Aristolochia bracteolata
| Aristolochia bracteolata | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Piperales |
| Family: | Aristolochiaceae |
| Genus: | Aristolochia |
| Species: | A. bracteolata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Aristolochia bracteolata | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Aristolochia bracteolata also known as 'worm killer' in English due to its anthelminthic activity and trypanocidal effect, is a perennial herb growing from 10–60 cm tall. The plant is important in traditional medicine in Africa, India and the Middle East.
Distribution and ecology
[edit]Aristolochia bracteolata grows in subsaharan regions from Mali to Somalia through to the Arabian peninsula and India. The plant grows at elevations of 50-740m above sea level and can be found on the banks of rivers, bushland, desert grasslands. It grows in sandy or lava soils.[2]
Description
[edit]Aristolochia bracteolata is a climbing or prostrate perennial herb with an unpleasant smell, stems 10–60 cm tall from an underground rhizome. The leaves are ovate 1.5–8 × 1.5–7 cm with a petiole 0.5–4.5 cm long.[3] Flowers are dark purple, 0.5–5 cm tubular, with trumpet shaped mouth. Capsules are oblong-ellipsoid, 1.5–2.5 cm.[citation needed] Aristolochia bracteolata has been observed to have 2–3 flowers per leaf axil in Somalia, however outside Somalia the plant seems to have solitary flowers.[3][4]
Cultivation
[edit]Aristolochia bracteolata is usually gathered from the wild.[2]
Traditional medicine
[edit]Aristolochia bracteolata has been used in traditional medicine in Nigeria, India, and Ethiopia as an infusion of dried leaves to treat intestinal worms, skin itch, or insect bites.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Aristolochia bracteolata Lam". The Plant List.
- ^ a b "Aristolochia bracteolata - Useful Tropical Plants". tropical.theferns.info. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
- ^ a b "Aristolochia bracteolata in Global Plants on JSTOR". plants.jstor.org. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
- ^ "Aristolochia bracteolata - Worm Killer". www.flowersofindia.net. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
- ^ Suliman Mohamed M, Timan Idriss M, Khedr AI, Abd AlGadir H, Takeshita S, Shah MM, Ichinose Y, Maki T (2014). "Activity of Aristolochia bracteolata against Moraxella catarrhalis". International Journal of Bacteriology. 2014: 481686. doi:10.1155/2014/481686. PMC 4745564. PMID 26904734.
Further reading
[edit]- Suliman Mohamed M, Timan Idriss M, Khedr AI, Abd AlGadir H, Takeshita S, Shah MM, Ichinose Y, Maki T (2014). "Activity of Aristolochia bracteolata against Moraxella catarrhalis". International Journal of Bacteriology. 2014: 481686. doi:10.1155/2014/481686. PMC 4745564. PMID 26904734.
- Gbadamosi IT, Egunyomi A (2012). "In-vitro propagation and antimycotic potential of extracts and essential oil of roots of Aristolochia bracteolata Linn. (Aristolochiaceae)". African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines. 9 (1): 50–5. PMC 3746527. PMID 23983319.