Common Name: Kharkan

General Information

Typhonium trilobatum is a stemless, herbaceous perennial plant producing 2 - 4 leaves with long petioles from a short, tuberous rhizome. The petioles are around 25 - 40cm long, with a leaf blade around 10 - 15cm long and 6 - 11cm wide[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and a food.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant contain calcium oxalate crystals. This substance is toxic fresh and, if eaten, makes the mouth, tongue and throat feel as if hundreds of small needles are digging in to them. However, calcium oxalate is easily broken down either by thoroughly cooking the plant or by fully drying it and, in either of these states, it is safe to eat the plant. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones and hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, southern China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Laos,

Habitat

Tropical secondary forests, thickets, grasslands, roadsides; at elevations up to 700 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.35 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[]. Some caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity.

Root - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[]. Some caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity.

Medicinal

The rhizome is used in the treatment of vomiting, cough, asthma, excessive expectoration, pyogenic sore throat, headache, gastric ulcer, abscess and snake-bite[, ]. The acrid principle disappears on boiling and the corm may be eaten ti induce relaxation of bowels in patients suffering from haemorrhoids[]. The boiled corms are also eaten with bananas in order to treat stomach complaints[].
A poultice of the crushed fresh rhizome is used as a treatment on abscesses and snake-bite[, , ].
This species must be used very cautiously in treating pregnant women[].

The rhizomes, dug up in summer, are well washed, then dried in the sun or in ovens. Before use, they are soaked in a solution of alum and a maceration of ginger, then sliced, impregnated with a decoction of liquorice and lightly roasted on a low fire[].

A decoction of the leaves is used as a wash on wounds[].

Research has shown that Typhonium trilobatum has a range of dynamic pharmacological activities, including antiinflammatory, analgesic, wound healing, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiarrheal, larvicidal, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antidepressant[]..

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Division of offsets in the dormant season

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