Boerhavia diffusa (Patagon) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Boerhavia diffusa (Patagon) — family Nyctaginacées.

Recognised external sources linked to this monograph: TRAMIL and French Pharmacopoeia.

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 25 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The monograph draws on 68 scientific references recorded for the species.

Therapeutic indications in alcoholic extraction:

Note: scientific reference excerpts are kept in their original language (most often English), without translation, to respect the source text of publications.

1. Type II diabetes mellitus : Plant part used: Sheet. Documented pharmacological profile: Metformine-like.
   According to BHATIA V (2011): The extracts of the plant B diffusa was tested for oral Hypoglycaemic & antidiabetic activity, by glucose oral tolerance test, alloxan induced & streptozotocin Induced diabetic rats respectively. o exhibited significant Antihyperglycemic activities in alloxan induced as well as in streptozotocin induced hyperglycemic rats. According to Saxena N (2018): Antidiabetic activity using 100 mg/kg & 200 mg/kg of formulation was studied in streptozotocin induced diabetic albino Wistar rats.
2. Cancer : Plant part used: Root. Documented pharmacological profile: Méthotrexate-like.
   According to Gunaseelan D (2022): Boerhaavia diffusa is a medicinal herb with anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, anticancer, & immunomodulatory properties, found across India. Aim & objectives: The present study is designed to investigate the therapeutic potential for BD root extracts in oral cancer cell line. According to Srivata (2011): diffusa root showed that a methanol: chloroform fraction (BDF 5) had an antiproliferative effect on HeLa cells.
3. Bacterial infection : Plant part used: Sheet.
   According to Adeyemi A (2008): Extracts of leaves of Alchornea cordifolia, Boerhavia diffusa & Bridelia micrantha were investigated for antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enteritidis, Shigella flexneri & Entero-haemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). According to DAS S (2023): using its antifungal, antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, renoprotective, antifertility benefits & molecular docking study as search string & keywords. Some of the reported reassuring benefits of their purified forms or even the crude extracts are antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, renoprotective, cardioprotective, antifertility, etc.

Further indications (including other extraction modes where applicable), dosages, precautions for use and full scientific references are available in the complete monograph.

Photo credit : Photo by M. Delblond without modification.