Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
POLYGONUM BARBATUM
LINNAEUS
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Polygonales
Family: Polygonaceae
Common name: Joint weed
Distribution: Southeast Asia, tropical Australia, tropical Africa
Habitat: Freshwater or brackish water pools, marshy sites, tidal rice ields
Description: It is a perennial erect herb growing to a maximum height of 1 m.
Roots are ibrous and white or brown. The stem is erect, round or hollow,
glabrous, and thickened at the nodes. Leaves are alternate, spiral, stalked,
and >2 cm long/wide. The margins of leaves are entire and their apices are
acute. White or pink lowers are hermaphroditic and are grouped together
into a terminal spike that is stalked.
Compounds and activities: The petroleum ether and methanol extracts of this
species showed potential antitumor activity with IC
50
values of 290 µg/disc and
>400 µg/disc, respectively (Mazid et al., 2011). This species has also been used
in traditional medicines for the treatment of fever, pain, and inlammation.
NUPHAR LUTEA
(L) SM.
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Nymphaeles
Family: Nymphaeceae
