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Protabase Record

Prota 11(1): Medicinal plants/Plantes

mdicinales 1
Record display
Acalypha indica L.
Protologue
Sp. pl. 2: 1003 (1753).
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Chromosome number
2n = 20, 28
Vernacular names
Indian acalypha, Indian nettle, three-seeded mercury (En). Ricinelle
des Indes, oreille de chatte, herbe chatte (Fr).
Origin and geographic distribution
Acalypha indica occurs in Nigeria and from Sudan east to Somalia
and south through DR Congo and East Africa to southern Africa
including South Africa. It is also widespread in the Indian Ocean
islands and occurs furthermore in India, South-East Asia and
Oceania. It was introduced into the warmer parts of the New World.
Uses
In East Africa the leaf sap is used as eye drops to treat eye infections.
In Namibia ground leaves in water are used for this purpose. Leaf
powder is applied to maggot-infested wounds. In Comoros a leaf
decoction is used as a massage cream to treat pain of the joints. In the
Seychelles and Runion a root infusion or decoction is taken to treat
asthma, and also to clean the liver and kidneys. In the Seychelles a
root decoction is also taken to treat intestinal worms and stomachache. A leaf infusion together with a tuber infusion of Jumellea
fragrans (Thouars) Schltr. and sweetened with honey is taken to
treat bronchitis. The leaves are emetic and an infusion together with
the roots of Tylophora indica (Burm.f.) Merr. is taken in Runion in
case of poisoning. A leaf infusion is also taken as a purgative. In
Madagascar the crushed aerial parts are applied to skin parasites and
an infusion is taken as a purgative and vermifuge. In Mauritius the
juice of the crushed leaves mixed with salt or a decoction of the aerial
parts is applied to scabies and other skin problems. A poultice made
from the whole plant is applied to treat headache. The leaf sap is
taken as an emetic and the root decoction as a laxative. Acalypha
indica was formerly listed in the British Pharmacopoeia. It has
numerous medicinal uses in India and is listed in the Pharmacopoeia of
India as an expectorant to treat asthma and pneumonia.
In north-eastern Africa Acalypha indica is browsed by sheep and
goats. In India and Indonesia the plant is cultivated for its edible
shoots and leaves, which are cooked as a vegetable.
Properties
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wild

1, flowering twig; 2, female

flowers with bract; 3, apex of
inflorescence.
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The dried aerial parts contain a cyanogenic glycoside, acalyphin

(0.3%) which is a 3-cyanopyridone derivative. Flavonoids, notably
the kaempferol glycosides mauritianin, clitorin, nicotiflorin and
biorobin, have been isolated from the flowers and leaves. The plant
also contains tannins, -sitosterol (0.1%), acalyphamide,
aurantiamide, succinimide and the pyranoquinolinone alkaloid
flindersin. Some of the compounds of Acalypha indica cause intense,
dark chocolate-brown discolouration of blood, and gastro-intestinal
irritation in rabbits. Furthermore, ingestion of herbal medicine
containing Acalypha indica may lead to haemolysis in patients
suffering from glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase deficiency.
Ethanol extracts of Acalypha indica show significant selective activity
against vesicular stomatitis viruses. Cytotoxic activity was observed
against HeLa cell lines.
An ethanol leaf extract showed significant inhibition to Viper russelli
venom-induced lethality, haemorrhage, necrotizing and mast cell
degranulation in rats and the cardiotoxic and neurotoxic effects in
isolated frog tissue. Administration of an ethanol extract also
significantly inhibited venom-induced lipid peroxidation and catalase
levels of rat kidney tissue. Petroleum ether and ethanol extracts of the
whole plant showed significant post-coital antifertility activity in female
rats, and this anti-implantation activity was reversible on withdrawal of
the extracts. Both extracts showed estrogenic activity at 600 mg/kg
body weight. An ethanol extract of the aerial parts showed moderate
wound-healing activity when topically applied to rats.
Crude extracts as well as hexane, chloroform, acetone and methanol
fractions of shoots, leaves and roots showed antibacterial and
antifungal activity; the chloroform extract of shoots and leaves
demonstrated the highest activity. It also showed larvicidal activity
against the larvae of Aedes aegypti and Tribolium casteneum. A
leaf paste showed significant in vitro (48 hr) and in vivo (14 days)
acaricidal activity against Psoroptes cuniculi infesting rabbits.
Acalyphin is used as a substitute for ipecacuanha from Psychotria
ipecacuanha (Brot.) Stokes, as a vermifuge, expectorant and emetic.
Analysis of the shoots yielded per 100 g edible portion: water 80 g,
energy 269 kJ (64 kcal), protein 6.7 g, fat 1.4 g, carbohydrate 6 g,
fibre 2.3 g, Ca 667 mg, P 99 mg, Fe 17 mg and ascorbic acid 147
mg.
Description
Monoecious, annual to sometimes short-lived perennial herb up to
1.5(2.5) m tall; stems sparingly to densely hairy. Leaves arranged
spirally, simple; stipules linear, c. 2 mm long; petiole up to 12 cm long;
blade broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 29 cm 15 cm, base
cuneate, apex acute, margins toothed, membranous, sparingly shortly
hairy to almost glabrous on both surfaces, more hairy along the
midrib, 5-veined at base and with 4(5) pairs of lateral veins.
Inflorescence an axillary, solitary or paired spike up to 6(10) cm
long, lower 75% with laxly arranged female flowers, upper part with
densely congested male flowers, usually terminated by a female
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flowering plant

