Duranta erecta L.

Sinyo nakal (Duranta erecta) is a shrub up to 1-2 meters tall from the Verbenaceae family that originates from Mexico and Central America, popular as a living hedge plant in various countries. In China, its fruit, toxic to humans, is nevertheless traditionally believed to treat malaria, while in Andhra Pradesh, India, a decoction of this plant is used to address asthma and bronchitis.

Sinyo nakal is generally found in disturbed areas (dry to humid), along roadsides, and in thickets, at elevations of 150-1,650 m asl. Grows best in full sun, but tolerates partial shade, with average annual rainfall usually between 800-1,800 mm/year. Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Sinyo nakal tolerates acidic to slightly alkaline soil and is fairly salt-tolerant.

• Roots taproot, dirty yellow in color.
• Stem round, many-branched, when young the stem has short, fine hairs (pubescent). Bark light brown and slightly wrinkled. Mature plant stems usually have sharp axillary thorns.
• Leaves single, simple, ovate to lanceolate, thin, pointed base, pointed or rounded tip, serrated to smooth margins, paired, oppositely arranged, pinnate venation, smooth surface, green or yellowish-green.
• Flowers compound, tubular with 5 lobes, light purple and white. Flowers hang in long racemes. Calyx green and pubescent on both surfaces. Corolla tube about 7 mm, unscented.
• Fruit fleshy, green when young and turning orange-yellow or golden when ripe, ovate, arranged in large hanging clusters.
• Seeds round, hard, greenish-white.

Propagation is done generatively (seeds) and vegetatively (stem cuttings).

Glucosides, saponins, durantosides I, II, III, IV, and V, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, (E)-cinnamic acid, beta-sitosteryl-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, (E)-p-methoxycinnamic acid, kusaginin, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids, tannins, phenols, anthocyanin, oxalate, rutin, epicatechin, lunamarine, saponin, sapogenin, ribalinidine, phytate, kaempferol, catechin, duranterectosides A, B, C, and D, lamiide, lamiidoside, verbascoside.

Treats itchy skin, fever, boils, malaria, infertility, pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, cataracts, improves blood circulation. Has diuretic, anthelmintic, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity.

Teh-tehan (Java), Pokok janda gedik (Malay), Anak nakal.