Gen info
- Cynoglossum is a genus of small-flowered plants in the borage family Boraginaceae. It includes 81 species  native to Eurasia, Africa, New Guinea, and Australia.

Botany
• Ceylon Forget-Me-Not is an erect, branched herb; branches more or less bristly with bulbous-based hairs. Leaves 3-8 x 1-1.8 cm, ovate-elliptic, margin fringed with hairs, entire or obscurely toothed, tip pointed, base wedge-shaped or subpointed, bristly on both surfaces. Flowers bluish-white, in at branch-ends, simple or furcately branched one-sided racemes ; flower-cluster-stalk hairy ; flower-stalks 3 mm long, curved. Calyx 5-lobed ; tube 1 mm long ; sepals 2 x 1 mm, enlarged in fruit, hairy without. Flowers are 3-4 mm long, rotate ; Petals rounded at tip ; scales 5 at throat. Stamens 5, inserted on flower tube ; filaments short ; anthers 2-celled. (Flowers of India)

• Ceylon's hound's tongue is similar in appearance to Cynoglossum lanceolatum, but has larger flowers that are 4–5 mm across. The fruits are small, about 2 mm across. (14)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines. (1) (2)
- In Luzon: Benguet, Mountain Provine, Nueva Viscaya; Mindanao: Bukidnon, Davao del Sur.
- Chiefly on montane meadows or grassy slopes; 1200-2200 m.
- Also native to Afghanistan, Assam, Bangladesh, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, India, Japan, Jawa, Korea, Malaya, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam, West Himalaya. (1)

Constituents
- GC-MS analysis of ethanol extract of whole plant revealed 20 compounds, with dominant compounds of 9,12-Oetadecadienoic acid(Z-Z)- (44.18%), n-Hexadecanoic acid (15.46%), Borazine,2,4,6-trimethyl (9.36%), Oleic acid (4.76%), 9,12-Octadecadienoyl chloride,( Z-Z)- (4.00%), Isosorbide (3.72%), Ethanamine, N-ethyl-N-nitro (3.24%), 2- Furancarboxaldehyde, 5-(hydroxyl methyl)- (2.83%) and Phytol (2.60%). (8)

Properties
- Studies have suggested hypoglycemic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antitumor, anti-fertility, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic properties.

Parts used
Whole plant, roots, leaves.

Uses
Edibility
- No reports found on edibility and human consumption.
- Study showed birds fed with C. zeylanicum leaf extract had higher average daily weight gain, average daily feed consumption, and improved feed conversion ratio. The leaf extract was found rich in phytocompounds with several therapeutic properties. (15)
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
- In Tamil Nadu, India, decoction of whole plant drunk to arrest vomiting. Roots used for the treatment of jaundice.
- The women of the Mishmi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh use the plant for reproduction regulation. (9)
Others
- Veterinary: In Nepal, the ethnic people of Parbat district use powdered whole plant mixed in water and given to treat ringworm in goats. Root juice is applied once daily for 3-4 days on cuts and wounds. Leaf juice is used as eye drops for conjunctivitis.   (16)