flowering branch

flowering branch

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flower; bracts in female flowers transversely ovate to almost orbicular,

0.51 cm 11.5 cm, toothed, each subtending 12(5) flowers.
Flowers unisexual, sessile, petals absent; male flowers with 4-lobed,
minute, granular dotted, greenish calyx, stamens 8; female flowers
with 3 triangular-ovate, c. 1 mm long, ciliate sepals, ovary superior, c.
0.5 mm in diameter, 3-celled, slightly 3-lobed, styles 3, fused at base,
c. 2 mm long, fringed, white. Fruit a 3-lobed capsule c. 1.5 mm 2
mm, granular dotted, shortly hairy, splitting into 3 cocci, each 2valved and 1-seeded. Seeds ovoid, c. 1.5 mm 1 mm, smooth, grey,
caruncle linear, appressed; terminal flower producing 1 seed.
Other botanical information
Acalypha comprises about 460 species and occurs throughout the
tropics, subtropics and warm temperate regions, excluding Europe. In
tropical Africa about 65 species occur and in Madagascar and other
Indian Ocean islands about 35 species. Several other annual
Acalypha species with male and female flowers in the same
inflorescence have medicinal uses. The leaf sap of Acalypha supera
Forssk. (synonym: Acalypha brachystachya Hornem.), from Central
and East Africa and other parts of the Old World tropics, is used as
eye drops in Gabon to treat headache. The leaf powder of Acalypha
lanceolata Willd. from Central and southern Africa and other parts of
the Old World tropics, mixed with castor oil (Ricinus communis L.)
is applied to scabies. In South-East Asia the uses of Acalypha
lanceolata are similar to those of Acalypha indica; in India the plant
is cultivated for its edible shoots, which are eaten as a cooked
vegetable.
Growth and development
Acalypha indica flowers throughout the year in regions without a
pronounced dry season.
Ecology
Acalypha indica occurs on sandy margins of rivers and seasonal
water courses, usually in the shade of thickets, also on rocky hillsides,
often in disturbed localities and as a weed of fields, from sea-level up
to 1350 m altitude.
Propagation and planting
Acalypha indica is only propagated by seed.
Management
Although Acalypha indica is cultivated in India for its edible shoots,
not much information is available on its management. The plants need
fair amounts of water and nutrients to grow quickly and stay tender.
Acalypha indica is often considered a noxious weed.
Diseases and pests
The leaves of Acalypha indica may suffer from Alternaria leaf spot;
in India the plant is sometimes severely affected by
Pseudocercospora acalyphae. It is also a host of several plant
viruses, e.g. pumpkin yellow vein mosaic virus, okra yellow vein
mosaic virus, leaf curl virus and Nicotiana virus 10, often resulting in
very severe and recurrent outbreaks in crops. Roots may suffer from
nematode infestation (e.g. Meloidogyne spp.). In India Acalypha
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indica is a host of the spiralling whitefly (Aleurodicus dispersus).

