Antirrhinum majus L.

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) is an erect annual or short-lived perennial herb 20-100 cm tall from the Plantaginaceae family distributed from North Africa to Europe. Its anthocyanin and antirrhinoside content has been studied for inhibiting tumor cell growth. In European folklore, snapdragon is believed to have supernatural powers protecting against evil spirits and curses.

Antirrhinum majus can be found growing in disturbed areas, forests, shrublands, rock outcrops, old walls, rocky places, and dry sites. This species is more suited to cooler regions but is also suitable for planting in temperate areas. It prefers well-drained, moist, organic-matter-rich loamy soil and a sunny position or full sun. This species can grow in and tolerate clay soil, limestone soil, and also nutrient-poor soil. This species is also intolerant of freezing temperatures below zero and waterlogging.

• Stem tall, upright, fleshy,
• Leaves regular and arranged in a spiral around the stem and branches, opposite, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate shaped, up to 7.6 cm long, margins entire, dark green.
• Flowers bisexual, 10-20 flowers borne in terminal racemes. Zygomorphic, with two closing 'lips', the corolla tube 3-lobed and varying in color (white, yellow, orange, pink-purple, dark red). Calyx 5-lobed and puberulent. Stamens number four.
• Fruit a capsule, ovate shaped resembling a skull.
• Seeds numerous per fruit, small, black, oblong-ovoid shaped.

• Propagation is done generatively (seed) and vegetatively (cuttings).
• Seed sowing is done in early spring. Seeds usually germinate within 10-21 days at 18°C.

Amino acids, anthocyanidins, flavonols, flavones (including apigenin 7,4′-diglucuronide, luteolin 7-glucuronide, chrysoeriol 7-glucuronide, kaempferol 3-glucoside, kaempferol 3,7-diglucoside), aurones (bracteatin 6-glucoside), flavanones, cinnamic acid, four tertiary alkaloids (one of which is 4-methyl-2,6-naphthyridine), four main iridoid compounds (antirrhinoside, antirrhide, 5-glucosyl-antirrhinoside, and linarioside), chalcones (chalcononaringenin 4′-glucoside and 3,4,2′,4′,6′-pentahydroxychalcone 4′-glucoside), myrcene, (E)-beta-ocimene, and methyl benzoate.

Treats scabies, liver disorders and tumors, a stimulant and used as a poultice for tumors, relieves urinary tract infections, heals wounds and minor burns, detoxifies the blood, treats boils and abscesses, helps reduce fever, treats all types of inflammation and hemorrhoids, treats watery eyes, prevents skin infections and combats sunburn. Has diuretic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and antioxidant activity.

Bunga Naga.