Asystasia gangetica, Lavana valli, Herbe le rail

Asystasia gangetica (L.) T.Anderson
Family: Acanthaceae

Common name: Ganges Primrose, Chinese violet, Creeping foxglove
Chinese: 宽叶十万错
Congo: ondo, ondoko
French: Herbe le rail
Indinesian: Rumput israel
Kannada: ಮೆದ್ಧೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು Meddhe soppu, Lavan-valli, Maithaala kaddi
Kenya: atipa, burutula, enkosida, fuchwe, futsure, futswe, gosida, mtikini, tala-kushe, talakusha, talakushe, thalakushe, tsalakushe, turkwot, vongonya
Malayalam: Valli-upu-dali, തുപ്പലംപൊട്ടി
Malaysia:  rumput  bunga  putih,  rumput  hantu,  rumput nyonya
Marathi: लवण वल्ली Lavana valli
Rodrigues Isl.: herbe à pistache
Sanskrit: लवण वल्ली Lavana valli
Tamil: Parchorri, Chorri, Mekampokki
Telugu: Mukka mungera, Poda beera
Thailand: baya, yaya

Description: Suberect to climbing subshrub, with 4-angled, pilose to glabrescent twigs. Leaves with up to c. 2 cm long petiole; lamina elliptic-ovate to deltoid, 2-5 x 1.5-3.5 (-4) cm, grey-pubescent to glabrate, base truncate to rounded, the margins crenulate to entire, apically acute or shortly acuminate. Flowers in terminal, 1-sided, lax raceme. Bracts lanceolate, 2.5-3 mm long, pilose. Calyx lobes lanceolate, (5-) 7-9 mm long, sparsely pubescent. Corolla yellow to creamy-white with purple streaks on throat, tube up to 2.5 cm long, narrow below, widened to c. 1 cm at the throat, hairy outside, lobes ± orbicular, up to 1.5 cm long. Anthers oblong, 2.5-3 mm long. Style up to 2 cm long. Capsule oblong, up to 2.8 cm long including stipe, pubescent, 4-seeded. 

Used in Ayurveda and Siddha. The juice, with lime and onion juice, used for dry coughs with an irritated throat and chest complaints;  sap  applied  to  sores,  swellings,  wounds  and piles; plant juice to children for swellings and rheumatism. Leaves  washed,  pounded  and  boiled,  the  decoction  drunk to  eradicate  intestinal  worms;  leaf  decoction  analgesic,  to treat epilepsy, rheumatism and urethral discharge. Powdered roots analgesic, for stomachache and snakebites. Veterinary medicine, plants pounded with water to make a wash against fleas for young animals. [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants]

Uses: Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anders. is used to expel intestinal worms and to soothe inflammation. In Malaysia, the juice expressed from the leaves is drunk to expel intestinal worms. A paste of the plant is used to counteract snake’s poison, to treat rheumatism and to soothe swollen parts. In Vietnam and the Philippines, the plant is astringent. In India, the plant is used to expel intestinal worms, soothe swollen parts and to treat rheumatism. [Medicinal Plants: Drugs For The Future? ]

