Scientific names | Common names |
Desmodium pulchellum (L.) Benth. | Gaan-gaan (Sul.) |
Dicerma pulchellum (L.) DC. | Kalaikai (C. Bis.) |
Hedysarum pulchellum Linn | Kalaykay (C. Bis.) |
Meibomia pulchella (L.) Kuntze | Kupit (Pamp.) |
Phyllodium pulchellum (L.) Desv. | Payang-payang (Tag.) |
Zornia pulchella (L.) Pers. | Angel’s locks (Engl.) |
Payang-payang is a common names of three different plants, of different Genus. (1) Desmodium pulchellum Benth. – Gaan-gaan, kalaikai, payang-payang (2) Flemingia strobilifera Linn. – Gangan, kaliakai, kopa-kopa, paking, payang-payang, and (3) Ophiorrhiza camiguinensis Elm. – Payang-payang-gubat, kayotimokan, mongoose plant. | |
Desmodium pulchellum (L.) Benth. is a synonym of Phyllodium pulchellum (L.) Desv. |
Other vernacular names |
ASSAMESE: Ursi. |
BENGALI: Jutasalpani. |
CAMBODIAN: Ang-prom, Prae kraoy. |
CHINESE: Pai qian shu, Huan ye xiao huai hua, Long lin cao, Pai qian cao, Jian ye a po qian, Wu shi ye, Lin wan zii shu, Ya po qian. |
FRENCH: Phyllodion gracieux. |
HINDI: Jatsalpan. |
INDONESIAN: Apa-apa, Apa-apa sapi, Ketipes. |
KANNADA: Jenukaddi, Kadumuduru. |
LAOTIAN: Ked linz no:yz. |
MALAYSIAN: Serengan kechil. |
SANSKRIT: Lodhrah, Lodram. |
TELUGU: Karrantinta, Kondontinta, Sarivi. |
THAI: Klet plaa chon, Yaa song plong, Yaa klet lin. |
VIETNAMESE: Chu[oox]i ti[eef]n, d[oof]ng ti[eef]n. |
Botany
Angel locks is an erect undershrub, 0.5 to 1.5 meters in height. Leaves are 3-foliate. Leaflets are finely hairy beneath, the terminal one being oblong, 8 to 13 centimeters long, and more than twice as large as the two lateral ones. Inflorescence is terminal and axillary, and 8 to 25 centimeters long. Flowers are white and about 6 millimeters long, umbellate or fascicled, hidden by the distichous, orbicular bracts, which are 1 to 1.5 centimeters in diameter. Stamens are 10, upper one free, other 9 united. Ovary is few- to many-ovuled, superior. Fruits are pods, oblong, hairy and usually of 2, rarely 1- or 3 joints.
Distribution
– Common in open thickets, waste places, etc., in settled areas at low and medium altitudes.
– Also occurs in India to China and Taiwan and southward to tropical Australia.
Parts utilized
– Roots, bark, flowers and leaves.
– Collect leaves from May to October, roots the whole year round.
– Rinse, cut into sections or pieces, sun-dry.
Properties
– Tart and cooling.
– Considered anthelminthic, antipyretic and anticontusion.
– Studies suggest anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, anti-diarrheal properties.
Constituents
– Study yielded a new glycoside, the 1-glucosylrhamnoside of physcion from the seeds of D pulchellum.
– Contains tryptamines.
– Roots yield betulin, a-amyrin, and ß-sitosterol.
– Study yielded fifteen simple indolic bases (I-XV) with three broad structural types, viz., indole-3-alkylamine, ß-carboline, and tetrahydro-ß-carboline. Fruits showed the major accumulation of Nb-oxides while the roots localized the quarternary bases. (13)
– Aerial parts yielded four new cinnamylphenols, pulchelstyrenes A (1), B (2), C (3), and D (4), together with citrusinol, yukovanol, methyl piperitol, and 4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethoxybenzaldehyde. (see study below) (17)
Uses
Folkloric traditional medicine benefits and uses of angel locks
· In the Philippines, leaves are applied to ulcers.
· In Java, the leaves are applied to pocks.
· Decoction of dried leaves used for colds and fever.
