KJC Medicinal Garden

Our Collections | Medical Plants | Herbal Plants

Dodda haralu
Jatropha multifida


Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Jatropha
Species: J. mutlifida
Common Names: Coral plant, Coralbush, Physic nut
Native to Tropical America, West Africa and parts of Australia

Other plants of the same genus with medicinal properties

    J. curcas (Barbados nut)
    J. molissima (Cuddy's duck)
    J. gossypifolia (Bellyache-bush)
    J. podagrica (Buddha belly plant)
Morphology:
  • Herb, Shrub or small trees upto 7m in height, monoecious (rarely dioecious), petiols are 3-14cms long.
  • Stem: Erect or somewhat succulent.
  • It possess poisonous substance in the sap, seed and leaves.
  • Leaves: 20-35cm in length, 5-11 lobes, oblanceolate, broadly ovate, blade shaped, green coloured blade, acute leaf apex.
  • Flowers: Terminal, Unisexual, polychasial cymose, Red coloured.

Uses in Tradition systems of medicine

  • Used in Ayurveda
  • Used in Togolease folk medicine and ethno-medicine
  • Its stem, latex, seed, seed oil and root is used for treating cure thrush on tongues of babies, treating infected wounds and skin infections, used as a purgative drug, used in making homemade hard soaps and as lubricants in making candles
  • Served as dried powder or fresh leaf
Nutritional Properties
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals
  • Carbohydrates

Suggested Medicinal Properties

  • Antimicrobial activity
  • Antioxidant activity
  • Antifungal activity
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Anti-influenza
  • Analgesic
  • Anticancer
  • Antitumor
  • Cytotoxic
  • Antimalarial
  • Antileshmania
  • Insecticidal
  • Molluscidal

Active Phytochemicals

1. Ascorbic acid ((5R)-[(1S)-1,2-Dihydroxyethyl]-3,4-dihydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one)
2. Quercetin ( 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one)
3. Gallic acid (5-Trihydroxybenzoic acid)
4. Pet – Ether (2-methylpentane)
5. Chloroform (Trichloromethane)
6. Ethyl acetate
7. Methanol

References

Elumalai R, Selvaraj R and Chidambaram ALA. ''Biosystematical studies in some taxa of Jatropha Linn.''. © IJCS New Liberty Group 2013. INT J CURR SCI 2013, 6: E 63-69

Rampadarath S, Puchooa D, Ranghoo V.M. ''Antimicrobial, phytochemical and larvicidal properties of Jatropha multifida Linn.'' Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine. Asian Pac J Trop Med 2014; 7(Suppl 1): S380-S383. doi: 10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60262-5