45 Published articles of Asystasia gangetica
1.    Light-dependent segregation of begomoviruses in Asystasia gangetica leaves Wyant, P., et al., Virus Research, 2015. 195: p. 225-235.
2.    GC-MS analysis and "in vitro" anticancer assay of methanolic leaf extract of Asystasia gangetica (L.). T. Anderson against A549 human lung cancer cell line Tamilselvan, V. and M. Rajeswari, World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 2015. 4(1): p. 1311-1321.
3.    GC-MS analysis and "in vitro" anticancer activity of methanolic root extract of Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson Tamilselvan, V.R.M. and P. Velayutham, World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (WJPPS), 2014. 3(12): p. 957-967.
4.    Impact of growth regulators on callus production of Asystasia gangetica (L) T. Anderson Tamilselvan, V. and M. Rajeswari, Advances in Applied Science Research, 2014. 5(2): p. 328-333.
5.    Antibacterial Efficacy of Abrus precatorius L. and Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson Janakiraman, N., et al., Anti-Infective Agents, 2014. 12(2): p. 165-170.
6.    Competitive interaction of Axonopus compressus and Asystasia gangetica under contrasting sunlight intensity Samedani, B., et al., TheScientificWorldJournal, 2013. 2013: p. 308646-308646.
7.    Competitive interaction of Axonopus compressus and Asystasia gangetica under contrasting sunlight intensity Samedani, B., et al., The Scientific World Journal, 2013. 2013: p. 308646-Article ID 308646.
8.    Phytotoxic effects of Pueraria javanica litter on growth of weeds Asystasia gangetica and Pennisetum polystachion Samedani, B., et al., Allelopathy Journal, 2013. 32(2): p. 191-201.
9.    Serum lipid profile of hyperlipidemic rabbits ( Lepus townsendii) treated with leaf extracts of Hibiscus rose-sinesis, E.c., Acanthus montanus and Asystasia gangetica Ojiako, A. O., P.C. Chikezie, and U.C. Zedech, Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 2013. 7(43): p. 3226-3231.
10.    Study of insect pollinator's diversity in Asystasia gangetica (L.) Murali, S., et al., Environment and Ecology, 2013. 31(2A): p. 804-806.
11.    Effects of aqueous leaf extract of Asystasia gangetica on the blood pressure and heart rate in male spontaneously hypertensive Wistar rats Mugabo, P. and I.A. Raji, Bmc Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013. 13.
12.    Phytochemical and pharmacological studies on whole plant of Asystasia gangetica Gopal, T.K., et al., Indian Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biotechnology, 2013. 1(3): p. 365-370.
13.    Iridoid and flavone glycosides from Asystasia gangetica subsp micrantha and Asystasia salicifolia and their antioxidant activities Worawittayanon, P., et al., Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 2012. 40: p. 38-42.
14.    Competitive ability of some cover crop species against Asystasia gangetica and Pennisetum polystachion Samedani, B., et al., Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B-Soil and Plant Science, 2012. 62(7): p. 571-582.
15.    Mercury Distribution in an Invasive Species (Asystasia gangetica) from Peninsular Malaysia Chew, W., et al., Sains Malaysiana, 2012. 41(4): p. 395-401.
16.    Competitive ability of some cover crop species against Asystasia gangetica and Pennisetum polystachion Batoul, S., et al., Acta Agricultura Scandinavica, Section B - Soil & Plant Science, 2012. 62(7): p. 571-582.
17.    A NEW BIFLAVONE GLYCOSIDE FROM FLOWERS OF Asystasia gangetica Senthamilselvi, M.M., D. Kesavan, and N. Sulochana, Chemistry of Natural Compounds, 2011. 47(3): p. 360-362.
18.    Persistence of acidosis in alloxan-induced diabetic rats treated with the juice of Asystasia gangetica leaves Rotimi, S.O., O.E. Omotosho, and O.A. Rotimi, Pharmacognosy Magazine, 2011. 7(25): p. 25-30.
19.    Essential Oils from Aerial, S.a.R.o.N.A.g.L.O., Moronkola D., Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants, 2011. 14(5): p. 582-589.
20.    Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anders, s.m.N.E.A., a new record for Venezuela Lujan, M., N. Gutierrez, and J. Gaviria, Ernstia, 2011. 21(2): p. 131-137.
21.    Preliminary phytochemistry, a.a.a.p.o.e.o.A.g.L.T.A.g.i.N.H., A. A., et al., Advances in Applied Science Research, 2011. 2(3): p. 219-226.
22.    Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous stem and leaf extract of Asystasia gangetica (Linn) T. Anderson Adeyemi, O.O., F.R. Aigbe, and N.G. Uyaiabasi, Nigerian quarterly journal of hospital medicine, 2011. 21(2): p. 129-34.
