Merremia tridentata (PROTA)

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Introduction

List of species

General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Medicinal
Ornamental
Forage / feed

Merremia tridentata (L.) Hallier f.

distribution in Africa (wild)

1, flowering and fruiting stem; 2, calyx and pistil; 3, opened corolla with stamens; 4, fruit. Source: PROSEA

Protologue: Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 16: 552 (1893).

Family: Convolvulaceae

Chromosome number: 2n = 30

Synonyms

• Merremia hastata Hallier f. (1893),
• Merremia angustifolia Jacq. (1896),
• Xenostegia tridentata (L.) D.F. Austin & Staples (1981).

Vernacular names

• Arrow-leaf morning glory, African morningvine (En).

Origin and geographic distribution

Merremia tridentata is widely distributed in tropical Africa, Asia and Australia. In Africa it occurs from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. It also occurs in the Indian Ocean islands.

Uses

Merremia tridentata is widely used in traditional medicine in Africa and Asia. In several parts of Africa a maceration of the leaves is drunk as an anti-venom after snake-bites. In Togo and Benin Merremia tridentata is part of a decoction of a mixture of plants, drunk against candida infections of mouth, digestive tract or anus. An infusion of the aerial parts and of Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. is used as a mouth wash to treat stomatitis and aphthae. A decoction of the leafy stems together with leaves of Ocimum spp. is given to drink or as enema to babies against stomach-ache. A vapour bath of leafy twigs is taken against jaundice. In Niger the pounded leaves together with those of Ficus thonningii Blume enter into a medicine taken orally against liver problems. In northern Nigeria a decoction of the whole plant is taken to treat gonorrhoea. In Tanzania small children are bathed in a macerate of the plant against malaria. In Zimbabwe an ointment made of the leaves is applied to inflammation of the navel cord. In Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire a decoction of the whole plant or root sap is used as eye drops to treat eye problems, such as conjunctivitis. In Congo a decoction of the grated roots is used for this purpose. In Namibia root tea is drunk against cardiac pain after anger and vapours of a plant decoction are inhaled against headache.

In India the plant is one of the sources of the Ayurvedic medicine ‘Prasarini’, which is attributed with astringent, aphrodisiac, laxative and bitter properties. The aerial parts are used in treating haemorrhoids, swellings, rheumatic affections and urinary infections. In southern India a leaf extract with honey is drunk to get relief from cough. In India and the Philippines a decoction of the roots is used as a mouthwash for toothache. The roasted seeds are diuretic and antibilious, and are also taken as an anthelminthic. In Peninsular Malaysia a poultice of the leaves is applied to the head for fever.

The plant is eaten by cattle, sheep and other stock. It has ornamental value.

Production and international trade

Merremia tridentata is only locally traded.

Properties

Tannins as well as the flavonoids diosmetin, luteolin, diosmetin-7-O-β-D-glucoside and luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside have been isolated from the aerial parts.

An ethanol extract of the roots exhibited significant anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities in male albino rats. A water extract of the root possessed significant antidiabetic activity in normal, glucose-loaded hyperglycemic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

A methanol extract of the aerial parts was found to have high antibacterial activity against 5 pathogenic bacteria, whereas the hexane and chloroform extracts were less effective in inhibiting bacterial growth. The ethanol extract of the aerial parts showed significant larvicidal activity against the larvae of the tick Boophilus microplus. Several extracts of the aerial parts showed moderate antioxidant activity in vitro.

In feeding trials with dwarf sheep in West Africa addition of Merremia tridentata to rations of coarse grass increased weight gain.

