Gen info
- Cryptocoryne is a genus of aquatic plants from the family Araceae.
- The genus is commonly referred to as Crypts by aquarium hobbyists. (3)
- The first Cryptocoryne species was described in 1779 as Arum spirale by Retzius/ The genus was described by Friedrich Ernst Ludwig von Fischer in 1828. (3)
- Etymology: The genus name Cryptocoryne derives from Greek words crypto, meaning "hidden" and coryne, meaning "club", referring to the hidden spadix (flowering shoot associated with a large modified leaf at its base, the spathe that encloses the flowering shoot). The specific epithet ciliata derives from Latin, meaning "ciliate" or "fringed with hairs", referring to the purplish-red hairs on the spathe of this species.   (2)

Botany
• Growth form: A rhizome-bearing herb up to 1 m tall. Its stout rhizome is up to 10 cm long. Foliage: Alternate, long-stalked leaves possess thinly fleshy, smooth-margined leaf blades that are usually lance- to egg-shaped, and 15–41 by 5–11 cm, with a distinct midrib. Its upright leaf blades are also borne on erect petioles in a rosette. Flowers: The plant produces a tubular structure known as the spathe (a modified leaf that encloses the flowering shoot called the spadix). The spathe takes the form of a tube with a pointed opening at the top. The opening bears purplish-red hairs, and is purplish-red on the outer margin, while the inner margin is greenish-yellow. The rest of the tube is pale-green with purple veins and lines. The swollen base of the spathe is known as the ‘kettle’, and it encloses the spadix, a club-shaped flowering shoot that bears both the male and female flowers. Four to eight female flowers are borne at the base of the spadix, followed by a sterile section and numerous male flowers on the apical end. Its flowers are without petals. Fruit: Black fruits are round, fleshy, 2.5–3 cm long, and break open into six to eight parts when ripe to release tiny seedlings. Its seeds are smooth and whitish. (Flora & Fauna Web)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- Also native to Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, India, Jawa, Malaya, Maluku, Myanmar, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam. (1)
- Grows in fresh to brackish water tidal zone.

Constituents
- No studies found on phytoconstituents.

Properties
- Studies have suggested antioxidant, cytotoxicity properties.

Parts used
Whole plant.

Uses
Edibility
- No reports found on edibility.
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
- In Bangladesh, plants used as stimulant during debility; for treatment of snakebites, insect and animal bites; for skin diseases including eczema, abscesses, acne, boils scabies, itches, rashes, warts, etc. (5)
Others
- Fodder: Aroids used for feeding cattle. (7)

Studies
• Antioxidant / Cytotoxiciity by BSLA / Whole Plant: Study evaluated crude extractives C. ciliata for biologic activities.  The aqueous soluble fraction of the methanolic extract showed highest antioxidant activity. In brine shrimp lethality bioassay, among all extracts of whole plant, the carbon tetrachloride soluble fraction of the methanol extract showed strong cytotoxic activity. (4)
• Anti-Vibrio Bacteria Activity / Cultures: Study evaluated the anti-Vibrio bacteria activity and MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration ) of extract  and determine the age of the plant with the highest antibacterial activity. The methanol extract of cultured plants showed antibacterial activity against V. alginolyticus and V. vulnificus with diameter range of 6 mm to 9 mm, with not antibacterial activity against  V. parahemolyticus. Aqueous extracts showed no activity. Among three cultivation time, 70-days showed the highest inhibition zone, followed by 50, with 30 days showing lowest inhibition zone. Results suggest the longer cultivation time effected higher antibacterial activity. (6)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Cryptocoryne ciliata / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(2)
Cryptocoryne ciliata / National Parks: FLORA & FAUNA WEB
(3)
Cryptocoryne / Wikipedia
(4)
Evaluation of antioxidant activity and cytotoxic potential of Cryptocoryne ciliata / Ummey Jannatum Nahar, Shah Marzia Mahjabin Lina / International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, 2013; 2(2) /
DOI: 10.3329/icpj.v2i2.13196
(5)
A Comparative Analysis of Medicinal Plants Used by Folk Medicinal Healers in Three Districts of Bangladesh and Inquiry as to Mode of Selection of Medicinal Plants / Md Ariful Haque Mollik, Md Shahadat Hossan, Alok Kumar Paul et al / Ethnobotany Research & Applications, 2010; 8: pp 195-218
(6)
Anti vibrio bacteria activity of Cryptocoryne ciliate cultures / Cynthia Seta / Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 2007
(7)
A note on Aroids Ethnobotany in Hau River, Vietnam / Duong Minh Truyen, Mashhor Mansor, Amir Shah Ruddin / Tropical Plant Research, 2015; 2(1): pp 58-63 / eISSN: 2349-1183 / pISSN: 2349-9265

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)