Boerhavia Diffusa
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''Boerhavia diffusa'' is a species of flowering plant in the four o'clock family which is commonly known as punarnava (meaning that which rejuvenates or renews the body in
Ayurveda Ayurveda (; ) is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. It is heavily practised throughout India and Nepal, where as much as 80% of the population report using ayurveda. The theory and practice of ayur ...
), red spiderling, spreading hogweed, or tarvine. It is taken in
herbal medicine Herbal medicine (also called herbalism, phytomedicine or phytotherapy) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. Scientific evidence for the effectiveness of many herbal treatments ...
for pain relief and other uses. The leaves of ''Boerhavia diffusa'' are often used as a green vegetable in many parts of India.


Description

''Boerhavia diffusa'' is widely dispersed, occurring throughout India, the Pacific, and southern United States. Flowers are small, around 5 mm in diameter. Pollens are round, roughly 65 microns in diameter. This wide range is explained by its small fruit, which are very sticky and grow a few inches off the ground, ideally placed to latch on to small migratory birds as they walk by. Habit A creeping, perennial, much-branched herb with stout fusi form roots. Stem Branches divaricate, stem purplish, thickened at nodes. Leaves Opposite, oblique, ovate or sub orbicular, rounded, entire, margins slightly pinkish, wavy, lower surface with small, white scales, base rounded. Inflorescence Small umbels forming Corymbose, axillary and terminal panicle. Flowers *Bracteoles, acute. Perianth -tube constricted above the ovary, limb funnel-shaped, dark-pink, with 5 vertical bands outside. *Stamens 2 or 3, slightly exserted, unequal. *Ovary superior, oblique, ovule 1, erect, stigma. Fruit Achene rounded, 6-ribbed. Seed Minute, albuminous with endosperm. Embryo curved.


Distribution

A true and accurate accounting of the native range of ''Boerhavia diffusa'' has not been determined. However, it is very widespread, and has become
naturalized Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-national of a country acquires the nationality of that country after birth. The definition of naturalization by the International Organization for Migration of the ...
in many places. It is believed to be a
native plant In biogeography, a native species is indigenous to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only local natural evolution (though often popularised as "with no human intervention") during history. The term is equi ...
to the following places in: *Africa —
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, and
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. *South Pacific —
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.


Chemistry

Boerhavia G and Boerhavia H are two
rotenoid Rotenoids are naturally occurring substances containing a cis-fused tetrahydrochromeno ,4-bhromene nucleus. Many have insecticidal and piscicidal activity, such as the prototypical member of the family, rotenone. Rotenoids are related to the is ...
s isolated from ''B. diffusa''. A
quinolone Quinolone may refer to: * 2-Quinolone * 4-Quinolone * Quinolone antibiotic Quinolone antibiotics constitute a large group of broad-spectrum bacteriocidals that share a bicyclic core structure related to the substance 4-quinolone. They ar ...
alkaloid Alkaloids are a broad class of natural product, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. Some synthetic compounds of similar structure may also be termed alkaloids. Alkaloids are produced by a large varie ...
, lunamarine, isolated from ''B. diffusa'' has shown some ''
in vitro ''In vitro'' (meaning ''in glass'', or ''in the glass'') Research, studies are performed with Cell (biology), cells or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called "test-tube experiments", these studies in ...
''
anticancer An anticarcinogen (also known as a carcinopreventive agent) is a substance that counteracts the effects of a carcinogen or inhibits the development of cancer. Anticarcinogens are different from anticarcinoma agents (also known as anticancer or ant ...
, antiestrogenic,
immunomodulatory Immunotherapy or biological therapy is the treatment of disease by activating or suppressing the immune system. Immunotherapies designed to elicit or amplify an immune response are classified as ''activation immunotherapies,'' while immunothera ...
, and anti-amoebic activity (particularly against ''
Entamoeba histolytica ''Entamoeba histolytica'' is an anaerobic organism, anaerobic parasitic amoebozoan, part of the genus ''Entamoeba''. Predominantly infecting humans and other primates causing amoebiasis, ''E. histolytica'' is estimated to infect about 35-50 mil ...
''). The plant contains a protein called BDP-30, presumably a ribosome-inactivating protein.


References


External links


Boerhavia diffusa
on ibiblio * Contains a detailed monograph on ''Boerhavia diffusa'' (Punarnava) as well as a discussion of health benefits and usage in clinical practice. Available online at https://web.archive.org/web/20110616192944/http://www.toddcaldecott.com/index.php/herbs/learning-herbs/323-punarnava {{Taxonbar, from=Q311457 diffusa Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Flora of the Caribbean Flora of Central America Flora of Africa Flora of Asia Flora of Europe Flora of Northern America Flora of Southern America Flora without expected TNC conservation status