KJC Medicinal Garden

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Aduthodagida
Justicia gendarussa


Order: Scrophulariales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Justicia
Species: gendarussa
Common Names: Willow-leaved Justicia, Warer Willow, Daun Rusa, Gardarusa
Native to China, the greater part of India and Andaman islands

Other plants of the same genus with medicinal properties

    Justicia tranquebariensis
    Justicia procumbens
    Justicia prostrata
    Justicia betonica
    Justicia simplex
    Justicia spicigera
Morphology:
  • A small, erect, fast-growing, branched shrub with attractive, lanceolate (shaped like a lance-head), ascending to spreading green leaves, and produces dainty white flowers.
  • Leaves simple, entire, opposite, lanceolate, green, 7 to 14 cm long and 1 to 2.5 cm wide, glabrous on both sides, apex acute-acuminate.
  • Stems multi-branched, glabrous (smooth; not hairy or rough), terete (having a circular transverse section), thickened at and above the nodes and internodes. Stems and branches are dark violet.
  • Flowers are 5-12.5 cm long from the uppermost leaf -axils; white coloured, spotted with purple and clustered in the interrupted spikes
  • Inflorescences on spikes, up to 10 cm long and 1.5 cm across; flowers subsessile (with a slight stalk), white with purple streaks and spots inside, 1.6 to 2 cm long.
  • Fruit capsules club-shaped, glabrous, 4-seeded, about 12 mm long.

Uses in Tradition systems of medicine

  • Used in Ayurveda, Unani and Chinese.
  • The plant is useful for the treatment of inflammation, bronchitis, vaginal discharges, eye diseases, dyspepsia and fever.
  • The decoction of the leaves and tender shoots are diaphoretic and are given in chronic rheumatism
  • Oil prepared from the leaves is useful in eczema, and the mixture of leaves is given internally for hemiplegia, cephalalgia and facial paralysis.
  • The juice of the fresh leaves is for earache, dropped into the ear and into the corresponding nostril on the side of the head affected with hemicranias.
  • In Madagascar, the decoction of the root boiled with milk is used in rheumatism, dysentery and jaundice. The decoction of the flower tops is generally used for fumigation.
  • Root extract obtained from Justicia gendarussa is mostly prescribed for constipation, laxative action helps in normal bowel movement.
Nutritional Properties
  • Carbohydrate in leaf is 307 ± 2.88 mg/g fresh tissue and it is 185 ± 6.08 mg/g
  • Amino acids in fresh leaf is 34.93 ± 2.16 mg/g tissue and is 26.86 ±1.50 mg/g of fresh stem bark.
  • Moisture content: 19⸓
Suggested Medicinal Properties
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Anticancer
  • Antifungal
  • Anti-arthritic
  • Anthelmintic
  • Anti-anxiety
  • Antioxidant
  • Antiangiogenic
  • Gastroprotective activity
  • Heaptoprotective activity
  • Hyperurecimia

Active Phytochemicals
1. 2-amino benzyl alcohol

2. Stigmasterol

3. Lupeol

4. ß-sitosterol

5. Aromadendrin

6. ß -Sitosterol- ß -D-glycoside

7. Male antifertility compound like gendarusin A and gendarusin B30 betasitosterol,

The leaves also contain betasitosterol, lupeol, an alkaloid, friedelin and aromatic amines. Also chemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenoids, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, Sugar and starch

References


1. K. Kavitha, K.S. Sridevi sangeetha, K. Sujatha, S. Umamaheswari. “Phytochemical and Pharmacological Profile of Justicia gendarussa Burm f. – review” Received on: 17-05-2014; Revised on: 21-06-2014

2. Kumaresh Pal and Chowdhury Habibur Rahaman. Phytochemical and antioxidant studies of Justicia gendarussa, an Ethanomedicinal plant. “International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research” Vol. 6(8) 26.04.2015.