Medicinal Plants

Ruellia repens L.

Kencana Ungu Pink

Acanthaceae

Location in the garden Main
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Ruellia repens (Kencana Ungu Pink) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Ruellia repens (Kencana Ungu Pink) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Ruellia repens (Kencana Ungu Pink)

Summary

Kencana ungu pink (Ruellia repens) is a herb up to 0.5 meters tall from the Acanthaceae family spread from Cambodia to Vietnam and the Philippines. This plant is popular as a ground cover and garden border. In traditional Chinese medicine, kencana ungu pink is used to treat coughs and speed wound healing.

Agroecology

Kencana ungu pink can be found at elevations of 1-700 m asl. This plant can grow in full sun or shade. Kencana ungu pink can also grow in moist soil conditions, well-drained soil, less fertile soil, and fertile loamy soil.

Morphology

  • Stem dichotomous, square, hairless, jointed, and swollen at the nodes. Segment length 6 cm.
  • Leaves simple, single, opposite, petiolate with a thin leaf blade, ovate to spear-shaped, 1.4-4 cm long and 0.8-2 cm wide, slightly asymmetric at the base, without stipules, has 5-7 pairs of leaf veins.
  • Flowers funnel-shaped, white or pink to light purple, 1.2-2 cm in diameter. Petals ovate, with a rounded tip. Flowers emerge at the stem tip.
  • Fruit a capsule with a slightly hairy exterior, about 1.2 cm long and ripening to brownish-yellow.
  • Seeds 3 mm in diameter, disc-shaped and marked with a whitish coat.

Cultivation

Propagation generatively with seeds.

Chemical Content

Steroids and triterpenes.

Benefits

Treats coughs, prevents hypertension, heals wounds, boils, ulcers, relieves toothache and stomach ache. Has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, stomachic (treats stomach ache), antilitholiasis activity.

Local Names

Plinten, Remah, Sekatan.

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 Preventing hypertension from Kencana Ungu Pink

1. Preventing hypertension

  • Pick 12 kencana ungu pink flowers and wash until clean with running water.
  • Boil with 1 liter of water until boiling.
  • Strain the decoction.
  • Drink every morning and evening.
Traditional recipe Cough from Kencana Ungu Pink

2. Cough

  • Pick kencana ungu pink flowers as needed and wash until clean with running water.
  • Boil with water until boiling.
  • Strain the decoction.
  • Drink.

Reference Sources

  1. Royal Botanic Gardens. 2017. Plants of the World Online. Ruellia repens L.. http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:54502-1. 07-10-2021.
  2. Drug Times. 2020. Ruellia repens L. https://www.drugtimes.org/future/ruellia-repens-l.html. 07-10-2021.
  3. Flora Fauna Web. 2020. Ruellia repens L.. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/3/3/3339. 07-10-2021.
  4. Hussain Abdul Ghani, Normah Mohd Noor, Khatijah Hussin. 2018. Nature’s Medicine: A collection of Medicinal Plants from Malaysia’s Rainforest. Landskap Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur.