Common Name:

General Information

Pergularia daemia is a high climbing herbaceous climbing plant that scrambles over the ground or twines into other plants for support. The stems are somewhat woody at the base[].
The plant has a range of traditional medicinal uses, as well as supplying food and a fibre. The roots and leafy twigs are traded for medicinal use in local markets of Africa[]. Because of its sweet-scented flowers and its climbing habit, the plant is cultivated as an ornamental on pergolas in tropical gardens[].

Known Hazards

A highly toxic plant, especially the aerial parts, due to the presence of numerous cardenolides and cardenolide glycoside; these have digitalis-like cardio-activity[].
The latex in the plant is poisonous. It is used as a fishing and hunting poison, and is added to water to poison animals[].

Botanical References

Range

Africa - widely distributed, especially in the drier areas, extending through Arabia to India and Sri Lanka.

Habitat

Dry bushland, savannah or forest margins, as well as near seasonal watercourses on shrubs in more arid localities, from sea-level up to elevations of 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is one of the commonest weeds on the Deccan Plateau[].
The plant has a foetid scent[].

Edible Uses

Some caution is advised on all the uses detailed below - see notes above on toxicity.

Tender leaves and young stems - cooked and eaten as a potherb or combined with mashed yam[, ]. A bitter flavour[].

Flowers - cooked and eaten as a potherb[].

The tuberous roots are sometimes cooked and eaten[].

The fruit is sometimes eaten[].

Medicinal

Pergularia daemia is a popular traditional medicine in Africa where numerous uses have been reported for all parts of the plant throughout its distribution area. In India it is extensively employed in treating the diseases of children[]. Modern research has shown the presence of a wide range of medically active compounds, especially glycosides. The plant is also toxic causing an immediate and sustained rise of carotid blood pressure when taken in excess. Complex effects on the respiratory system and intestinal movements are also present combined with a generally cardiotoxic effect upon the heart with marked depression of both auricles and ventricles, resulting in ventricular fibrillation and ultimate stoppage of the heart in diastole[]. Therefore any use of the plant should only be carried out under the guidance of a skilled practitioner.
The glycosides have been shown to have a strong action on uterus contraction[].
A methanolic extract of the aerial parts has shown significant activity against Herpes simplex virus, influenza virus, rhinovirus, poliovirus and several other viruses[].
A leaf extract showed moderate antioxidant activity in vitro[].
An ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of the plant at an oral dose of 200 mg/kg exhibited a significant protective effect on the liver by lowering different blood serum levels. The extracts showed no signs of toxicity up to a dose level of 2000 mg/kg[].
An extract of aerial parts demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic activities[].

The leaves and young stems are considered aperitive, anthelmintic, expectorant, emetic and emmenagogue[]. Taken as infusions or decoctions, they are used to treat liver problems, fainting, diarrhoea, dysentery, colic, rheumatism, painful joints and limbs, cramps in the legs, malaria, appendicitis, amenorrhoea, venereal diseases and tachycardia arising from overexertion or fright[].
An enema of a leaf infusion is given to facilitate child-birth, as it stimulates muscle contraction and also arterial blood pressure[]. The crushed leaves, combined with Capsicum peppers, are given as an enema to treat tetanus.
The crushed leaves, or sometimes the crushed young fruits, are applied externally to boils, abscesses, subcutaneous worm infections and eczema[].

The latex is applied to sore eyes and aching teeth, is used as a liniment to treat rheumatism, asthma and oedema, and to combat abscesses and snakebites and remove thorns from the skin[].

An infusion of the roots is taken against stomach-ache, colic and cough, and as an abortifacient. The roots may also simply be chewed to treat cough. A root decoction is taken to treat venereal diseases, arthritis, muscular pain, asthma and rheumatism[].
Powder from roasted roots or leaves is applied to wounds[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Pergularia daemia is a deep-rooted shrub traditionally preserved in fields in the semi-arid zones of Mali for its soil-improving properties[]. In a field test the grain weight, the head weight and the plant length of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) showed significant increase in the vicinity of the shrub[].

Other Uses

The stems yield a strong fibre, which is used in many places for making rope and fishing lines[]. The fibre is said to resist fire longer than other species[].

Propagation

Seed -

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