Paederia foetida

Paederia foetida is a species of plant, with common names that are variations of skunkvine, stinkvine, pilau maile (Hawaiian) or Chinese fever vine. It is native to temperate, and tropical Asia; and has become naturalized in the Mascarenes, Melanesia, Polynesia, and the Hawaiian Islands, also found in North America by recent studies. Paederia foetida is known for the strong, sulphurous odour exuded when its leaves or stems are crushed or bruised. This is because the oil responsible for the smell, and found primarily within the leaves, contains sulphur compounds, including largely dimethyl disulphide.

Description

A small woody climber. The stems are tough. It is evergreen. It grows 2-4 m high. The plant has fine grey hairs over it. The leaves are opposite and narrowly oval. The leaves are 8-11 cm long by 3-4 cm wide. The leaves have an unpleasant smell when crushed. The flowers are greyish-purple. The fruit are oval or oval and red or yellow.

Edible Uses

The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Although they have a strong flavour, they are sometimes mixed with grated coconut and spices and eaten raw as a side dish with rice. They can also be minced and steamed, added to soups, or mixed with vegetables and spices, wrapped in a banana leaf, and cooked over a fire. Any offensive smell disappears during cooking. The leaves are valued more for their medicinal properties than for their flavour. In Taiwan, the sweet juice of the stem is sucked directly.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves have an unpleasant smell but can be eaten as a vegetable. They are used for pastry, tea or soup. The leaves can be eaten cooked as a vegetable. (The smell disappears with cooking) The leaves can be stored for 3-4 days.

Medicinal Uses

The leaves are widely used across Asia and South-East Asia, particularly for digestive problems, and have been the subject of considerable research. Several iridoid glucosides — including asperuloside, scandoside, and paederoside — have been isolated from the aerial parts. These glucosides have shown antitumor activity, with paederoside displaying the highest antitumor-promoting activity. Scandoside has been shown to promote the growth of lettuce seedlings. Paederoside showed inhibitory activity similar to asperuloside and deacetyl-asperulosidic acid in plant growth inhibition and antimicroorganism tests. Damage to the plant tissue releases an enzyme that splits a sulphur-containing group from paederoside, producing the fetid odour of indole (methyl-mercaptan); the most abundant sulphur compound identified was dimethyl disulphide. Alkaloids and an essential oil have also been recorded, with monoterpenes such as linalol making up the major components of the oil. Decoctions of the plant have shown significant anti-inflammatory action against arthritis and marked activity against degenerative osteoarthritis. The water-soluble fraction of the aerial parts displayed anti-inflammatory activity in oedema, though without analgesic or antipyretic action and with no ulcerogenic potential. An ethanolic extract of the leaves has shown anticancer activity against human epidermoid carcinoma of the nasopharynx. A methanol extract of the leaves has shown hepatoprotective potential, reversing 6 out of 12 common biochemical parameters assessed. The plant has also been shown to have antidiarrhoeal activity by inhibiting intestinal motility, supporting its traditional use. The leaves are anodyne, antirheumatic, antivinous, astringent, carminative, depurative, diuretic, restorative, and vermifuge. They are used for intestinal complaints including abdominal pain, colic, cramps, flatulence, and dysentery, as well as for rheumatism and gout, infertility, and paralysis. The leaves and stems are used as a diuretic for inflammation of the urethra. For intestinal problems, fresh leaves are pounded, water is added, and the filtered infusion is drunk regularly until convalescence. The leaves may be mixed with food, boiled, and eaten — in India they are often boiled in soup to reduce their smell. Applied externally, the leaves treat swellings and bruises, earache (mashed and applied), ulcerations of the nose, and swollen eyes. As a poultice they are used for a swollen belly, distension, herpes, and ringworm, and they feature in antirheumatic baths. Applied to the abdomen, they act as a diuretic and as a solvent for vesical stones. The juice of the leaves is astringent and is used to treat diarrhoea in children. The bark and root are considered emetic. The juice of the root is prescribed for indigestion, piles, inflammation of the spleen, and pain in the chest and liver, and is thought to help eliminate accumulated poisons. In some parts of India, the fruit is used to blacken teeth and is considered a preventive and treatment for toothache.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It is often near river banks. It climbs over thickets and fences. It also climbs over mangroves. In Indonesia it grows up to about 2,000 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Northeastern India, North Korea, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Found in a range of environments from the warm temperate zone to the tropics. It is tolerant of at least some frost. Succeeds in any fertile soil so long as it is well drained. Plants have a wide ranging adaptability to different levels of light, types of soil, and salt conditions. Requires a sunny sheltered position. A very variable plant. The plant has escaped from cultivation and become naturalised in many areas. It has become a serious weed of young sugarcane. The vines climb over shrubs and trees, weighing them down and impeding regeneration. They also invade pastureland and are troublesome along roads and on power lines. The seeds may be dispersed by birds and the plant is also spread by the transport of rooted fragments. The plant can be found flowering and fruiting throughout the year in tropical and subtropical conditions; in other localities, it flowers during the rainy season, and fruits early in the dry season. Individual flowers are short-lived, open early in the morning and fall off after 2 days; entire inflorescences, however, bear flowers for a long period of time. Flowering Time: Mid Summer Late Summer/Early Fall. Bloom Color: Red White/Near White.

