Volume 2015, 2015, Article number 714158
a
Institute of Systems Biology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
b Biotechnology Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, P.O. Box 12301, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
b Biotechnology Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, P.O. Box 12301, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Abstract
Sauropus androgynus
L. Merr. is one of the most popular herbs in South Asia, Southeast Asia,
and China where it was known as a slimming agent until two outbreaks of
pulmonary dysfunction were reported in Taiwan and Japan
in 1995 and 2005, respectively. Several studies described that the
excessive consumption of Sauropus androgynus could cause drowsiness,
constipation, and bronchiolitis obliterans and may lead to respiratory
failure. Interestingly, this herb has been used in Malaysia and
Indonesia in cooking and is commonly called the "multigreen" or
"multivitamin" plant due to its high nutritive value and inexpensive
source of dietary protein. The plant is widely used in traditional
medicine for wound healing, inducing lactation, relief of urinary
disorders, as an antidiabetic cure and also fever reduction. Besides
these medicinal uses, the plant can also be used as colouring agent in
food. This review will explore and compile the fragmented knowledge
available on the botany, ethnobotany,
chemical constitutes, pharmacological properties, and toxicological
aspects of this plant. This comprehensive review will give readers the
fundamental, comprehensive, and current knowledge regarding Sauropus
androgynus L. Merr. © 2015 Hamidun Bunawan et al.
Indexed keywords
EMTREE drug terms: antiobesity agent; papaverine; plant extract; plant medicinal product; Sauropus androgynus extract; unclassified drug
EMTREE medical terms: antiinflammatory activity;
antimicrobial activity; antioxidant activity; botany; bronchiolitis
obliterans; chemical composition; drug cytotoxicity; drug mechanism; ethnobotany;
Euphorbiaceae; genotoxicity; human; lactation; nonhuman; nutrient
content; priority journal; Review; Sauropus androgynus; toxicology;
wound healing
Chemicals and CAS Registry Numbers: papaverine, 58-74-2, 61-25-6
ISSN: 1741427XSource Type: Journal
Original language: English
DOI: 10.1155/2015/714158Document Type: Review
Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
