Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam.

Patikim (Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides) is a low creeping plant, only 10 cm tall but spreading up to 30-50 cm, of the Araliaceae family, distributed from Africa and Asia to California and southern Australia. Its tiny leaves can be eaten as a raw or cooked vegetable. Traditionally, patikim is believed to address abscesses, boils, hepatitis, and help relieve sinusitis.

Generally grows in lowlands up to elevations of 1,500 m above sea level with moist soil conditions and full sunlight or shade. Optimal temperature between 10-30°C, soil pH 5-7. This plant can grow in various habitats, from dry areas to waterlogged areas and is sometimes found as a weed in moist lawns.

• Stem soft, branching, jointed, green in color, often rooting at the joints.
• Leaves compound, alternating position, serrated inverted egg shape, light green color, petiole length up to 6 cm.
• Flowers small, emerging from leaf axils, yellowish-white in color, funnel-shaped corolla.
• Fruit oblong, yellow to brown in color, beak-like tip, reddish-brown when ripe, splits open when touched.
• Seeds small and flat shaped.
   

Cultivation 

• Propagated generatively (by seed) and vegetatively (stem cuttings).
   

Bioactive Compound Content

• Phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, daucosterol, genistein and daidzein, coumarin and hyperin.
   

Benefits

• Treats abscesses, boils, wounds, bruises, itching, cirrhosis, colds, cough, fever, sore throat, hepatitis, hepatoma, influenza, sinusitis, asthma, helps relax the aorta and blood vessels.
   

Not yet available

Antanan beurit, Pegagan embun, Antanan leutik (Sunda), Katepan, Andem, Semanggi, Redeng (Java), Take cena (Madura), Tikim (Jakarta), Semanggi gunung.