Common Name:

General Information

Cocculus hirsutus is a climbing shrub producing stems up to 15 metres long[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Africa - Sudan to Eritrea and Ethiopia, south to Angola, Botswana and northern S. Africa; east to India, Myanmar, southern China and Thailand.

Habitat

Bushland and semi-desert scrub vegetation at elevations up to 1,200 metres. It grows on sandy and gravelly soil, and can form a dense cover on top of other plants[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	10.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are occasionally cooked and eaten as a vegetable[].

Medicinal

Cocculus hirsutus is used medicinally throughout its range, but it is most popular in Asia, especially in Pakistan and India. The plant is a rich source of alkaloids, but little research into their medicinal properties has been carried out.
An aqueous extract of the leaves has shown diuretic and laxative properties[].

An infusion of the leaves is used to treat stomach-ache. A decoction is drunk to remedy female sterility. The leaf sap is used to treat nervous illnesses[]. The cooked leaves are eaten to treat night blindness[]. A jelly prepared by soaking leaves in cold water is taken to check spermatogenesis[].
Applied externally, the leaves are used to treat skin infections and itchy skin including eczema, rheumatism and gonorrhoea[].

The roots are alterative, diuretic, laxative and tonic[]. A decoction is applied against fever, rheumatism and severe weight loss[].

Other Uses

The stems are used in basketry[]. The are used in making basket chairs[].

A blue colouring obtained from the fruit is used to colour baskets blue[]. The fruits are combined with the seedpods of Acacia nilotica subalata in order to make the blue colour[].

Propagation

Seed -

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