23.    In vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of Asystasia gangetica (Chinese violet) Linn. (Acanthaceae) Reddy, N.V.L.S., S.J. Anarthe, and N.M. Raghavendra, International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, 2010. 1(2): p. 72-75.
24.    Antidiabetic, h.a.a.p.o.A.g.i.s.-n.-i.t.d.m.N.i.r.K., A. K., et al., Journal of Pharmacy Research, 2010. 3(10): p. 2516-2520.
25.    Asystasia intrusa - earlier misidentified and now confirmed to be Asystasia gangetica, s.s.m.D., J. E., Planter, 2010. 86(1015): p. 725-727.
26.    Protective effect of Asystasia gangetica reduced oxidative damage in the small intestine of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats Kumar, K.A., et al., Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine, 2009. 9(4): p. 307-314.
27.    Megastigmane glucoside from Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson Kanchanapoom, T. and S. Ruchirawat, Journal of Natural Medicines, 2007. 61(4): p. 430-433.
28.    Haibo, S.o.E.T.o.p.i.A.g.L.T.A.L.I., Journal of Anhui Agricultural Sciences, 2007. 35(32): p. 10227-10228.
29.    Pharmacognostic studies on Asystasia gangetica (Acanthaceae) Suseela, L., Journal of Phytological Research, 2005. 18(2): p. 191-198.
30.    Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson subsp micrantha (Nees) ensermu (Acanthaceae), a.n.n.p.i.T.H., Tsai-Won, T.-Y. Chiang, and J.-J. Peng, Taiwania, 2005. 50(2): p. 117-122.
31.    Evaluation of the anti-asthmatic property of Asystasia gangetica leaf extracts Akah, P.A., et al., Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2003. 89(1): p. 25-36.
32.    Trace metals distribution in synodontis membranaceus, s., Asystasia Gangetica and Platostoma Africanium from Ofuafor River around Delta Glass Factory in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State Nigeria Nwajei, G. E., Journal of Environmental Sciences-China, 2002. 14(1): p. 79-82.
33.    Analgesic activity of Asystasia gangetica in experimental animals Suseela, L., A. Saraswathy, and P. Brinda, Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sciences, 2001. 22/23(4A/1A): p. 102-103.
34.    A form of Chinese violet: Asystasia gangetica subspecies micrantha Gorham, P. and J. Hosking, A form of Chinese violet: Asystasia gangetica subspecies micrantha, 2001: p. 2 pp.-2 pp.
35.    Analgesic activity of Asystasia gangetica in experimental animals Suseela, L., A. Saraswathy, and P. Brinda, Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sciences, 2000. 22-23(4A-1A): p. 102-103.
36.    Studies on the flowers of Asystasia gangetica Sethuraman, M.G. and K. Vigneswari, Asian Journal of Chemistry, 1998. 10(4): p. 1029-1031.
37.    Effects of water stress, s.a.c.o.g.a.d.o.A.g.S., Ismail B. and A.S. Juraimi, Plant Protection Quarterly, 1998. 13(3): p. 140-142.
38.    Taxonomic studies on infraspecific classification of Asystasia gangetica (Linn.) T. Anders Kundu, S.R. and M. Pal, Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany, 1997. 21(2): p. 483-490.
39.    FIRST RECORD OF COLLETOTRICHUM-DEMATIUM AS A PATHOGEN OF ASYSTASIA-NEMORUM AND A-GANGETICA IN SINGAPORE Tan, T.K. and S.A. Tow, Plant Pathology, 1994. 43(4): p. 762-766.
40.    Asystasia gangetica: Tropical Africa and Asia, B., Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Transvaal, Natal and Transkei: Acanthaceae Edwards, T. J. and F.M.G. Norris, Flowering Plants of Africa, 1993. 52(2).
41.    THE BIOLOGY OF THE ASYSTASIA-GANGETICA COMPLEX ACANTHACEAE IN LAGOS STATE NIGERIA Ugborogho, R.E. and O.A. Adetula, Feddes Repertorium, 1988. 99(11-12): p. 507-517.
42.    ASYSTASIA-GANGETICA MOTTLE, A.N.P.T., J. C., C. Fauquet, and A. Monsarrat, Comptes Rendus De L Academie Des Sciences Serie Iii-Sciences De La Vie-Life Sciences, 1982. 295(3): p. 213-&.
43.    Genetics of flower color in Asystasia gangetica Kamemoto, H. and W.B. Storey, Linn Pacific Sci, 1955. 9((1)): p. 62-68.
44.    Results of some preliminary investigations on the control of weeds in Mauritius. 6. Some twining weeds: Paederia foetida ("liane lingue"), I.c.l.l.A., Rev Agric He Maurice, 1947. 26((1)): p. 3-10.
45.    GERMINATION OF ASYSTASIA-GANGETICA L SEED WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE EFFECT OF AGE ON THE TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT FOR GERMINATION Akamine, E.K., Plant Physiology, 1947. 22(4): p. 603-607.