Acalypha indica
(L.) Vell.
Indian acalypha
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Summary
Source: WikipediaAcalypha indica (English: Indian acalypha, Indian mercury, Indian copperleaf, Indian nettle, three-seeded mercury) is an herbaceous annual that has catkin-like inflorescences with cup-shaped involucres surrounding the minute flowers. It is mainly known for its root being attractive to domestic cats, and for its various medicinal uses. It occurs throughout the Tropics.
Description
A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.
Edible Uses
In India and Indonesia the plant is cultivated for its edible shoots and leaves, which are cooked as a vegetable.
Traditional Uses
The leaves are eaten cooked as a vegetable. CAUTION: The plant contains glucosides which cause cancer.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
The plant has many traditional medicinal uses. In Madagascar, the crushed plant is used for skin parasites. In Mauritius, the sap of crushed leaves mixed with salt, or a decoction of plant, is used for scabies and other skin problems. In the Seychelles and Réunion, a root infusion or decoction is taken for asthma, and also to clean the liver and kidneys. The root decoction is also taken for intestinal worms and stomach ache. The leaf sap is taken as an emetic. An infusion together with the roots of Tylophora indica is taken in Réunion as an emetic in the case of poisoning. A leaf infusion is also taken as a purgative and vermifuge in Réunion and Madagascar. In East Africa sap of the leaves is used for eye infections. Leaf powder is used for maggot-infested wounds. Acalypha indica is listed in the Pharmacopoeia of India as an expectorant to treat asthma and pneumonia. It was formerly listed in the British Pharmacopoeia. Some of the chemical compounds in Acalypha indica cause dark chocolate-brown discoloration of blood, and gastrointestinal irritation in rabbits. Ingestion of Acalypha indica may lead to hemolysis in people suffering from glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Acalyphin is used as a substitute for ipecacuanha, a vermifuge, expectorant and emetic. Acalypha indica leaves are used in the traditional medicine of India as a jaundice remedy.
Known Hazards
Care needs to be taken when using the species as a vegetable as it contains several alkaloids as well as hydrocyanic acid.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in hot places. They occur as a weed and are found throughout the Philippines in waste places. In tropical Africa it grows up to 1,350 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. It grows in sunny waste places.
Where It Grows
Africa, Angola, Asia, Bangladesh, Botswana, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Cambodia, Central Africa, China, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guyana, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor, Uganda, Vietnam, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Cultivation
Plants are grown from seed.
Other Uses
The plant is known to have antifungal activity against plant pathogens.
Other Information
It is a cultivated food plant.
Notes
There are over 450 Acalypha species. They are tropical. There are 225 in tropical America. This one is used in medicine.
Nutrition
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves fresh | 80 | 269 | 64 | 6.7 | — | 147 | 17 | — |
Synonyms
Also Known As
Alcalifa, Biralkatshi, Bogus-damohan, Brennkraut, Chika mas, Copperleaf, Dadano, Harita-manjari, Hurita munjari, Indian nettle, Khokli, Khotka, Khotke, Kkokhali, Koopay maynei, Kuppaimeni, Kuppi gida, Kuppi, Kuppichettu, Kyaung-se-pin, Kyaung-yo-the, Lelatang, Muktajhuri, Poonamayakki, Ricinela, Rumput lis-lis, Swetbasanta, Tam ye tuaopu, Tamyae maeo, Three-seeded mercury
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