Common Name:

General Information

Millettia fruticosa is a climbing shrub with twining stems.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.
Recent population data is not available for Millettia fruticosa, and there is some doubt over whether the plant can still be found at locations outside of Nepal. If the plant has become extinct in these other areas then it should be treated as Endangered, but for the present this species is classified as 'Data Deficient' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

The bark and leaves are used as a fish poison[].
Millettia species in general contain a range of toxic substances, especially isoflavones. Rotenone is probably the best known of these isoflavones and it is found especially in the seeds and roots of the plants. Rotenone is often used locally as a fish poison - the rotenone kills or stuns the fish making them easy to catch, but the fish remain perfectly safe for warm-blooded creatures to eat. Rotenone is classified by the World Health Organization as moderately hazardous. It is mildly toxic to humans and other mammals, but extremely toxic to many insects (hence its use as an insecticide) and also to aquatic life, including fish. This higher toxicity in fish and insects is because the lipophilic rotenone is easily taken up through the gills or trachea, but not as easily through the skin or the gastrointestinal tract. The lowest lethal dose for a child is 143 mg/kg, but human deaths from rotenone poisoning are rare because its irritating action causes vomiting. Deliberate ingestion of rotenone, however, can be fatal.
The compound decomposes when exposed to sunlight and usually has an activity of six days in the environment.
Millettia species often also contain other potentially toxic compounds, especially saponins and alkaloids[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Nepal, northwest India, Bangladesh, Myanmar

Habitat

Broadleaved and evergreen forests; at elevations from 300 - 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Data Deficient
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally grow best in a sunny position in a fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The juice of the plant is used to treat foot wounds[]. In particular, it is used to treat wounds between the toes that have been caused by prolonged walking barefoot in muddy water[].

A paste made from the leaves is applied topically to treat gout[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[].

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