Morphological information

A rambling shrub, climbing by its long flexuous divaricated branches, which is cylindric and appressedly hairy (roughly glabrous). Leaves 7.5- 12.5 by 5- 9 cm broadly elliptic, shortly acuminate, more or less pubescent above, base rounded or often tapering into the petiole; 6- 25 mm, stipule twin and long, about 2.5 mm broad base linear lanceolate, acute, hairy. Flower in terminal peduncle stout buds densely hairy, calyx hairy, leaf like creamy white, persistent, ovate or elliptic. Corolla deep golden yellow; tube slender very hairy outside and with a dense lining of yellowish hairs. Berries subglobose, glabrous.

Flowering                       : June-August

Fruiting                          : September-October

History                          :

Parts                             : Root, leaves and flowers.

Status                           : Low risk.

Phytochemistry

Ferulic acid, hyperin, quercetin, rutin, sinapic acid and β-sitosterol glucoside isolated from sepals (Indian J. Pharm. Sci. 1985, 47, 122).

Agrocultivation

Mussaendra species are generally hardy and are propagated by seeds, cutting or layers.

                    

Medicinal

In Konkan 1/2 a tola of root is given with cow's urine in white leprosy. In jaundice, 2 tolas of the white leaves given in milk. In Indo China, the flowers are considered pectoral and diuretic. They are given in asthma, intermittent fevers and dropsy. Externally they are applied as a detergent to ulcers.

 

Traditional

The leaves of the plants and flowers are used in external application for ulcers; a weak decoction of dried shoot is given to children to relief cough. The bitter root is considered alterative and demuiscent and used in the treatment of the white leprosy and eye troubles.

 

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