This species is sometimes seen as no more than a form of Boerhavia diffusa; it is likely that some of the reports for that species actually refer to this species[].

Common Name:

General Information

Boerhavia repens is an annual to perennial, prostrate or straggling herb, with stems up to 60cm long. The plant has a slender taproot and a stem that is few to much-branched[].
The plant is widely used, mainly in India, for its medicinal virtues. It is harvested from the wild, mainly for medicinal use, but also for local use as a food. It also has the potential to be used to cover the soil and protect it from erosion.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Possibly originating in the Old World tropics, the plant is Pantropical and is also found in subtropical areas.

Habitat

Disturbed sandy and rocky localities, often in occasionally inundated areas such as ditches along roadsides, dry river beds, flood plains and irrigated fields; at elevations up to 1,600 metres, occasionally to 1,900 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Found throughout the tropics and into the subtropics, the plant is found at elevations up to 1,900 metres and is most common in areas with a distinct dry season[].
Grows best in a sunny position[]. Prefers a sandy to rocky soil in the wild[].
The plant can be found flowering and fruiting throughout the year, when sufficient water is available[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked. They are sometimes prepared in a sauce as a vegetable[].

The seeds are added to cereals or other food[].

The root is added to cake[].

Medicinal

Boerhavia repens is considered to have similar properties to Boerhavia diffusa, a herb that is widely used medicinally, especially in India[]. In Nigeria Boerhavia repens is preferred over Boerhavia diffusa and Boerhavia erecta because it is considered the most effective[].
All plant parts contain flavonoid glycosides and the alkaloid punarnavine[].
A methanol extract of the entire plant inhibited bone resorption induced by parathyroid hormone in mouse bone tissue culture; some flavonoid glycosides were isolated as active compounds[].

The root is applied in India especially as a diuretic, but also as a stomachic, cardiotonic, hepato-protective, laxative, anthelmintic, febrifuge, expectorant and, in higher doses, as an emetic and purgative[].
The roots are boiled and applied as a poultice to cure ulcers, including those resulting from Guinea worm infections, while ground roots are applied to yaws[]. The ground roots mixed with ground seeds of Blighia sapida are applied to the body to cure chicken pox[].

Decoctions of the roots and leaves are taken in moderate doses to cure asthma, and in larger doses as an emetic, diuretic and laxative and to cure leprosy and syphilis[]. A root decoction is taken as an aphrodisiac or to cure stomach-ache[].
The root sap is used as eye drops to treat filaria infection[].

An infusion of the whole plant is taken to cure convulsions and amenorrhoea. The Yoruba people of Nigeria give an infusion as a mild laxative and febrifuge to children. The pounded plant is applied externally against dropsy[].
The whole plant is pulped for poulticing sprains[].

An infusion of the leaves is taken as an abortifacient, oxytocic and to cure jaundice[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant forms a dense mat of growth and can spread freely. It can be used to protect the soil and form a ground cover even in the light shade of trees[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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