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Botany
A small, soft and smooth
herb, 10 cm or less in height. Stems are slenderand angular, green with
a tint of purple. Leaves occur in two rows, petioled, somewhat elliptical
in shape, 2 to 5 mm in length. Flowers are very small and crowded in
small inflorescences (cymes), greenish or tinged with red and less than
1 mm in length.
Distribution
Widely distributed, on
damp walls, throughout the Philippines.
Parts utilized
Entire plant.
Uses
Folkloric
Infusion is used as a
diuretic.
Used for diarrhea and asthma.
Sweetened decoction of roots used as diuretic.
In Jamaica, entire plant used for women
in labour; used for infertility and inflammation. source
In Brazil, used as a diuretic.
In Guatemala, used for urinary problems.
In western Panama, stem decoction drunk for diarrhea.
Studies
• Antioxidant
/ Radioprotective: An ethanolic extract of Pilea microphylla
was found inhibit iron-induced lipid peroxidation. In screening for in vivo radioprotection in Swiss albino mice, it showed 80% protecion. The fraction also protected livers of irradiated mice from depletion of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, provided general protection to the intestine from acute radiation effects.
• Non-Phenolic Antioxidant
Activity: Results indicated that the antioxidant activity was not correlated with phenolic content and suggests that non-phenolic compounds may be responsible for the free radical scavenging activity.
• Antibacterial: Study found PM active against Staphylococcus aureus.
Availability
Wildcrafted.
Occasionally cultivated as a dish garden plant or cover plant. |
