Ichnocarpus frutescens | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Apocynaceae |
Genus: | Ichnocarpus |
Species: | I. frutescens |
Binomial name | |
Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.) W.T.Aiton | |
Synonyms | |
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Ichnocarpus frutescens is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae, known by the English common name black creeper. It is native to much of China, India, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia.
It is a woody shrub with lianas sprawling to 10 m (33 ft) in maximum length and 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter. The bark produces a creamy white sap. The leaves are up to 11 cm (4.3 in) long by 4.5 cm (1.8 in) wide. The inflorescence is a head of several flowers. Each flower has a calyx of densely hairy sepals and a five lobed corolla just under a centimeter long. The fruit is a follicle which may be over 14 cm (5.5 in) long. The roots may be reddish or purple. The plant is sold in markets in some areas in India.
Uses
The plant has a large number of traditional medicinal uses, including for rheumatism, asthma, cholera, and fever. Some in vitro and rodent studies have suggested that extracts of the plant may inhibit tumors, protect liver cells from damage in acetaminophen overdose, and reduces complications of hyperlipidemia in diabetic rats. There have been no published studies testing any of these effects in humans.
The fibrous bark is used to make rope.
References
- ^ "Ichnocarpus frutescens". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "Ichnocarpus frutescens". Dave's Garden. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ Li, Bingtao; Leeuwenberg, Antony J. M.; Middleton, David J. (2008) . Wu, Z. Y.; Raven, P. H. (eds.). "Ichnocarpus frutescens, Apocynaceae, Vol. 16". Flora of China. Online access. St. Louis, MO & Cambridge, MA.: Missouri Botanical Garden Press and Harvard University Herbaria. Retrieved 9 Mar 2013.
- Barik, R., et al. (2008). Antidiabetic activity of aqueous root extract of Ichnocarpus frutescens in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced type II diabetes in rats. Indian Journal of Pharmacology 40:1 19.
- Adhikari, B. S., et al. (2010). Medicinal Plants Diversity and their Conservation Status in Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Campus, Dehradun. Ethnobotanical Leaflets 14 46-83.
- Kumarappan CT, Mandal SC (June 2007). "Antitumor activity of polyphenolic extract of Ichnocarpus frutescens". Exp. Oncol. 29 (2): 94–101. PMID 17704739. Archived from the original on 2010-12-15. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
- Dash, D. K., et al. (2007). Evaluation of hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of Ichnocarpus frutescens (Linn.) R.Br. on paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 6:3 755-65.
- Kumarappan CT, Mandal SC (2008). "Polyphenolic extract of Ichnocarpus frutescens attenuates diabetic complications in streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats". Ren Fail. 30 (3): 307–22. doi:10.1080/08860220701857449. PMID 18350451. S2CID 205592916.
Taxon identifiers | |
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Ichnocarpus frutescens |
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Apocynum frutescens |