Heliotropium indicum L.

Buntut tikus (Heliotropium indicum) is an erect annual herb up to 1.5 meters tall of the Boraginaceae family, native to the Philippines and now widely distributed, including in Indonesia. Its name ("rat's tail") comes from the curved shape of its flower cluster, resembling a rat's tail. This plant has traditionally been used for generations as a remedy to relieve rheumatism, canker sores, and lung infections.

This plant grows in sunny areas, in waste and fertile soil, in dry ponds and ditches, as well as regularly in human-disturbed habitats, generally at elevations below 800 m above sea level. It is widely regarded as a weed of fields and grasslands.
 

• Roots taproot. 
• Stem hairy, with ovate to alternate-shaped leaf bases, to lanceolate-ovate. 
• Leaves simple, scattered, without stipules, petiole round and grooved, coarsely hairy, green, toothed margins, blade oval, 10–18 cm long, 6–15 cm wide, both leaf surfaces finely hairy, pointed tip, blunt base, veins distinct and green. 
• Flowers small, white, with a green calyx, five stamens borne on the corolla tube, terminal style, and a four-lobed ovary. 
• Fruit a schizocarp, round, ridged, hard, and green.
• Seeds small, round, and black.

Propagated generatively (by seed).

Alkaloids (heliotrine, lasiocarpine, indicine, 12-acetylindicine, indicinine, indicine-N-oxide, retronecine, trachelanthamide, putrescine, spermidine, homospermidine, permine), cardenolides, and flavonoids.
 

Treats rheumatism, canker sores, lung infections, dysentery, boils, testicular inflammation (orchitis); relieves pain; treats skin diseases (scabies, boils, eczema), diabetes, and diarrhea.
 

Not yet available

Indian heliotrope, Scorpion weed