Synonyms
Vernacular Names:
| Malaysia | Ekor Kucing, Ekor Anjing, Serengan Hutan, Kedudong Padang, Keretok Babi [7] |
| Indonesia | Buntut sero, Buntut utjing, Memeongan (Sunda) [4]; Akar Kucing [5], Buntut Anjing, Papati Hulat, Pati Ular |
| Thailand | Hang Karwk, Khi Non [7] |
| Vietnam |
Cay Day Mam [1], Đuôi chồn quả đen; Đuôi chó; đuôi cáo; bôn bôn; hầu vĩ tóc [10] |
| Chinese | Tsui Fum Tsao [1] |
| India | Prishniparni [3] |
General Information
Description
Uraria crinita is a member of the Fabaceae family. It is a perennial woody stem or stock short shrub. The flowering stems are decumbent or ascending, from 6 inches to 2 or 3 feet high. The whole plant is pubescent, with minute hooked hairs. The leaflets usually 3 or 5 in numbers, oblong and often measures 4-6 inches long, or sometimes reduced to one, which is then shorter and more ovate. The stipules broadly lanceolate, striate, with long points. The racemes nearly sessile, cylindrical, and very dense, short at first, but attaining at length 1-1 ½ ft, and hairy. The lower bracts ovate, lanceolate, and persistent; upper ones lanceolate, projecting beyong the flowers in a terminal tuft, but falling off after the flowers expand. The standard measure about 4 ½ lines long. The pod usually pubescent, of 3 or 4 small articles. [6]
Plant Part Used
Roots, leaves and flowers. [7]
Chemical Constituents
Genistein [9]
Traditional Used:
Gastrointestinal Diseases
In India, U. crinita is prescribed in the treatment of dysentery and diarrhoea. The roots are boiled and is given to treat not only diarrhoea and dysentery bit also flatulance especially in children and to dispel intestinal worms. [3] [5] [7] In Thailand the same decoction had been advocated for use in cases of cancer colon. [7] Curshed leaves are applied on the abdomen for relieve of hepatosplenomegaly.[7]
Infectious Diseases
The Chinese use this plant to relieve fever and cough. The flowers are included in the remedy for pimples appearing after a bout of smallpox. The Taiwanese use it to treat wounds. [7]
Other uses
U. crinita is considered a good haemostatic and is used in the treatment of bleeing wounds, haematemesis and haemoptysis. It is also used in bone dysplasia, prolapsed anus and prolapsed uterus. The leaves are crushed and applied on the head to get rid of lice. [7]
Pre-Clinical Data
Pharmacology
Antidiabetic activity
Xiao Ping Liu et.al [8] investigated the antidiabetic and antilipidaemic properties of U. crinita aqueous extract for the first time. They were able to demonstrate a significal antidiabetic and antilipidaemic activites in this extract as evidenced by its ability to reduced fasting blood glucose in STZ-induced diabetic rats and significantly suppressing the increase in blood glucose level after glucose challenge. They also found that the plasma concentration of triglyceride and free fatty acids were decrease. There was also an increase in the concentration of plasma insulin levels.
Antioxidant activity
In a study on the antioxidant activity and nitric oxide-scavenging effects was done on the methanol extract and their ethyl acetate fraction from U. crinita roots was done. The results obtained suggested that both these extracts were able to inhibit DNA damage in macrophage (Na nitroprusside induced). The anti-oxidant and nitric oxide scavenging effects of these extracts were dose dependent. The results also showed a decreasing effect on nitric oxide production of lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7, for both extracts. [9]
Toxicities
Clinical Data
Clinical Trials
No documentation
Adverse Effects in Human:
No documentation
Used in Certain Conditions
Pregnancy / Breastfeeding
No documentation
Age Limitations
Neonates / Adolescents
No documentation
Geriatrics
No documentation
Chronic Disease Conditions
No documentation
Interactions
Interactions with drugs
No documentation
Interactions with Other Herbs / Herbal Constituents
No documentation
Contraindications
Contraindications
No documentation
Case Reports
No documentation
Read More
References
- Merrill: Loureiro’s “Flora of Cochinchinensis” Transactions, American Philosophical Society (vol. 24, Part 2, 1935-June) pg. 203
- Peter Hanelt, R. Büttner, Rudolf Mansfeld, Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung Gatersleben, German Mansfeld’s encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops Springer-Verlag Berlin 2001 pg. 687
- C. P. Khare Indian Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Dictionary Springer-Verlag Berlin 2007 pg. 684
- Justus Karl Hak︣arl Plantae javanicae rariores Sumptibus A. Foestner Berolini 1848 pg. 352
- Alan M. Stevens Kamus Lengkap Indonesia Inggris Ohio University Press Athens 2008 pg. 530
- George Bentham Flora hongkongensis Lovell Reeve London 1861 pg. 81
- Yang Mekar ditamanku: Ekor Kuching – Uraria carinata (L.) Desrv. ex DC (http://mekarditamanku.blogspot.com/2007/03/ekor-kuching-uraria-crinita-l-desv-ex.html) Accessed: 16th July 2010
- Xiao-ping Liu, Ting Cao, Huan-yu Kong, Wen-feng Zhu, Guang-fa Wang, Jia-jie Zhang, Yu-chang Qui and Jian-xin Pang. Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effect of Uraria crinita water extract in diabetic mice induced by STZ and food. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 4(5), pp. 370-374, 4 March, 2010
- Gow-Chin Yen, Hsi-Huai Lai and Hsin-Yi Chou Nitric oxide-scavenging and antioxidant effects of Uraria crinita root Food Chemistry September 2001 Vol74(4):471-478
- Vietnam Plant Data Center (http://www.botanyvn.com/cnt.asp?param=edir&v=Uraria%20crinita&list=species&lg=en) Accessed on: 16th July 2010
