Gen info
- Adenostemma is a genus of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, first described in 1775, and widespread in the tropical regions of Asia, Africa, Australia, the Americas, and some oceanic islands. As of 2020, Plants of the World lists 23 accepted species. (10)
Botany
Boton is an erect, smooth or hairy, annual, slender or rather stout herb 0.3 to 1 meter in height. Leaves are thin, opposite, the upper ones alternate, oblong to broadly ovate, and 5 to 15 centimeters long, with a pointed apex, and entire or scalloped margins. Inflorescence is lax, the heads 5 to 7 millimeters in diameter. Flowers are very small and white, with the corolla hairy near the mouth. Fruit is an achene, rough or covered with wrinkles, crowned by a glandular ring bearing 3 to 5 club-shaped, short lobes.
Distribution
- In open, wet places along streams, in forests and thickets, from sea level to an altitude of 1,800 meters, in the Babuyan Islands; in Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Benguet, Bontoc, Nueva Viscaya, Zambales, Bulacan, Bataan, Quezon and Laguna Provinces in Luzon; and in Mindoro, Culion, Catanduanes, Camiguin de Misamis, and Mindanao.
- Pantropic.
- Also reported in China, Indo-China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Micronesia, and Polynesia..
Constituents
- Study of volatile oil extracted from the aerial parts by steam distillation yielded 0.990%. GC-MS identified 35 chemical compounds accounting for 99.56% of the volatile oil. The main components were: α-cubebene (32.62%), caryophyllene (24.97%) and γ-elemen (5.53%). Other monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were α-caryophyllene, α-chamigrene, bicyclo [4,3,0]-7-methylene-2,4,4-trimethyl-2-vinyl nonane, γ-terpinene, d-limonene, α-pinene and 2-carene. (1)
- Leaves yield essential oil and alkaloids.
- Proximate analysis of roots, stems, and leaves yielded 8.27% water, 11.52% protein, 5.67% fat, 17.32% ash. (7)
- The diterpenoid ent-11α-hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (11αOH-KA) is a major ingredient. (see studies below)
Properties
- Considered stimulant, antispasmodic, antidiarrheal, sternutatory.
- Studies have suggested anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, anti-melanogenic, anti-aging properties.
Parts used
Leaves, roots, juice.
Uses
Edibility
- Leaves are edible, abut bitter. In Bali, combined with other vegetables. (6)
Folkloric
- In the Philippines, leaf preparation used as antispasmodic and the leaf juice as stimulant.
- In La Reunion, leaves are used as antispasmodic; the fresh juice as stimulant and sternutatory.
- The Malays use the plant for poultices to apply to the head and ulcerations of the nose; also used in diarrhea.
- In Malacca, decoction of roots used for stomachaches.
- In the Dutch Indies, lotion of leaves used to arrest baldness; paste of leaves used as poultice for sun-burned skin; scorched leaves are applied to ulcers and to help ripen boils.
- In Taiwan, whole plant used to treat lung congestion, pneumonia, edema and inflammation.
- Juice of the plant used for dysentery; along with Centella asiatica and Phyllanthus niruri, used for colic.
- Leaf chewed with a little areca nut and some lime to treat coughs.
- Leaves used in washing hair to prevent falling hair.
- In Kerala, leaves used as antiseptic; fresh juice used as stimulant and sternutatory. (5) The Kunchia tribes of Vythiri talik apply the leaf juice externally for wound healing. (9) The whole plant is ground, mixed with a half-glass of water and drunk for 6 days for treatment of stomach ulcers. (14)
- In Mizoram, India, leaf paste applied to cuts and wounds, insect and caterpillar bites. (•)
- Salted leaves used for sore throats.
- Root or the plant is chewed to stop diarrhea.
- In Taiwan folk medicine, used for treating lung congestion, edema, pneumonia, and inflammation.
- In Malaysia root decoction used for stomach ache. Poultice of crushed leaves and stems applied for headaches and ulcerations of the nose. Boiled leaves rubbed on the skin to relieve itching. (6)
- Decoction of whole plant used as folk remedy for inflammatory disorders, such as hepatitis and pneumonia. (8)
- In Indonesia, used for treating fever, cough, sore throat, and thrush illness. (•)
Others
- Dye: A. viscosum used in the preparation of indigo dye.
- Fodder: Leaves used as feed for pigs. (6)
Studies
• Kaurane-type Diterpenes / Cytotoxicity: Study yielded ten 11-oxygenated kauran-19-oic acids and their nine glycosides, paniculosides II and III and adenostemmosides A-G. ent-11α-Hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid and adenostemmoic acid B showed cytotoxic activity against L-5178Y cultured cell and prolonged the survival of mice. (2)
• Anti-Melanogenic / 11αOH-KA / Leaves: Adenostemma lavenia has been reported to contain
11αOH-KA. Study evaluated the anti-melanogenic activities of water extracts of A. lavenia leaves and Pteris dispar leaves and compared in mouse B15F10 melanoma cells. C57BL/6J mice were treated with A. lavenia leaf extract. While plant extracts showed high anti-melanogenic activities, only A. lavenia contained high amount of 11αOH-KA, approximately 2.5% of dry leaf weight. Treatment of mice with the water extract suppressed pigmentation in their hairs. The activity was attributed to 11αOH-KA., a new material in oral cosmetics. Results potential in the treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders, such as melasma. (8)
• Anti-Inflammatory / Amelioration of Acute Lung Injury / p-Coumaric: Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of ethyl acetate fractions (EAAL) in vitro and in models stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) murine macrophages (RAW 264.7) and lung injury in mice. EAAL reduced proinflammatory cytokine responses. Preoral EAAL alleviated LPS-induced histological alterations in lung tissue and inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells and protein concentrations in BALF. EAAL prevented expression of inducible iNOS and COX-2, activated anti-oxidant enzymes in LPS-stimulated cells and lung tissues. HPLC showed p-coumaric acid to be a major constituent. Results suggest EAAL is a potential therapeutic agent to treat inflammatory disorders. (12)
• Anti-Aging Effect / 11αOH-KA: 11αOH-KA is known for a wide spectrum of biologic activities, such as antitumor, antimelanogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Study evaluated the anti-aging and antioxidative signals in Schizosaccharomyces pombe (yeast) and mouse melanoma B16F10 cells. Water and chloroform extracts showed antioxidant properties in vitro. Extracts and 11αOH-KA conferred resistance to H2O2 to S. pombe and B16F10 cells and extended yeast lifespan in a concentration dependent manner. Results suggest 11αOH-KA and extracts may protect yeast and mammalian cells from oxidative stress and aging. Study suggests possibility that the materials may be of benefit in treating COVID19 patients because A. lavenia extracts and NRF2 activators have been reported to alleviate symptoms of pneumonia in model animals. (13)
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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