Heliotropium indicum
| Heliotropium indicum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Boraginales |
| Family: | Heliotropiaceae |
| Genus: | Heliotropium |
| Species: | H. indicum |
| Binomial name | |
| Heliotropium indicum | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Heliophytum indicum | |
Heliotropium indicum, commonly known as Indian heliotrope or Indian turnsole, is an annual, hirsute plant. It has a curved arrangement of small flowers and velvety broad green leaves.
Native to South America and introduced to North America, Asia, and Africa[1], it is a common weed in waste places and settled areas. It contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids but has been used in traditional medicine.
Description
[edit]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.[2][3]
Leaves and flower
In Telangana, India
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Distribution and habitat
[edit]Toxicity
[edit]Heliotropium indicum contains tumorigenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids.[4]
Traditional medicine
[edit]In 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.[5]
It is widely used in native medicine in Tamil Nadu, India.
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Heliotropium indicum L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
- 1 2 "Trompang elepante". Philippine Medicinal Plants oten.
- ↑ "Heliotropium indicum L." USDA Plants Database.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Heliotropium indicum at Wikimedia Commons- Heliotropium indicum in West African plants – A Photo Guide.