· Decoction of dried roots used for malaria, swelling and enlargement of liver and spleen, rheumatism,bone pains, and swelling due to contusion or sprain.
· Decoction of charred roots used for excessive menstrual flow.
· Malays use a decoction of roots after childbirth.
· Decoction of bark for diarrhea, eye afflictions.
· Decoction of bark used for hemorrhages, diarrhea, poisoning, and eye diseases.
· Decoction of flowers for bile and liver afflictions.
· In India, paste of root mixed with sugar candy used for abdominal and chest burning discomforts.
· In Bangladesh, bark decoction used in hemorrhage diarrhea, poisoning and eye diseases. Flowers used in biliousness. (12)
· In Andhra Pradesh, India, leaves used for wounds. (14)
Other uses
· Brewing:
In India, the leaves of D pulchellum is one of 20 plant species used by the Deori tribe for the preparation of Mod pitha, a natural starter for the brewing of Sujen, a local rice beer.
· Repellent:
The Ayta people of Porac, Pampanga burn the whole plant, stem or leaves as repellent against hematophagus insects.
Scientific studies on benefits and uses of angel locks
• Pharmacologic effects:
Effects of the extract from Desmodium pulchellum in rats – Study of extracts on mice showed major effects on motor, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. The bark extract showed to be most potent.
• Alkaloid Effects on Collagen:
Study showed the total alkaloid of Desmodium pulchellum could restrain collagen protein I, III, IV and synthesis of TGF ß1 for hepatic fibrosis in mouse liver. (2)
• DMT:
Many of the psychedelic plants contain dimethyltrptamine. Desmodium pulchellum contains 0.2%
5-MeO-DMT, small quantities of DMT. DMT dominates in seedlings and young plants, while 5-MeO-DMT dominates in mature plant (whole plant, roots, stems, leaves, flowers). (5)
• Anthelmintic:
Study on effects of D. pulchellum’s root extract showed the herb may have an antihelmintic effect on the fluke Opisthorchis viverrini in hamsters. (6)
• Behavioral Effects:
Study of extract of D. pulchellum in mice showed an activity mediated via the serotonergic system and suggested a potential for the extract as a useful antidepressant. (7)
• Anti-Hepatofibrotic:
Study showed Desmodium pulchellum extract has anti-hepatic fibrotic effects on rats with hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4. The mechanism may be through increasing the liver cell immunity against injury and indirectly reducing the formation of liver collagen protein. (8)
• Anti-Diarrheal / Leaf Extract:
Study evaluated a methanol and petroleum ether extract for activity against castor oil-induced diarrhea and enteropooling and intestinal motility in rats. Results showed significant reduction of diarrheal severity and significant reduction of intestinal volume. Both fractions showed active ingredients, but the ethanol fraction showed better potential. (11)
• Cinnamylphenols / Cytotoxicity / Aerial Parts:
Study of aerial parts yielded four new cinnamylphenols, pulchelstyrenes A (1), B (2), C (3), and D (4), together with citrusinol, yukovanol, methyl piperitol, and 4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethoxybenzaldehyde. Compounds 2, 3, and citrusinol exhibited marginal toxicity against KB cells, and citrusinol showed mild cytotoxicity against the HepG2 cell line. (17)
• Phenolic Contents / Antiproliferative / Roots:
Study of 95% ethanol extract of roots yielded three new phenolic constituents (1-3). Compound 3 exhibited potent inhibitory activity against proliferation of acetaldehyde-stimulated HSC-T6 cells with an IC50 value of 7.6 µM. (19)
• Anti-Diabetic / Toxicity Study / Anti-Inflammatory / Bark:
Study evaluated the effects of ethanolic extract of bark on alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Results showed reduction of blood glucose. Acute oral toxicity showed the extract to be safe until 4000 mg/kbw with no macroscopic organ abnormalities. On anti-inflammatory study using carrageenan induced paw edema, findings showed significant dose-dependent effect. (20)
• Effect on Liver Collagen Protein Content in Hepatic Fibrosis:
Study investigated the effect of DP on the content of liver collagen protein of hepatic fibrosis rats induced by CCl4. Results showed an antihepatic fibrosis effect, with reduced liver collagen protein content probably through an immune response against injury. (21)
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Link to the article source
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