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Gen info
The name deries from the Greek words pedilon, meaning "slipper," and anthos, meaning "flower."
Botany
Luha is a half-woody, succulent, and erect shrub growing
to a height of 1.5 meters or less, with fleshy and stout branches which produce
a milky latex. Leaves are green or variegated, fleshy, smooth, alternate, deciduous, ovate
or oblong, 3.5 to 7.5 centimeters long, 2.5 to 5 centimeters wide, pointed at both ends. Flowers are reddish, clustered on leafless stems, terminal or axillary.
Capsules are 9 millimeters broad.
Distribution
- Recently introduced species.
-
Ornamental cultivation, especially as a hedge plant.
- Native of the West Indies.
Properties
• Considered emetic,
anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiseptic, antihemorrhagic, antiviral,
antitumoral and abortive.
• Milky juice is
caustic, irritant, and emetic.
Constituents
• A study assessing its scavenging properties yielded the antioxidant
principles: a kaempferol, quercitrin, isoquercitrin and scopoletin;
phenolics and flavonoids - gallic acid and rutin.
• A new proteolytic enzyme, pedilanthain, with antiinflammatory
activity was isolated from the latex.
• Caustic, milky juice of the roots, stems and leaves contains euphorbol and other diterpene esters which are irritants and cocarcinogens. A lectin and proteolytic enzymes are experimentally indicated.
Parts utilized
Leaves.
Uses
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
- In other folk systems, leaf tea used for laryngitis, mouth ulcers, venereal disease, asthma, cough.
- Root tea has been used as abortifacient and as purgative substitute for ipecacuanha.
- Latex has been used to treat cancer and umbilical hernia; also, dripped into painful dental caries and aching ears. (See eye toxicity: Caution)
- Used for treating warts, calluses and ringworms.
- The centipede leg-like leaf arrangement has given it folkloric application for treatment of centipede and scorpion stings.
Studies
• Antiinflammatory:
(1) Anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant activity of a medicinal tincture from Pedilanthus tithymaloides:
A Cuban study showed inhibition of carrageenan-induced rat paw edema
while scavenging assays showed it to be effective against all assayed
ROS and RNS. Study results support its traditional use as an anti-inflammatory
medicine. (2) Study isolat4d pedilanthin, a new protease, from the latex of P. tithymaloides, and was subject4d to anti-inflammatory screening.
• Antimalarial / Anti-tuberculosis:
Study yielded six new poly-O-acylated jatrophane diterpenes along
with five known compounds from the white latex of P tithymaloides. Antimalarial
and antituberculous poly-O-acylated jatrophane diterpenoids from Pedilanthus
tithymaloides: Compounds 1, 3, 4 and 5 showed antiplasmodial activity
and antimycobacterial activity agaiinst Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• Antifungal: Antimycotic Screening
of 58 Malaysian Plants against Plant Pathogens: Of 58 Malaysian plants
screened, PT was one of 34 plants that showed selective antifungal activity.
• Antibacterial / Antifungal: Study investigated the antifungal and antibacterial properties of an ethanolic extract of leaves of P. tithymaloides and some of its constituents.
• Antioxidants: Study
yielded principles identified as kaempferol 3-O-B-D-glucopyranoside-6"-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate),
quercitin, isoquercitrin and scopoletin.
• Mosquito Control: Ethanolic
extract study of P tithymaloides yielded flavonoids, steroids and phenols
and showed that phytochemicals from spurge exhibit significant biological
activity against mosquitoes and presents a potential as a natural product-based
biocide for disease vector control.
• Lectin / Diabetes: The
usefulness of a galactose specific lectin from P. tithymaloides was
examined to study the hemagglutination pattern in patients with diabetes
mellitus. Significantly low titer was seen in patients with insulin
dependent diabetes and no significant change in non-insulin dependent
diabetics. The low titer was shown to occur along with increased duration
of the diabetic condition.
• Petrocrop Potential: Studies showed P. tithymaloides, PT var. cuculatus and PT var variegatus are pomising varieties for development of petro-crops, with potential for good biomass and hydrocarbon yields.
Caution / Toxicity
• Toxicity: Ingested, a few drops of the juice produce irritation of the mouth and throat, vomiting and diarrhea. Externally, the juice produces irritation, inflammation and skin blistering. In the eye, it produces intense and painful irritation, followed by keratoconjuctivitis and temporary reduction of visual acuity. The seeds cause violent persistent vomiting and drastic diarrhea. In livestock, skin lesions are prone to secondary infections.
• Case Report / Mechanism of Injury: A case of eye injury consisted of severe conjunctivitis with chemosis and corneal erosion secondary to contact with the sap. Probably mechanism was the combined effect of the plant sap, possible proteolytic activity, and mechanical trauma.
• Treatment / Prevention: As a potential hazard to eyes, it should not be planted in places easily accessible to children, like gardens and playgrounds. Avoid contact with the sap. Wear goggles when cutting the plant. Skin contact should immediately be washed with soap and water. Topical steroids reduced pain and inflammation. Fluid replacement and hydration may be needed for acute gastrointestinal manifestations.
Availability
Wildcrafted. |
