Heliotropium indicum

Heliotropium indicum

Heliotropium indicum

Common Names: Heliotrope, Cock's Comb, Indian Turnsole
Local Names: Agogo-igun, Apari-Igun, Ogberi-akuko (Yoruba, Nigeria), Kalkashin Korama (Hausa, Nigeria), Hatisur (Bengali, Bangladesh), Trompang Elepante (Tagalog, Philippines)
Species ID: NMP-084 | wfo-0000718658 | NCBI_Taxonomy ID: 248297

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Tracheophytes

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Eudicots

Clade: Asterids

Order: Boraginales

Family: Boraginaceae

Genus: Heliotropium

Species: H. indicum

Synonyms: Heliophytum indicum (L.) DC., Heliotropium parviflorum Moench, Tiaridium indicum (L.) Lehm., Heliotropium cordifolium Moench

Morphological Description

Heliotropium indicum is an annual, erect herb typically growing 15–50 cm tall, occasionally reaching 80 cm in moist conditions. Its key morphological features include:

·       Stems: Hairy, succulent, branched, green to reddish, with a woody base in older plants.

·       Leaves: Simple, opposite, ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 1–5 cm long, 0.5–3 cm wide, velvety, with wavy margins and bristly hairs.

·       Flowers: Small, 3–5 mm long, white to light purple, arranged in coiled, terminal cymes; calyx green, five-lobed; corolla tube short.

·       Fruit: Dry, splitting into 2–4 nutlets, 4–5 mm long, brown, wrinkled, with a single seed per nutlet.

The coiled inflorescence and hairy texture are distinctive within the Boraginaceae family (Verdcourt, 1991).

Distribution and Habitat

Heliotropium indicum is native to tropical Asia but is now pantropical, naturalized across:

·       Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, South Africa (annual rainfall 500–1,500 mm).

·       Americas: Southern USA, Brazil, Caribbean.

·       Oceania: Australia, Pacific Islands.

·       Asia: India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Thailand.

It thrives in disturbed sites—roadsides, pastures, gardens, and cultivated fields—preferring moist, rich soils (pH 6.0–7.5) and full sun, often as a weed (Burkill, 1985).

Ethnopharmacology

Heliotropium indicum has a rich history in traditional medicine, it has been employed to treat various ailments, including skin diseases, fevers, insect bites, diarrhea, and respiratory issues. Phytochemical analyses have identified compounds such as pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are known to be hepatotoxic and tumorigenic. Despite these toxic components, the plant exhibits several medicinal properties supported by ethnopharmacological studies:

·       Anti-inflammatory: Leaf paste treats rheumatism in India. Srinivas et al. (2000) found ethanol extracts (200 mg/kg) reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats by 45%, linked to flavonoids.

·       Wound Healing: Pounded leaves heal wounds in the Philippines. Reddy et al. (2002) confirmed aqueous extracts accelerated wound closure in rats by 20% compared to controls, due to phenolic compounds.

·       Antipyretic: Whole plant decoctions reduce fever in Mali. Togola et al. (2005) noted its use against malaria-related fever, with methanol extracts showing antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ 15 μg/ml).

·       Antimicrobial: Leaf infusions treat ulcers in Nigeria. Agunu et al. (2005) reported methanol extracts inhibited Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 25 μg/ml), supporting topical use.

·       Respiratory: Leaf decoctions ease cough and asthma in Bangladesh. Karim et al. (2016) found antitussive effects in guinea pigs (30% cough reduction at 100 mg/kg).

Phytochemicals like pyrrolizidine alkaloids (e.g., indicine), flavonoids, and tannins drive these effects (Sarkar et al., 2021).

⚠  Toxicity Profile: H. indicum contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (e.g., indicine-N-oxide), which are hepatotoxic. Chronic ingestion (>100 mg/kg daily in rats) caused liver damage after 30 days; human cases report veno-occlusive disease from tea consumption. Use by lactating mothers may harm infants via milk (Fu et al., 2002).

Additional Uses

·       Agricultural: Allelopathic leaf extracts inhibit rice seedling growth, suggesting weed control potential (Sarkar et al., 2021).

·       Cultural: Flowers used in rituals in Tamil Nadu, India (Muthu et al., 2006).

·       Ecological: Attracts pollinators like bees, enhancing local biodiversity (Verdcourt, 1991).

References

  • Agunu, A., Yusuf, S., Andrew, G. O., Zezi, A. U., & Abdurahman, E. M. (2005). Evaluation of five medicinal plants used in diarrhoea treatment in Nigeria. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 101(1-3), 27–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2005.03.025
  • Burkill, H. M. (1985). The useful plants of West Tropical Africa (Vol. 1). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Fu, P. P., Yang, Y. C., Xia, Q., Chou, M. W., Cui, Y. Y., & Lin, G. (2002). Pyrrolizidine alkaloids—Tumorigenic components in Chinese herbal medicines and dietary supplements. Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 10(4), 198–211.
  • Karim, S., Kawsar, M., & Labu, Z. K. (2016). Biological investigations of medicinal plants of Heliotropium indicum indigenous to Bangladesh. Journal of Coastal Life Medicine, 4(11), 874–878. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12980/jclm.4.2016J6-175
  • Muthu, C., Ayyanar, M., Raja, N., & Ignacimuthu, S. (2006). Medicinal plants used by traditional healers in Kancheepuram District of Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 2, 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-2-43
  • Reddy, J. S., Rao, P. R., & Reddy, M. S. (2002). Wound healing effects of Heliotropium indicum, Plumbago zeylanicum, and Acalypha indica in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 79(2), 249–251. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-2-43
  • Sarkar, C., Mondal, M., Khanom, B., Hossain, M. M., & Islam, M. T. (2021). Heliotropium indicum L.: From farm to a source of bioactive compounds with therapeutic activity. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2021, 1–21. DOI: 10.1155/2021/9965481
  • Srinivas, K., Rao, M. E. B., & Rao, S. S. (2000). Anti-inflammatory activity of Heliotropium indicum Linn. and Leucas aspera Spreng. in albino rats..
  • Togola, A., Diallo, D., Dembélé, S., Barsett, H., & Paulsen, B. S. (2005). Ethnopharmacological survey of different uses of seven medicinal plants from Mali (West Africa) in the regions Doila, Kolokani and Siby. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 1, 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-1-7
  • Verdcourt, B. (1991). Boraginaceae. In Flora of Tropical East Africa (pp. 1–125). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

External Links

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Compounds of Heliotropium indicum
References

Tolulope, O. (2023). Phytochemical screening, antibacterial activity and fatty acids from Heliotropium indicum. Pharmacognosy Journal, 15(2).