Description

Very variable perennial herb with prostrate or twining stems up to 2 m long, slender, subterete to angular or ribbed, glabrous or hairy. Leaves alternate, simple; petiole 0–3 mm long; blade linear or lanceolate to oblong, 2.5–10 cm × 0.2–2 cm, apex acuminate, obtuse to emarginate and mucronulate, base truncate, hastate or auriculate, with the lobes often 1–several-toothed, glabrous or hairy. Inflorescence an axillary, 1–3(–7)-flowered cluster; peduncle slender, 2.5–4 cm long, bracts minute, lanceolate or cuspidate, persistent. Flower bisexual, regular, 5-merous; pedicel 4–17 mm long, thickened towards flower, sometimes winged and crisped; sepals oblong, ovate-oblong or lanceolate, 4–10 mm long, the outer 2 usually shorter, obtuse to attenuate-acuminate or cuspidate; corolla funnel-shaped, 10–18 mm long, pale yellow, cream, greenish or white, often with a darker reddish or brownish centre, shallowly 5-lobed with more or less broadly triangular lobes; stamens 5, inserted on the corolla; ovary superior, ovoid, c. 2,5 mm long, glabrous, 2-celled; style c. 4 mm long; stigma bilobed. Fruit a globose capsule, 4–9 mm in diameter, with papery valves, straw-coloured, 4-seeded. Seeds 2–3 mm long, yellowish brown to black, glabrous.

Other botanical information

Merremia comprises about 80 species widely spread throughout the tropics. It is closely related to Ipomoea differing essentially by having smooth pollen.

Merremia tridentata is a highly variable species in which several subspecies and varieties are recognized. For tropical Africa the subdivision of this species presents many problems and is no longer generally recognized.

Growth and development

Merremia tridentata flowers most of the rainy season.

Ecology

Merremia tridentata occurs widely in humid, subhumid, dry and subarid vegetation, up to 2000 m altitude. It is often adventive or weedy in grasslands or fields.

Propagation and planting

Merremia tridentata is propagated by seed. A protocol for in-vitro propagation using explants of shoot tips or flower explants on MS-media has been developed in India.

Management

In Benin Merremia tridentata was found to be a weed indicative of intensively cropped land.

Diseases and pests

Merremia tridentata is a host of the parasite Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke (cowpea witchweed) in Africa.

Genetic resources

Merremia tridentata is very widespread, adaptable and common, and in no danger of genetic erosion.

Prospects

Merremia tridentata has many traditional uses, several of which are confirmed by preliminary pharmacological research. More research is needed, however, to evaluate its use as a medicine in humans. Toxicological studies are needed as well.

Major references

• Adjanohoun, E.J., Ahyi, M.R.A., Aké Assi, L., Akpagana, K., Chibon, P., El-Adji, A., Eymé, J., Garba, M., Gassita, J.N., Gbeassor, M., Goudote, E., Guinko, S., Hodouto, K.K., Houngnon P., Keita, A., Keoula, Y., Hodouto, W.P., Issa Lo, Siamevi, K.M. & Taffame, K.K., 1986. Contributions aux études ethnobotaniques et floristiques au Togo. Médecine Traditionelle et Pharmacopée. Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique, Paris, France. 671 pp.
• Arunachalam, K. & Parimelazhagan, T., 2012. Antidiabetic activity of aqueous root extract of Merremia tridentata (L.) Hall. f. in streptozotocin-induced-diabetic rats. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 5(3): 175–179.
• Arunachalam, K., Parimelazhagan, T. & Manian, S., 2011. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Merremia tridentata (L.) Hallier f. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 3(1): 75–79.
• Gonçalves, M.L., 1987. Convolvulaceae. In: Launert, E. (Editor). Flora Zambesiaca. Volume 8, part 1. Flora Zambesiaca Managing Committee, London, United Kingdom. pp. 9–129.
• Heine, H., 1963. Convolvulaceae. 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. 335–352.
• Lejoly, J. & Lisowski, S., 1992. Les genres Merremia et Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) dans la Flore d'Afrique Centrale (Zaire, Rwanda, Burundi). Fragmenta Floristica et Geobotanica 37: 1–125.
• Muhammad Mansur, 2001. Merremia Dennst. ex Endl. In: van Valkenburg, J.L.C.H. & Bunyapraphatsara, N. (Editors). Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands. pp. 366–373.
• Neuwinger, H.D., 2000. African traditional medicine: a dictionary of plant use and applications. Medpharm Scientific, Stuttgart, Germany. 589 pp.
• Verdcourt, B., 1963. Convolvulaceae. In: Hubbard, C.E. & Milne-Redhead, E. (Editors). Flora of Tropical East Africa. Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations, London, United Kingdom. 161 pp.

