Medicinal Plants

Boerhavia erecta L.

Daun Cakaran Putih

Nyctaginaceae

Location in the garden Main
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Boerhavia erecta (Daun Cakaran Putih) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Boerhavia erecta (Daun Cakaran Putih) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Boerhavia erecta (Daun Cakaran Putih)

Summary

Daun cakaran putih (Boerhavia erecta) is an erect annual, sometimes perennial, herb up to 1 meter tall from the Nyctaginaceae family spread from West Africa to Papua New Guinea. Its root is a popular medicinal formulation ingredient in India as a diuretic, while in Mali a decoction is used to address digestive problems and infertility. In Benin, daun cakaran putih is traditionally used to address seizures in children.

Agroecology

Daun cakaran putih is usually found growing in open shrub areas, cultivated land, vacant land, irrigated agricultural land, roadsides, at elevations from sea level up to 2,500 m asl. Usually grows in sandy or rocky soil, and this plant prefers sunny positions.

Morphology

  • Roots a thick taproot.
  • Stem upright, branching especially from the base and can become woody at the bottom, fleshy, green, often reddening, thinly hairy at the bottom, hairless at the top. Has swollen nodes.
  • Leaves opposite, ovate, oblong or lanceolate, base rounded to truncate, tip tapering, margin wavy or undulating, upper surface green while the lower surface is pale green to whitish, sometimes with red glands.
  • Flowers bisexual, small, arranged in panicles (1-6 flowers), white to pale pink or spotted red, stamens numbering 2-3 and slightly protruding, perianth tubular-campanulate, clearly narrowing in the middle, lower part obconical, 5-ribbed, green, upper part 5-lobed, lobes emarginate. Inflorescence umbrella-shaped (umbel), appearing in the leaf axils.
  • Fruit an achene covered by the thickened lower part of the perianth, 5 sharply ribbed, with hairless ribs, containing 1 seed.
  • Seeds ovate, pale brown.

Cultivation

Propagation is done generatively using seeds.

Chemical Content

Alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins, glycosides, betanin, and phenols.

Benefits

Fever-reducing remedy, treats jaundice, enlarged spleen, gonorrhea and other internal inflammation, asthma, tumors, ripens boils, cares for freshly cut umbilical cord stumps, treats digestive, liver and infertility problems, seizures in children, addresses fungal infections on the scalp, treats rheumatism, scabies, conjunctivitis (eye inflammation of the conjunctiva). Has diuretic, aphrodisiac, antidiabetic, anthelmintic, antihyperlipidemic, cardiotonic (strengthening heart performance), expectorant, emetic, laxative, antimalarial, antimicrobial activity.

Local Names

Cakar ayam (Java).

Traditional Recipes

The following recipes reflect traditional knowledge passed down through generations, not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or advice. Consult a healthcare provider before use.

Traditional recipe Ripening boils from Daun Cakaran Putih

1. Ripening boils

  • Take daun cakaran putih leaves as needed and wash until clean.
  • Mash the leaves into a paste.
  • Apply the paste to the boil.
Traditional recipe Tumors from Daun Cakaran Putih

2. Tumors

  • Prepare fresh daun cakaran putih leaves as needed and wash until clean.
  • Boil the leaves until boiling.
  • Let stand until warm/cool.
  • Strain, then drink.

Reference Sources

  1. Useful Tropical Plants Database. 2021. Boerhavia erecta. http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Boerhavia+erecta. 27-09-2021.
  2. Royal Botanic Gardens. 2021. Plants of the World Online: Boerhavia erecta L. http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:319111-2. 27-09-2021.
  3. Nugraha A. 2010. Bioactive compounds from Boerhavia erecta L.: an African medicinal plant. Master of Science-Research thesis. School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/3674.
  4. PROTA4U. 2014. Boerhavia erecta (PROTA). https://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Boerhavia_erecta_(PROTA). 27-09-2021.
  5. Nisha M., Vinod B.N., Sunil C. 2018. Evaluation of Boerhavia erecta L. for potential antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activities in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 4(2): 150-155.
  6. Vasuki K. et al. 2018. Investigation of Immunomodulatory Potential of Whole Plant of Boerhavia erecta Linn. Pharmacognosy Journal 10(2): 241-244. DOI: 10.5530/pj.2018.2.42. dalam FullTxt.ORG. https://www.fulltxt.org/article/472. 27-09-2021.