Phyllanthus Niruri L.
| Botanical Name | Phyllanthus Niruri L. |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Phyllanthaceae |
| Genus: | Phyllanthus |
| Species: | P. Niruri |
| Common Names: | Stone breaker, carry-me-seed, Creole senna, cane peas senna, quinine weed, hurricane weed, gale-wind weed, French: Herbe au chagrin |
Plant Synonyms
Phyllanthus carolinianus Blanco P. asperulatus Hutch Phyllanthus filiformis Parmex Baillon Nymphanthus niruri Lour Diasperus niruri (L) Kuntze. Phyllanthus fraternus subspecies togoensis Brunei & Roux
Plant Local Names
Burkina Faso: Moore - Tinguin garga, Fulfulde - Lebel
Cote d'lvoire: Baules - Ugniassi, Kru Guere - Tienwe, Kuiango - Lumbodiataka.
Ghana: Twi - Bowomma guwakyi, Ga Dangme - Mbatoatshi, Nzema - Nwamenle
Guinea Bissau: Fula Pulaar-Bubunguel
Guinea: Kissi - Fundelo Un'do, Koranko - Kode, Toma - Sakade
Nigeria: Edo - Orosorsor, Igbo - Ososo, Igbo (Ibuzo) - Awueli
Sierra Leone: Mende - Eroboe
Plant Habitat
Occurs commonly in gardens, waste places and roadsides
Plant Material of Interest
Leaf, Aeriael parts
Plant Description
A glabrous annual herb 30-50 cm high with grooved stem; slightly winged; leaves simple, alternate and distichous, oblong-elliptical rounded at both ends; 6-14 mm long, 25-5.5 mm broad; pale green; unisexual flowers, solitary with six sepals, males in the lower axils and the females in the upper axils with deep dentate discs and very short styles; fruit capsule, about 2 mm in diameter.
Plant Used Parts
Plant Uses
Its Spanish name chanca piedra which means "stone breaker" or "sha'tter stone", describes its folkloric use among Amazonians for eliminating gallstones and kidney stones. It is also used for hepatitis, colds, flu, fever, tuberculosis, malaria, diabetes, hypertension and liver diseases among others. In the Asian, Mediterranean regions and most parts of east Africa, the plant is boiled and taken as tea. Hot water extract of dried aerial parts administered orally is used as a diuretic, antipyretic and antimalarial (Weninger et al., 1986; Kitisin, 1952). The hot water extra6t of fresh entire plant is also administered orally for gonorrhoea and other genitourinary disorders (Sahu, 1984; Khan et al., 1978). A decoction of the dried plant is used for coughs in infants and the fresh root is a remedy for jaundice. Water extract of the leaves and roots is taken orally for diabetes, and as a diuretic. Infusion of young shoots is given in dysentery, whilst the leaves are commonly used to treat fever. It can also be used to increase appetite, relieve inflammations and as a remedy for anorexia (Asprey and Thornton, 1955). In India, the fruit is used externally for tubercular ulcers, scabies and ringworm. Hot water extract of the dried plant is administered orally for. diabetes and asthma in Ayurvedic medicine (Sircar, 1984; Chauhan et al., 1977; Jain and Sharma, 1967). In the Fiji Islands, the dried powdered whole plant mixed with buttermilk is administered orally for jaundice. Fresh leaf juice is used externally for cuts and bruises, but for eye diseases, the juice is mixed with castor oil and applied to the eye. Infusion of the green root is taken orally to treat heavy menstrual periods (Singh, 1986).
Plant Therapeutic Action
Antilithic, antiviral, antiprotozoal, hypoglycaemic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antispasmodic, antibacterial, carminative, choleretic, diuretic, febrifuge, hypotensive, laxative, stomachic, tonic, vermifuge, digestive, antihepatotoxic (Ahmed et al., 2002; Sittie et al., 1998; GHP, 1992).
Plant Precaution for Use
Sugar levels and blood pressure to be monitored on long-term treatment.
Plant Adverse Effect
Hypotension, if affected withdraw the drug immediately. Abortifacient in high doses, reversible antifertility effects in vivo (Rao and Alice, 2001).
Plant Contraindication
May potentiate insulin and antidiabetic drugs probably due to geraniin (Ueno et al., 1988). Heart disorders and/or heart medications, hypoglycaemia, hypotension
Plant Dosage Forms
Decoction; infusion; tincture
Plant Dosage
Decoction; infusion; tincture; liquid extract Decoction: 30 g dried leafy tops in 900 ml water; simmer until reduced to 600 ml; 1-3 cups daily Infusion: 30 g dried leaves in 600 ml of water; 1- 3 cups daily
Tincture- 1:5 in 50% alcohol, 5 ml three times daily
Fluid extracts/water-glycerine extracts: 1:1 in 50% alcohol; 2-6 ml, 2-3 times daily
Plant Storage
Store in a cool dry place
Plant Chromatographic Fingerprint
Plant Constituents
Alkaloids (securinine and related alkaloids); lignans (e.g. phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin); tannins; flavonoids (e.g. quercetin, rutin); methyl salicylate; carboxylic acid; saponins.
Plant Pictures
Plant References
Ahmed, B., Al-Howiriny, T.A., Mathew, R. (2002). Antihepatotoxic activity of Phyllanthus fraternus Pharmazie 57(12):855-856.
Asprey, G.F., Thornton, P. (1955). Medicinal Plants of Jamaica.Ill, West Indian Medical Journal 4:69-82.
Campos, A.H. et al., (1999). Phyllanthus niruri inhibits calcium oxalate endocytosis by renal tubular cells: its role in urolithiasis. Nephron 81(4): 393-397.
Chauhan, J. S., Sultan, M., Srivastava, S.K. (1977). Two new Glycoflavones from the roots of Phyllanthus nirurPlanta medica 32:217-222.
Freitas, A.M., et al., (2002). The effect of Phyllanthus niruidn urinary inhibitors of calcium