Common Name:

General Information

Volkameria inermis is an evergreen shrub with a rather straggly growth that sometimes adapts to more of a climbing habit and twines into the surrounding vegetation. When growing as a shrub it is usually no more than 3 metres tall, but when climbing it can produce stems up to 13 metres long with main stems that can be 6cm in diameter[, , , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is sometimes cultivated as a medicinal plant, especially in India, and is commonly grown as an ornamental and hedge plant in tropical areas[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea to Australia and the Pacific Isl

Habitat

Open coastal areas,such as along the beach, in mangroves, along tidal rivers; also found along rivers and in swamps further inland; favouring sandy soils but also found on clays at elevations up to 100 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.50 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. The plant grows well on the beach, tolerating all the salty water sprays[].
The flowers have a strong perfume[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A decoction of the root is used as a bitter, febrifuge and general alterative[, , ]. It is used in the treatment of intermittent fevers[]. The finely ground roots are used as a remedy for an upset stomach, especially if this is caused by poisonous seafood. This treatment is often combined with a decoction of the leaves, simultaneously employed as a bath but also as a drink[].
The root is boiled in oil and used as a liniment that is rubbed into affected areas when treating rheumatism.[, ]

The leaves are alterative, bitter, depurative and febrifuge[, , , ]. The thick succulent leaves are very bitter, and on expression yield a large quantity of thickish somewhat mucilaginous juice, with a slightly saline but intensely bitter taste. It is used as a febrifuge and antiperiodic[]. The leaves are used in the treatment of intermittent fevers[]. A decoction of roasted leaves is considered a remedy for beriberi[, ].
The leaves are used in poultices as a resolvent[]. A decoction of the leaves, or a poultice of the ground leaves, is applied topically in the treatment of skin diseases, swellings, itches etc., and help to prevent suppuration[, , ].

The seeds are reportedly used as a remedy for an upset stomach, especially when this is caused by poisonous seafood. This treatment is often combined with a decoction of the leaves, simultaneously employed as a bath but also as a drink[].

The leaves contain an amorphous bitter principle, resin and a gum[].
An extract of the plant has shown antiviral activity against hepatitis b[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is tough - it takes trimming well, and hence, is commonly used as a hedge plant in India[].
The plant is often grown on beaches in order to control erosion[].

Other Uses

An exquisite perfume is said to be derived from the flowers[].

Plant extracts have shown interesting activity against various mold fungi and plant pathogens[].
An essential oil has shown antifungal activity against fungi in the genera Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Cunninghamella[].
Leaf extracts sprayed on tobacco plants early in the season at a dilution of 1:1000 gave good protection against tobacco mosaic virus[].
Infection of tobacco plants by chlorotic mottle bromovirus was completely inhibited when aqueous leaf extracts were mixed with the virus inoculum[].
A petroleum ether extract of the leaves at 0.5% gave 93% seed protection against the pulse beetle Callosobrunchus chinensis[]. In addition, a methanol extract of the plant showed 90% activity against the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens)[].

Propagation

Seed -
Softwood cuttings
Cuttings of half-ripe wood
Root cuttings
Division of suckers

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