Boerhavia diffusa

Boerhavia diffusa is a species of flowering plant in the four o'clock family which is commonly known as punarnava (meaning that which rejuvenates or renews the body in Ayurveda), red spiderling, spreading hogweed, or tarvine. It is taken in herbal medicine for pain relief and other uses. The leaves of Boerhavia diffusa are often used as a green vegetable in many parts of India.

Description

A weedy evergreen vine or shrub which lays over. It grows to 70 cm high. It spreads about 50-200 cm wide. The stem is slender, creeping and twining. It has a large root system. The leaves are dull green and in opposite unequal pairs. They are 1-2.5 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The lower leaves are broadly oval while the upper leaves are more narrow. The edges of the leaves are wavy. The flowers are yellow and white or pink. They occur in groups of 3 at the ends of branches. They are 0.5 cm long. The fruit are about 0.4 cm long. They have glands that make them sticky. In a similar plant Boerhavia erecta the fruit are smooth and not sticky.,

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Root Seed Edible Uses: Edible portion: Leaves, Root, Fruit, Seeds, (Caution) Vegetable. Root - eaten by the Aborigines of central Australia. The root is long, thick and fleshy. Leaves - cooked as a pot herb or added to soups. Occasionally used as a vegetable. Seeds - cooked. Added to cereals.

Traditional Uses

The tender leaves are chopped small and then eaten cooked as a vegetable. The harvested leaves can be stored for 6-7 days. The fleshy taproot is baked and eaten. It is also eaten raw. The seeds are added to cereals. Caution: It may cause diarrhoea if eaten in large amounts.

Medicinal Uses

Antidote Diuretic Dysentery Emetic Expectorant Laxative Stomachic Spreading hogweed is used in traditional medicine in several parts of its range, but is especially popular in India where it is a part of the Ayurvedic tradition. The whole herb, including the root, is used and it is said to be bitter, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, laxative and stomachic. Research has shown the presence of an alkaloid, beta sitosterol and various other compounds in the roots An alcohol extract of the whole plant has shown significant antiinflammatory activity, a cardiotonic effect, an increase in blood pressure, a relaxant effect and promising diuretic activity. The plant is emetic and purgative. It is used in the treatment of various conditions including gastric disturbances, asthma, jaundice, anascara, anaemia and internal inflammation. It has also been used as an antidote to snake venom. A decoction of the leaves is used to treat jaundice. The leaves are used in a cataplasm for treating indurated liver. The root can be used as an ipecacuanha (Carapichea ipecacuanha) substitute. Antispasmodic, very astringent, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, purgative and sudorific herb, it can be used in a decoction to treat dysentery and a range of other conditions. The boiled roots are applied to ulcers, abscesses and to assist in the extraction of Guinea worm.

Known Hazards

The very viscid perianth tube containing the fruit readily adheres to other objects and detaches itself from the plant. Small insects are caught by the secretion, and young chickens and turkeys sometimes die in consequence of their eyes becoming sealed up by the sticky fruits.

Distribution

It is a warm region or tropical plant. It will grow on most soils. It is drought and frost resistant and very hardy. It does best in an open sunny position. It forms a good ground cover in dry regions. It grows throughout Nepal to about 2300 m altitude. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall above 300 mm. It can grow in arid places. In XTBG Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Africa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia (Not), Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chile, China, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, Eswatini, Fiji, Gambia, Guam, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Ivory Coast, Japan (Ryuku), Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Micronesia, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Niue, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Rotuma, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Uruguay, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors at least in the milder parts of this country. It is hardy to at least -7°c in Australian gardens but this cannot be translated directly to the British climate because our summers are cooler and our winters longer, colder and wetter. If the plant is capable of surviving our winters it is likely to need a sheltered very sunny position in a well-drained soil. Most if not all members of this genus have the same edible uses.

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in the spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings

Other Uses

Fodder Boerhavia diffusa is recorded as a host for the virus causing aubergine mosaic disease (EMV); as a host of zucchini yellow mosaic polyvirus (ZYMV); and as an alternative host for the cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii). Yield losses attributed to these factors are difficult to determine. Fodder/animal feed, Forage. Special Uses

Other Information

It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea. It is an important food in some places.

Notes

This plant has medicinal properties for kidney and urine conditions. There are about 40 Boerhavia species. They are mostly in the tropics and subtropics. Chemical composition (root): Sand (dry sample) = 0.34%; (fresh sample) = 0.17%. Silica (dry sample) = 0.22%; (fresh sample) = 0.11%. Calcium (dry sample) = 1.246%, (fresh sample) = 0.623%. Magnesium (dry sample) = 0.344%, (fresh sample) = 0.172%. Phosphorus (dry sample = 0.155^%, (fresh sample) = 0.077%. Potassium (dry sample) = 2.89%, (fresh sample) = 1.440%. Ca: 8.03. Fe: 345. Cu: 6. Mn: 20 (in ppm on dry P basis). Moisture = 50. Fibre (crude, dry sample) = 9.6%, (fresh sample) = 4.8%. Ether extract (dry sample) = 1.62%, (fresh sample) = 0.91%. Protein (crude, dry sample) = 9.1%, (fresh sample) = 4.56%. Ash (dry sample) = 8.42%, (fresh sample) = 4.21%. Carbohydrate (dry sample) = 71.2%, (fresh sample) = 35.6%. Albuminous nitrogen (dry sample) = 1.02%, (fresh sample) = 0.51%. Amido nitrogen (dry sample) = 0.44%; fresh sample) = 0.22%. Fuel value [calories] (dry sample) = 29.0, (fresh sample) = 58.0.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Adegandheri, Agarra-pinto, Ama rra-pinto, Ambati kura, Anleewa, Aule sag, Batata-de-porco, Beambava, Beldroega-grande, Boduraalhu, Bredo-deporco, Bulga, Burandha gondi, Caa ruru i, Caa ruru pe, Celido nia, Dhagarphodiyu, Dibata bata, Etingel, Fendala, Ghetuli, Horse purslane, Huang xi xin, Ipecacuanha de Cayenne, Kalamatonga, Katule, Khaparfuti, Khomhin pak, Laije, Lengle, Mangalarety, M'guta, Mookkanacharana, Mookkirattai, Moradilla, Mozote morado, Mukatan kodi, Mukkarattai, Mukaratte-kirei, Ohoic arak, Patharphodiyu, Patherchatta, Pegajocilla, Pega-pinto, Punarnaba, Punarnava, Punarnava, Purnanava, Purnava, Purnonapa, Rakta punarnava, Sacha verdolaga, Samkanka, Sant, Santi, Saranathy, Sata, Satna, Serandai, Solidonia, Tagres, Tambadi vasu, Tangara, Tangaraca, Tanguara-mansa, Tedigui, Thazhuthama, Tikpeninla, Umujugurira, Vakka khaparo, Yerba tostada, Zhu er yan

References (111)

• Achigan-Dako, E, et al (Eds), 2009, Catalogue of Traditional Vegetables in Benin. International Foundation for Science.
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 76
• Ara, R. I. T., 2015, Leafy Vegetables in Bangladesh. Photon eBooks. p 115
• Arinathan, V., et al, 2007, Wild edibles used by Palliyars of the western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 6(1) pp 163-168
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 37

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