Harvesting
Leaves, roots or whole plants of Acalypha indica are harvested
when in full bloom.
Handling after harvest
After harvesting, the plants are used fresh or simply dried for future
use.
Genetic resources
Acalypha indica is a common plant with a weedy nature and is
therefore not threatened by genetic erosion.
Prospects
Acalypha indica is an important medicinal plant in the Indian Ocean
islands as well as in India for its expectorant properties. It also has
significant antibacterial and antifungal activities, both against human
and plant pathogens, and it would be worthwhile continuing research
to isolate the active compounds. Care needs to be taken when using
the species as a vegetable as it contains several alkaloids as well as
hydrocyanic acid.
Major references
Burkill, H.M., 1994. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd
Edition. Volume 2, Families EI. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,
Richmond, United Kingdom. 636 pp.
Gopalakrishnan, V., Rao, K.N.V., Loganathan, V.,
Shanmuganathan, S., Bollu, V.K. & Sharma, T.B., 2000.
Antimicrobial activity of extracts of Acalypha indica L. Indian Journal
of Pharmaceutical Sciences 62(5): 347350.
Gurib-Fakim, A., Guho, J. & Bissoondoyal, M.D., 1996. Plantes
mdicinales de Maurice, tome 2. Editions de lOcan Indien, RoseHill, Mauritius. 532 pp.
Hiremath, S.P., Rudresh, K., Badami, S., Patil, S.B. & Patil, S.R.,
1999. Post-coital antifertility activity of Acalypha indica L. Journal of
Ethnopharmacology 67(3): 253258.
Lavergne, R. & Vra, R., 1989. Mdecine traditionelle et
pharmacope - Contribution aux tudes ethnobotaniques et
floristiques la Runion. Agence de Coopration Culturelle et
Technique, Paris, France. 236 pp.
Masih, S.E. & Singh, B.G., 2005. Studies of fungistatic properties
of leaf extract of some plants against dermatophytes. Advances in
Plant Sciences 18(1): 435438.
Nahrstedt, A., Hungeling, M. & Petereit, F., 2006. Flavonoids from
Acalypha indica. Fitoterapia 77(6): 484486.
Neuwinger, H.D., 2000. African traditional medicine: a dictionary of
plant use and applications. Medpharm Scientific, Stuttgart, Germany.
589 pp.
Shirwaikar, A., Rajendran, K., Bodla, R. & Kumar, C.D., 2004.
Neutralization potential of Viper russelli russelli (russells viper) venom
by ethanol leaf extract of Acalypha indica. Journal of
Ethnopharmacology 94(23): 267273.
Siregar, A.H., 2001. Acalypha L. In: van Valkenburg, J.L.C.H. &
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Bunyapraphatsara, N. (Editors). Plant Resources of South-East Asia

