Heliotropium elongatum
Hoffm. ex Roem. & Schult.
Boraginaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Heliotropium elongatum is a shrub.
The plant is gathered from the wild for local medicinal use.
Known Hazards
No specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, but many members of this plant family (Boraginaceae) are known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These alkaloids have a cumulative effect upon the body and, unless concentrations in a plant are high, occasional use is generally completely safe. They are derived from amino acids including ornithine. Many pyrrolizidine alkaloids have pronounced hepatic toxicity, but the lungs and other organs may be affected as well. Mutagenic and carcinogenic activities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids have also been reported[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Botanical References
Range
S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil.
Habitat
Not known
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 0.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant is antiasthmatic, astringent, diuretic and resolvent[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
The roots, leaves and flowers are used as a cure for anthrax; inflammations of the anus; ulcers caused by syphilis; jaundice; affections of the liver, spleen and bladder[
461- Title
- Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Correa M.P.
- Publisher
- Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
],
The flowers are pectoral[
461- Title
- Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Correa M.P.
- Publisher
- Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