Other references

• Adjanohoun, E.J., Adjakidjè, V., Ahyi, M.R.A., Aké Assi, L., Akoègninou, A., d’Almeida, J., Apovo, F., Boukef, K., Chadare, M., Cusset, G., Dramane, K., Eyme, J., Gassita, J.N., Gbaguidi, N., Goudote, E., Guinko, S., Houngnon, P., Lo, I., Keita, A., Kiniffo, H.V., Kone-Bamba, D., Musampa Nseyya, A., Saadou, M., Sodogandji, T., De Souza, S., Tchabi, A., Zinsou Dossa, C. & Zohoun, T., 1989. Contribution aux études ethnobotaniques et floristiques en République Populaire du Bénin. Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique, Paris, France. 895 pp.
• Aschfalk, A., Steingass, H., Müller, W. & Drochner., W., 2002. Merremia tridentata as a supplementary feed to the grass Panicum maximum for young West African dwarf sheep. Tropical Animal Health and Production 34(2): 145–150.
• Austin, D.F. & Staples, G.W., 1980. Xenostegia, a new genus of Convolvulaceae. Brittonia 32(4): 533–536.
• Chifundera, K., 1987. Antivenomous plants used in the Zairean pharmacopoeia. African Study Monographs 7: 21–35.
• da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B., 2004. A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No 30. SABONET, Pretoria, South Africa. 183 pp.
• Hatapakki, B.C., Hukkeri, V., Patil, D.N. & Chavan, M.J., 2004. Wound healing activity of Merremia tridentata. Indian Drugs 41: 532.
• Jennet-Siems, J.K., Weigl, R., Böhm, A., Mann, P., Tofern-Reblin, B., Ott, S.C., Ghomian, A., Kaloga, M., Siems, K., Witte, L., Hilker, M., Müller, F. & Eich, E., 2005. Chemotaxonomy of the pantropical genus Merremia (Convolvulaceae) based on the distribution of tropane alkaloids. Phytochemistry 66: 1448–1464.
• Kaladhar, D.S.V.G.K., 2010. In vitro regeneration of the medicinal herb, Merremia tridentata L. from shoot tip and flower explants. Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology 1: 65–71.
• Kamalutheen, M., Gopalakrishnan, S. & Ismail, T.S., 2009. Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities of Merremia tridentata (L.) Hall.f. E-Journal of Chemistry 6(4): 943–948.
• Krishnappan, A.L. & Seetharaman, T.R., 1992. Flavonoids of Merremia tridentata. Fitoterapia 63(2): 190.
• Schimming, T., Jenett-Siems, K., Mann, P., Tofern-Reblin, B., Milson, J., Johnson, R.W., Deroin, T., Austin, D.F. & Eich, E., 2006. Calystegines as chemotaxonomic markers in the Convolvulaceae. Phytochemistry 66(4): 469–480.
• Sereena, K., Girija, T.P., Sreekanth Sreedhar & Shree, A.B.R., 2012. Comparative pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies of the raw drug sources of Prasarini used in Ayurveda. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 3(1): 257–264.
• Sowndhararajan, K., Joseph, J.M., Arunachalam, K., & Manian, S., 2010. Evaluation of Merremia tridentata (L.) Hallier f. for in vitro antioxidant activity. Food Science and Biotechnology 19(3): 663–669.

Sources of illustration

• Muhammad Mansur, 2001. Merremia Dennst. ex Endl. In: van Valkenburg, J.L.C.H. & Bunyapraphatsara, N. (Editors). Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands. pp. 366–373.

Author(s)

• L.P.A. Oyen, PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Correct citation of this article

Oyen, L.P.A., 2013. Merremia tridentata (L.) Hallier f. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). Prota 11(2): Medicinal plants/Plantes médicinales 2. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. Accessed 3 April 2025.

• See this page on the Prota4U database.