Medicinal Plants

Hypoestes phyllostachya Baker

Polkadot Pink

Acanthaceae

Location in the garden Shaded Area
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Hypoestes phyllostachya (Polkadot Pink) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Hypoestes phyllostachya (Polkadot Pink) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Hypoestes phyllostachya (Polkadot Pink)

Summary

Polkadot pink (Hypoestes phyllostachya) is a herb up to 60 cm tall from the Acanthaceae family native to Madagascar, popular as an ornamental garden filler plant thanks to its uniquely speckled leaf pattern. Species from the genus Hypoestes have been used worldwide in traditional medicine for typhoid, malaria, and heart disease. Research has found a diterpenoid compound in polkadot pink that shows a strong vasorelaxant effect, promising for treating hypertension.

Agroecology

Polkadot pink should ideally be planted in areas with elevations above 200 m asl and prefers cool temperatures and slight shade, with an average daily temperature of 12-28°C. Suited to fertile, loose soil, fern media, moss, compost, with average annual rainfall of 1,600-3,000 mm.

Morphology

  • Stem contains water and some parts are woody.
  • Leaves oval shaped, green with pink or purplish spots, arranged alternately, veins pinnate, margins entire, base and tip tapering, length 6-12 cm, leaf surface flat.
  • Flowers with inflorescences appearing on the stem, tip of the stem like a spike. Small pink to purplish tube-shaped flowers.
  • Fruit a dehiscent capsule, elongated, 0.3-0.4 x 0.1 cm, puberulent.
  • Seeds 4, glabrous.

Cultivation

Propagation is done generatively (seed) and vegetatively with stem cuttings.

Chemical Content

Furanolabdane diterpenoid, (3R,6R,7E)-3-hydroxy-megastigma-4,7-dien-9-one, (3S)-3-hydroxy-β-ionone, (3S,5R,6S,7E)-5,6-epoxy-3-hydroxy-megastigma-7-en-9-one, grasshopper ketone, vomifoliol, (+)-dehydrovomifoliol, loliolide, 2,6-dimethyl-2E,7-octadien-1,6-diol, bifurcanol, (12S)-hydroxygeranylgeraniol, nectandrin B, N-trans-feruloyltyramine, syringylethanone, paeonol, vanillin, dehydrozingerone, 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, (2E)-4-hydroxy-2-hexenoic acid.

Benefits

Researchers estimate that polkadot pink contains compounds promising for treating hypertension, heart disease and stroke, hematoma, relieving pain and inflammation.

Simplisia

  • Prepare polkadot pink leaves, wash clean with running water then drain.
  • Dry under the sun or with an oven at 40°C until the moisture content reaches 10%.
  • Grind using a blender until it becomes powder, then sift with a 60 mesh sieve.
  • Store in a clean, airtight container.

Local Names

Informasi tidak ditemukan. Butuh penelusuran lebih lanjut.

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 Hypertension from Polkadot Pink

1. Hypertension

  • Prepare an adequate amount of polkadot pink leaves and wash until clean.
  • Boil until it boils.
  • Let it cool to warm/cold.
  • Strain then drink.
Traditional recipe Relieving pain and inflammation from Polkadot Pink

2. Relieving pain and inflammation

  • Prepare an adequate amount of polkadot pink leaves and wash until clean.
  • Grind until it becomes a paste.
  • Apply the leaf paste to the inflamed skin area.

Reference Sources

  1. Royal Botanic Gardens. 2017. Hypoestes phyllostachya Baker. http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:49962-1. 30-10 2021.
  2. Missouri Botanical Garden. Hypoestes phyllostachya. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a515. 30-10-2021.
  3. Flora Fauna Web. 2021. Hypoestes phyllostachya. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/8/1/8117. 30-10-2021.
  4. Mas Eko. Planter and Forester. 2021. Hypoestes phyllostachya, Tanaman Hias Daun yang menawan The Polka Dot Plant. https://www.planterandforester.com/2021/10/hypoestes-phyllostachya-tanaman-hias.html. 30-10-2021.
  5. Wisconsin Horticulture. 2021. Polka Dot Plant, Hypoestes phyllostachya. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/polka-dot-plant-hypoestes-phyllostachya/. 30-10-2021.
  6. T Yang, L. Ding, B. Cheng, Z. Xie. 2018. Chemical constituents from aerial parts of Hypoestes phyllostachya. Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331997416_Chemical_constituents_from_aerial_parts_of_Hypoestes_phyllostachya. 20-10-2021.
  7. EthnoPharm. 2018. Polka Dot Plant, Freckle Face (Hypoestes phyllostachya). https://ethnopharm.com/blog%2Fvideos/f/polka-dot-plant-freckle-face-hypoestes-phyllostachya. 30-10-2021.