Propagation

Despite its weedy nature, the plant germinates rather slowly — tetraploids germinate in 5–22 days, while hexaploids take 17–24 days. Layering is also possible. Shoots sometimes produce adventitious roots when they come into contact with the soil and can be propagated in this way.

Other Uses

The stem yields a strong, silky fibre, though it is not commercially exploited. An ethanolic extract of the leaves and stem has been shown to be significantly toxic against the aphid Myzus persicae infesting cabbage in India.

Other Information

It is a popular wild plant in Hong Kong. Leaves are sold in local markets.

Notes

It is used in medicine.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Akar sekentut, Bedoli sutta, Beri lahara, Bhedailata, Bhedai lota, Bonki repuk, Bonkiripuk, Borei, Bungkripuk, Daukhi bendung, Daun kentut, Gabbutiga, Gandal, Gandali, Gandha bhadulia, Gandhali, Gandhana, Gandahsak, Gandho vadal, Giphing, Gondhovadoli, Gu fa mei, Hebeheu-ria, Hesarane, Hiranvel, Hmab tsw quav, Kahitutan, Ke dun ma, Kesimbukan, Khephi bendwng, Kipibendwng, Nplooj ntev, Oasibu, Oinam, Padani pata, Padebiri, Paduri lota, Paduri-lata, Pakhi bendang, Pasim, Pe-bok-nwe, Penarisangai, Phaom, Pighiirai, Prasarani, Raonam, Rekang nemthu, Rikang menthu, Saonkiphu, Savirela, Shejla ojneya, Shiveirei, Sigung rambat, Silindi, Skunk vine, Somaraji, Takpaedrik, Talanili, Tapinrimin, Upter nemi, Voi hnam zai, Vor phorm, Ye kuo bu duo

References (66)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 421 (Also as Paederia scandens)
• Angami, A., et al, 2006, Status and potential of wild edible plants of Arunachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 5(4) October 2006, pp 541-550 (As Paederia scandens)
• Ara, R. I. T., 2015, Leafy Vegetables in Bangladesh. Photon eBooks. p 157
• Bandyopadhyay, S. et al, 2009, Wild edible plants of Koch Bihar district, West Bengal. Natural Products Radiance 8(1) 64-72 (As Paederia scandens)
• Bandyopadhyay, S., et al, 2012, A Census of Wild Edible Plants from Howrah District, West Bengal, India. Proceedings of UGC sponsored National Seminar 2012 (As Paederia scandens)

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