Desmodium adscendens (Savannah clover) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Desmodium adscendens (Savannah clover) — family Fabacées.

Recognised external sources linked to this monograph: French Pharmacopoeia.

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 7 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The monograph draws on 28 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. Asthma : Plant part used: Sheet.
   According to Rastogi S (2011): DG is used as a tonic, febrifuge, digestive, anticatarrhal, antiemetic, in inflammatory conditions of chest & in various other inflammatory conditions in the Ayurvedic System of Medicine while DA is widely used for the treatment of asthma in Ghana, Africa. Crude extracts, fractions & isolated components of DG & DA showed a wide spectrum of in vitro & in vivo pharmacological activities like antileishmanial, immunomodulatory, antiasthmatic, smooth muscle relaxant, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, cardioprotective, antidiabetic, antiamnesic, antiviral, antioxidant & hepatoprotective activities. According to Manzione MG (2022): This herb has been traditionally used in numerous countries all over the world for its pharmacological and biological properties (i.e., it has been used for the treatment of diarrheas, fever, epilepsy, asthma, leishmaniasis, gastroduodenal ulcer, diabetes, hepatic diseases, etc.).
2. Cancer : Plant part used: Aerial parts.
   According to Liu C (2013): Modem pharmacological studies have showed that the Desmodium species have antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, diuretic, antipyretic, analgesic & choleretic activity. According to Magielse J (2013): The protective effects against D-galactosamine-induced & ethanol-induced liver damage of a decoction of DA, quantified on its main constituent D-pinitol, was investigated in rats. With respect to chronic ethanol-induced liver damage in rats, the protective effects of DA at doses equivalent to 2 mg/kg/day & 10 mg/kg/day D-pinitol, were not observed for serum AST & ALT levels.
3. Urinary stones : Plant part used: Sheet.

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 Mauricio Mercadantel without modification (Flickr.com).