects

Justicia flava will remain a vegetable of minor and local importance only. Its nutritional and medicinal properties need more investigation to discover potential value.

Major references

• Burkill, H.M., 1985. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 1, Families A–D. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 960 pp.

• Burkill, H.M., 2000. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 5, Families S–Z, Addenda. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 686 pp.

• Burkill, I.H. & Clarke, C.B., 1899–1900. Acanthaceae. In: Thiselton-Dyer, W.T. (Editor). Flora of tropical Africa. Volume 5. Lovell Reeve & Co, London, United Kingdom. pp. 1–262.

• Busson, F., 1965. Plantes alimentaires de l’ouest Africain: étude botanique, biologique et chimique. Leconte, Marseille, France. 568 pp.

• Kokwaro, J.O., 1993. Medicinal plants of East Africa. 2nd Edition. Kenya Literature Bureau, Nairobi, Kenya. 401 pp.

Other references

• Graham, V.A.W., 1988. Delimitation and infra-generic classification of Justicia (Acanthaceae). Kew Bulletin 43(4): 551–624.

• Heine, H., 1963. Acanthaceae. In: Hepper, F.N. (Editor). Flora of West Tropical Africa. Volume 2. 2nd Edition. Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations, London, United Kingdom. pp. 391–432.

• Leung, W.-T.W., Busson, F. & Jardin, C., 1968. Food composition table for use in Africa. FAO, Rome, Italy. 306 pp.

• Olaniyi, A.A. & Powell, J.W., 1980. Lignans from Justicia flava. Journal of Natural Products (Lloydia) 43: 482–486.

• Sangat-Roemantyo, H., 1999. Justicia L. In: de Padua, L.S., Bunyapraphatsara, N. & Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (Editors). Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(1). Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands. pp. 327–331.

• Wood, J.R.I., Hillcoat, D. & Brummitt, R.K., 1983. Notes on the types of some names of Arabian Acanthaceae in the Forsskal herbarium. Kew Bulletin 38(3): 429–456.

Author(s)

• P.C.M. Jansen

PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Correct citation of this article

Jansen, P.C.M., 2004. Justicia flava (Vahl) Vahl. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>.

Accessed 18 December 2024.

• See the Prota4U database.