Heliotropium indicum, commonly known as Indian heliotrope, Indian turnsole is an annual, hirsute plant that is a common weed in waste places and settled areas. It is native to Asia. It is widely used in native medicine in Tamil Nadu, India.
| Heliotropium indicum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Boraginales |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Genus: | Heliotropium |
| Species: | H. indicum
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| Binomial name | |
| Heliotropium indicum | |
| Synonyms | |
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Heliophytum indicum | |
It grows wildly on roadsides and has a curved arrangement of small flowers and velvety broad green leaves
Description
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Indian heliotrope is an annual, erect, branched plant that can grow to a height of about 15–50 cm (5.9–19.7 in). It has a hairy stem, bearing alternating ovate to oblong-ovate leaves. It has small white or purple flowers with a green calyx; five stamens borne on a corolla tube; a terminal style; and a four-lobed ovary.[1][2]
Distribution
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The plant is native to Asia. A common weed in waste places and settled areas.[1]
Traditional medicine
editIn the Philippines, the plant is chiefly used as a traditional medicine. The extracted juice from the pounded leaves of the plants is used on wounds, skin ulcers and furuncles.[citation needed] The juice is also used as an eye drop for conjunctivitis.[citation needed] The pounded leaves are used as poultice.[3]
Toxicity
editHeliotropium indicum contains tumorigenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b "Trompang elepante". Philippine Medicinal Plants oten.
- ^ "Heliotropium indicum L." USDA Plants Database.
- ^ Onaylos, Irma Noel. Plants That You Know But Really Don't: Home Remedies from 110 Philippine Medicinal Plants. Cebu City: Our Press, Inc. p. 40.
- ^ Fu, P.P., Yang, Y.C., Xia, Q., Chou, M.C., Cui, Y.Y., Lin G., "Pyrrolizidine alkaloids-tumorigenic components in Chinese herbal medicina and dietary supplements", Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, Vol. 10, No. 4, 2002, pp. 198-211 [1][permanent dead link]
External links
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Media related to Heliotropium indicum at Wikimedia Commons