Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Common Names —
Chichiri (Indian); chirchita or onga (English)
African Names —
Hausa: hakoorin-maciijii, kaimin-kadangaree; Igbo: odu-ngwere; Kibende:
buhulula; Kiluguru: nara; Kisafwa: ndadaulo; Kiswahili: purura, purule; Kihehe: nugulukauna;
Kirangi: kyululankanga; Kinyaturu: munyori, mnyoli; Kinyamwezi: lukululankanga; Yoruba: abora
Description —
It is an erect or suberect, annual or perennial herb 0.5-1.5 m high. The leaves
(1.5-1.6 cm long and 0.7 cm wide) are simple, opposite, with stipules absent, the blade ovate to
ovate-lanceolate or ovate-oblong with rounded apex. The base is cuneate, and the margins are
entire, pubescent above and below, with a petiole 0.5-3 cm long. It produces solitary hermaphrodite
flowers in the axil of the bract, 3.5-5.5 mm long, pinkish or greenish sepals, ovate-lanceloate. The
flowers enlarge with age, hardening and becoming pungent. The fruits are small, 2-5.3 mm long,
and detach from the plant with the perianth and bracteoles. Both the flowers and fruits are borne
concurrently throughout the year. It has a characteristic woody rootstock.
9,28,33
Habitat and Distribution —
The plant occurs widely throughout the continent in different veg-
etation zones. It grows well in semiarid areas receiving about 250 mm rainfall and also high-rainfall
savannas with over 2000 mm annual rainfall and can be located in secondary clearings. The species
grows in open areas; it does not tolerate shade and therefore cannot be found as undercrops in dense
tropical canopies. It grows well in Nigeria, Ghana, Zaire, and Cameroon and has been located in
Mali, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
The root is used as a hemostatic agent to stop wound bleeding. A
decoction of the roots or stem bark is administered to children for constipation. The leaves, when
fire cured like tobacco, are used as an embrocation for sprains and headache. When boiled, the
steam is inhaled for the treatment of severe catarrh and colds. The decoction of the root bark is
taken as a remedy for venereal diseases. A poultice made from the ash of the burned leaves is
applied on boils and as an ointment for scabies; the ash mixed with honey is administered for
coughs. The root infusion is used as an emetic and mixed with lime as a remedy for bronchitis,
malaria, and helminthic infestation. The root has also been dispensed as a gargle for toothache,
as a snakebite topical remedy, for the treatment of heartburn, to prevent miscarriage in pregnancy,
and as a poison antidote to control vomiting.
33
In India, the plant extract is used for the treatment of
infectious diseases and in the management of leprosy.
34
Constituents —
The plant yields saponins and steroids, and the fruit has been shown to contain
a large percentage of alkaline potash. Betaine and ecdysterone may be present in the plant.
33
A
betaine, achyranthine, based on N-methylpyrrolidine 3-carboxylic acid, has been isolated from the
plant.
35
Two fully characterized saponins,
Achyranthes
saponins A and B, have been shown to be
constituents of the seeds.
36
Pharmacological Studies —
The saponins are cardiotonic. The benzene extract has been found
to be abortifacient. The plant also possesses fungicidal activity. Oral administration of the crude
extract at a dose of 5 mg/kg exerts diuretic, purgative, and hypoglycemic action in rats.
37-39
It has
been suggested that the diuretic action may be due to its high potassium content.
39
The saponin
fraction of the extract significantly increased the tone and contractility of the isolated hearts of
frog, guinea pig, and rabbits, with the observed activity quicker in onset but of a shorter duration
than that induced by digitoxin.
40-42
The biological activity of achyranthine has been investigated.
38
The compound has hypotensive, cardiac depressant, and vasodilatory activities, as well as analeptic
action on the respiratory system and spasmogenic effect on smooth muscles. Achyranthine is also
diuretic, purgative, and mildly antipyretic. The cardiac contractility caused by the saponin has been
attributed to its phosphorylase activity.
38
Studies have shown that
Achyranthes
possesses antiviral,
43
immunostimulant,
44
anti-inflamma-
tor y,
45
wound-healing
46
and antidiabetic properties.
47
The activity of the polysaccharides found to
be associated with the antiviral and antidiabetic activities of
Achyranthes
species appears to be
significantly enhanced in the sulfated derivatives.
