Common Name: Leadwort

General Information

Leadwort is an evergreen perennial plant sometimes with more persistent, semi-woody stems. The stems, which are 1 - 2 metres long, have a somewhat lax habit and sometimes adopt a more climbing habit.
Although toxic, the plant is commonly used medicinally - especially in India and Africa where it is a very popular treatment for skin problems[]. It is also often grown as an ornamental in gardens, where it is valued for its long, white inflorescences[].

Known Hazards

The plant is toxic when taken internally[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - India, Malaysia. Widely naturalised in many areas of the Tropics, especially Africa and southeast Asia.

Habitat

Almost exclusively found in rather open, human-created habitats such as savannah, forest edges and fallow fields, at elevations up to 1,000 metres[]. Disturbed, arid habitats such as sand dunes, dry forest and shrubland in Hawaii[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a position in full sun or partial shade[]. Prefers a slightly acidic soil[].
Plants can flower throughout the year[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Leadwort is a poisonous plant that is used externally and, in small quantities, internally, to treat a range of disorders. It is very popular, especially in parts of Africa and Asia, as a treatment for a range of skin problems and intestinal worms[]. The whole plant, but especially the root, is abortifacient, acrid, diaphoretic, emmenagogue and rubefacient[, ]. When applied to the skin, a paste of the plant causes irritation, increasing the blood flow and raising blisters - the increased blood flow speeds the clearing of toxins from the affected area[]. High doses, taken internally, are dangerous and may cause death[].
The main active compound in the plant is plumbagin, which has been shown to possess several pharmacological activities including antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, anticancer and antifertility actions. It is also a powerful irritant; in small doses it stimulate sweating; it stimulates the central nervous system; large doses may cause death from respiratory failure and paralysis[, ].
Plumbagin has showed anti-implantation and abortifacient activities, as well as testicular lesions and testis-weight reduction[].
In low concentrations, plumbagin has an antimyotic activity comparable to that of colchicine. In larger doses, it also has nucleotoxic and cytotoxic effects[].
Plumbagin has shown antibacterial activity against both gram-positive (e.g. Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Pneumococcus spp.) and gram-negative (e.g. Salmonella, Neisseria) bacteria, whereas it is also active against certain yeasts and fungi (Candida, Trichophyton, Epidermophyton and Microsporum spp.) and protozoa (Leishmania). It has been found to prevent Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus developing resistance to antibiotics[].

Chewing the leaves, or drinking a decoction of them, is used as an emmenagogue, but may well act as an abortifacient in the early stages of pregnancy[].
The crushed leaves are applied as a poultice to treat a range of skin problems, especially leprosy, scabies, ringworm, dermatitis, acne, sores, ulcers of the leg, haemorrhoids and hookworm; as well as rheumatism and headache (they should not be placed behind the ears for more than a few minutes)[, , ].
The leaves and stems are pounded and ground with Ipomoea alba and a type of grass, then added to the sap from stems of the papaya fruit and used as a treatment against sores[].

The roots are used internally as an abortifacient in the early stages of pregnancy[]. A decoction is reported to be taken during the first three days after childbirth, probably for its tonic properties[].
A decoction of the powdered roots is used externally as a remedy for a range of skin complaints, especially leprosy, scabies, ringworm, dermatitis, acne, sores, ulcers of the leg, haemorrhoids and hookworm[, , ]. The powdered roots are used as a blistering agent on the skin[].
The tap roots, bark, and leaves, combined with salt and papaya fruit (Carica papaya) are used as a treatment for swellings[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Sometimes planted in living fences[].

Other Uses

Juice from the roots is used as a tattoo pigment that can range from navy blue to black[]. A paste of the powdered root or the root sap is used for tattooing - the paste or sap causes blisters and the new skin has a darker colour[].

Plumbagin, a medically active compound in the plant, has strong antifeedant and moulting inhibiting effects on insects and has nematicidal and acaricidal activities[].

Propagation

Seed - easily propagated, the seeds germinate in 3 - 4 weeks at 21°c[, ]. Germination is almost 100% if both ends of the seed are cut before sowing[]. After 3 months storage, germination decreased to 40%[]. Sowing the seeds in a nursery and transplanting into the field at a density of 60 × 60 cm has given good results[].
Stem cuttings. Roots develop in 1 month - wait for good stem growth before potting them up[].
Root cuttings[].

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