Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
SIDA CORDIFOLIA
LINNAEUS
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Common name: Bala, lannel weed
Distribution: Tropical regions of the world, Africa, Australia, United States,
India, Nepal
Habitat: Freshwater, wetlands, moist places, spoilt soils
Description: This is a perennial shrub growing to a maximum height of 1 m.
The stem is erect and its leaves are cordate, hairy, and with serrated edges.
The yellow lowers are found gathered in inal inlorescences.
Compounds and activities: The methanol extract of this species was found to
be effective against all phytopathogens with low MIC values of 6 µg/mm,
and it showed higher inhibition activities against different bacterial spe-
cies (Joseph et al.,
2011). The root and stem extracts of this plant species
possess bioactive compounds, such as vascinol, ephedrine, vascicone, and
hypaphorine, having antimicrobial activities. They also show cytotoxic
effects on HeLa cell lines. Other compounds isolated from the aerial parts
of this species include pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, traces of sitosterol,
palmitic, stearic, and hexacosanoic acids, 5,7-dihydroxy-3-isoprenyl lavone,
5-hydroxy-3- iso- prenyl lavones, β-sitosterol and stigmasterol (lavones),
and 5′-hydroxymethol-1′-(1,2,3,9-teytrahydropyrrolo(2,1-b)quinazolin-
1-yl)-heptan-1-one (analgesic alkaloid).
The seed oil of this species has sterculic, malvaic, and coronaic acids
along with other fatty acids. The 50% ethanol extracts of this plant have
also been reported to possess anti-inlammatory, antioxidant, antiprolif-
erative, antipyretic, antinociceptive, antiulcerogenic, and hepatoprotective
activities. In folk medicines, this plant is used for the treatment of inlam-
mation of oral mucosa, asthmatic bronchitis, blenorrhea, nasal congestion,
and other respiratory problems.
