Common Name:

General Information

Trichodesma indicum is an erect, spreading, branched annual plant; it grows about 50cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and sometimes as a food.

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[].

Botanical References

Range

Indian Ocean - Mauritius; W. Asia - Afghanistan; E. Asia - Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar.

Habitat

Roadsides and stony dry wastelands, at elevations up to 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is found as a weed in many areas of the tropics and subtropics[].

Edible Uses

Leaves[].

Flowers[].

Medicinal

The plant is acrid, with a bitter flavour[]. It is considered anodyne, antiinflammatory, carminative, depurative, diuretic, emollient, opthalmic and pectoral[, ]. It is used in the treatment of arthralgia, inflammations, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, dysentery, strangury, skin diseases and dysmenorrhoea[].

A cold water infusion of the leaves is depurative[, ].
The leaves and roots are used as remedy for snake bites[].

The flowers are pectoral and sudorific[].

The root is pounded, mixed with water and given to children as a treatment for dysentery[].
The root is pounded and made into a paste which is applied as a poultice to reduce swellings, especially of the joints[].

Phytochemical screening of the plant yielded steroidal, beta-sitosterol and phenolics, catechin and gallic acid[].

Other Uses

In a study for the agrochemical potentials of ethanolic extracts of selected plants, this species showed excellent herbicidal activity against Lemna minor. It also showed good insecticidal activity against Rhizopertha dominica[].

A study evaluated the corrosion inhibitor effect on C38 steel of an alkaloid extract part of the plant compared with that of imidazole compounds. Results showed the plant extract acted as a better inhibitor in comparison to selected organic inhibitors, and suggested a good green inhibitor[].

Propagation

Seed -

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