No 12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2. Backhuys Publishers,
Leiden, Netherlands. pp. 3136.
Other references
Adjanohoun, E.J., Abel, A., Ak Assi, L., Brown, D., Chetty,
K.S., Chong-Seng, L., Eym, J., Friedman, F., Gassita, J.N.,
Goudot, E.N., Govinden, P., Keita, A., Koudogbo, B., Lai-Lam,
G., Landreau, D., Lionnet, G. & Soopramanien, A., 1983. Mdecine
traditionelle et pharmacope - Contribution aux tudes
ethnobotaniques et floristiques aux Seychelles. Agence de
Coopration Culturelle et Technique, Paris, France. 170 pp.
Adjanohoun, E.J., Ak Assi, L., Ali Ahmed, Eym, J., Guinko, S.,
Kayonga, A., Keita, A. & Lebras, M. (Editors), 1982. Mdecine
traditionelle et pharmacope - Contribution aux tudes
ethnobotaniques et floristiques aux Comores. Agence de Coopration
Culturelle et Technique, Paris, France. 217 pp.
Ali, A.M., Mackeen, M.M., El-Sharkawy, S.H., Hamid, J., Ismail,
H., Ahmad, F.B.H. & Lajis, N.H., 1996. Antiviral and cytotoxic
activities of some plants used in Malaysian indigenous medicine.
Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science 19(23): 129136.
Andriamanga, N., 1995. Les plantes mdicinales anthelmintiques
Malagasy. FOFIFA, DRZV (Direction des Recherches
Zootechniques et en Vtrinaires), Antananarivo, Madagascar. 100
pp.
Gurib-Fakim, A., Sewraj, M., Guho, J. & Dulloo, E., 1993.
Medical ethnobotany of some weeds of Mauritius and Rodrigues.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology 39(3): 177185.
Hiremath, S.P., Shrishailappa, B., Swamy, H.K.S., Biradar, J.S. &
Badami, S., 1993. Antimicrobial activity of various extracts of
Acalypha indica (Euphorbiaceae). Indian Journal of Microbiology
33(1): 7577.
Lamabadusuriya, S.P. & Jayantha, U.K., 1994. Acalypha indica
induced haemolysis in G6PD deficiency. Ceylon Medical Journal
39(1): 4647.
Prema, P., 2004. Antimicrobial activity of selected medicinal plants.
Journal of Ecobiology 16(5): 333337.
Reddy, J.S., Rao, P.R. &, Reddy, M.S., 2002. Wound healing
effects of Heliotropium indicum, Plumbago zeylanica and Acalypha
indica in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 79(2): 249251.
Samy, R.P., Ignacimuthu, S. & Raja, D.P., 1999. Preliminary
screening of ethnomedicinal plants from India. Journal of
Ethnopharmacology 66(2): 235240.
Singh, D.A.P., Raman, M., Saradha, V., Jayabharathi, P. &
Kumar, V.R.S., 2004. Acaricidal property of kuppaimeni (Acalypha
indica) against natural Psoroptes cuniculi infestation in broiler rabbits.
Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 74(10): 10031006.
Solomon, D.J., Kallidass, S. & Vimalan, J., 2005. Isolation,
identification and study of antimicrobial property of a bioactive
compound in an Indian medicinal plant Acalypha indica (Indian
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nettle). World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 21(67):

12311236.
Talapatra, B., Goswami, S. & Talapatra, S.K., 1981.
Acalyphamide, a new amide and other chemical constituents of
Acalypha indica. Indian Journal of Chemistry, section B Organic
Chemistry including Medicinal Chemistry 20(11): 974977.
Sources of illustration
Siregar, A.H., 2001. Acalypha L. In: van Valkenburg, J.L.C.H. &
Bunyapraphatsara, N. (Editors). Plant Resources of South-East Asia
No 12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2. Backhuys Publishers,
Leiden, Netherlands. pp. 3136.
Author(s)
G.H. Schmelzer
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O.
Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Editors
G.H. Schmelzer
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O.
Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
A. Gurib-Fakim
Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Rduit, Mauritius
Associate editors
C.H. Bosch
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O.
Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
M.S.J. Simmonds
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB,
United Kingdom
R. Arroo
Leicester School of Pharmacy, Natural Products Research, De
Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, United
Kingdom
A. de Ruijter
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O.
Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
General editors
R.H.M.J. Lemmens
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O.
Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
L.P.A. Oyen
PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O.
Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
Photo editor
A. de Ruijter
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PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O.

Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
Correct citation of this article:
Schmelzer, G.H., 2007. Acalypha indica L. In: Schmelzer, G.H. &
Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). Prota 11(1): Medicinal plants/Plantes
mdicinales 1. [CD-Rom]. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands.

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