Studies
• Effect on Oral Glucose Tolerance / Whole plant: Study evaluated the effect of ethanol extract of whole plant of C. zeylanicum on OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) in normal and alloxan-induced diabetiic rats. Doses of 100 and 150 mg/kbw showed the extract promoted glucose uptake. Results suggest potential use for treatment of impaired oral glucose tolerance. (4)
• Hepatoprotective / Antioxidant / Whole plant: Study evaluated the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect of ethanol extract of whole plant of Cz on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, using doses of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg. Results showed significant hepatoprotective effect evidenced by improvement in liver marker enzymes, total protein, albumin, bilirubin levels. The EE also showed significant antioxidant activity evidenced decreased MDA levels and increase in levels of SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH, and GRD. (5)
• Antitumor Against Dalton Ascites Lymphoma / Whole plant: Study evaluated the antitumor activity of ethanol extract of whole plant of Cz on tumor growth and survival time on DAL model in Swiss albino mice. Results showed decrease in tumor volume and cell viability. There was increase in Hb to near or  normal levels, which was decreased in DAL treated mice. Acute oral toxicity study by OECD guidelines-420 showed an LD50 greater than 2000 mg/kg. Results showed significant antitumor activity on DAL bearing mice. (7)
• Binding Affinity to Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors / Root Bark: Study evaluated root bark for phytoconstituents and the stochastic nature of ligand binding affinity to human estrogen receptors (ERα and ERß) and progesterone receptor (PR). GC-MS showed a total of 41 compounds, and selected 9 compounds for molecular docking analysis: Hexadecanoic acid, Octadecanoic acid, Acetyllycop-samine, Chempestorol, Demecolcine, Fumaric acid, Gamma-sitosterol, 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural and Homatropine. Five compounds showed high affinity for ER and PR, with Demecolcine showing highest affinity for ERß (-54.47 kcal/mol) and PR (-56.33 kcal/mol). The study is the first to report on crude root bark extract with compounds that showed binding affinity with ovarian steroid hormones. Further studies may lead to new nonsteroidal drug formulations for female reproductive health with minimal side effects. (9)
• Anti-Fertility / Whole Plant: Study evaluated an ethanol extract of whole plant  for anti-fertility effects in male albino rats. Hormonal assay showed increase in serum levels of FSH and estrogen and decreased serum levels of LH and testosterone. Treated male rats showed reduced number of female impregnation, reduced implantations and number of viable fetuses. Results showed C. zeylanicum inhibited sperm concentration, motility, and testosterone, which can result in male sterility. (10)
• Anti-Inflammatory / Whole Plant: Study evaluated an ethanol extract of Cz whole plant for anti-inflammatory activity in rats using a carrageenan-induced paw edema method. Indomethacin was used as standard drug. The extract exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity at 150 mg/kg. (12)
• Antidiabetic / Antihyperlipidemic / Whole Plant: Study evaluated an ethanolic extract of whole plant of Cz for antihyperlipidemic and antidiabetic effect in alloxan induced wistar albino rats, using doses of 150 and 300 mg/kbw per day for 14 days. Results showed significant reductions in blood glucose (p<0.05), lipid parameters except HDL-C, serum enzymes, and increased HDL-C. There was also significant rise in plasma insulin (p<0.05) in diabetic rats. (13)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Seeds in the cybermarket.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Cynoglossum zeylanica / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(2)
Cynoglossum zeylanicum / Co's Digital Flora Database
(3)
Cynoglossum / Wikipedia
(4)
Effect of Cynoglossum zeylanicum (Vehl ex Hornem) Thunb. Ex Lehm on Oral Glucose Tolerance in rats / M Anitha, G Sakthidevi, S Muthuumarasamy, VR Mohan / JAPS: Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 2012; 2(11) / DOI: 10.7324/JAPS.2012.21113
(5)
Hepatoprotective and Antioxidant Activity of Ethanol Extract of Cynoglossum zeylanicum (Vahl ex Hornem) Thurnb ex Lehm in CCl4 Treated Rats / M Anitha, ED Daffodil, S Muthukumarasamy, VR Mohan / JAPS: Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2012; 2(12) / DOI: 10.7324/JAPS.2012.21219
(6)
A minireview on Cynoglossum L. (Boraginceae) / Mitali Baruah, Minakshi Bhattacharjee / International Journal of Botany Studies, 2020; 5(6): pp 714-716 / ISSN: 2455-541X
(7)
ANTITUMOR ACTIVITY OF CYNOGLOSSUM ZEYLANICUM (VAHL EX HORNEM) THUNB. EX. LEHM. AGAINST DALTON ASCITES LYMPHOMA IN SWISS ALBINO MICE / Maruthiah Anitha, Edison Dalmeida Daffodil et al /  International Journal of Applied Biolgy and Pharmaceutical Technlogy, 2012; 3(4) / ISSN: 0976-4550
(8)
GC-MS Analysis of Bioactive Components of Cynoglossum zeylanicum (Vahl Ex Hornem) Thunb. Ex. Lehm. (Boraginaceae). / M. Anitha, K. Paulpriya, S. Muthukumarasamy, V. R. Mohan / Current Pharma Research, 2012; 2(4): pp 615-619 / ISSN: 2230-7842
(9)
Chromatographic Fractionation and In Silico Validation of Bioactive Compounds from Cynoglossum zeylanicum (Lehm) for Binding Affinity with Human ER & PR  / Upasa Gowala, D Ananthakrishnan et al / Journal of Biologically Active Products from Nature. 2020; 10(2): pp 122-140 /
DOI: 10.1080/22311866.2020.1770126
(10)
EVALUATION OF ANTI-FERTILITY ACTIVITY OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF CYNOGLOSSUM ZEYLANICUM (VEHL EX HORNEM) THUMB. EX LEHM (BORAGINACEAE) WHOLE PLANT ON MALE ALBINO RATS / M Anitha, G Sakthidevi, S Muthukumarasamy, VR Mohan / Journal of Current Chemical & Pharnaceutical Sciences, 2013; 3(2): pp 135-145 / ISSN: 2277-2871
(11)
STUDIES ON THE FOLKLORE MEDICINAL USES OF SOME INDIGENOUS PLANTS AMONG THE TRIBES OF THIASHOLA, MANJOOR, NILGIRIS SOUTH DIVISION, WESTERN GHATS / S Sharmila et al / International Journal of Plant, Animal and Environmental Sciences, 2014;p (3) / ISSN: 2231-490
(12)
Anti-Inflammatory activity of whole plant of Cynoglossum Zeylanicum (VAHL Ex Hornem) Thunb. Ex. Lehm / Maruthiah Anitha, Edison Dalmeida Daffodil et al / Journal of Advanced Pharmacy Education & Research, 2013; 3(1)
(13)
Cynoglossum L.: A review on phytochemistry and chemotherapeutic potential / Kalpana Joshi / Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 2016; 5(4): pp 32-39 / eISSN: 2278-4136 / pISSN: 2349-8234
(14)
Cynoglossum zeylanicum / Wikipedia
(15)
Effects of Feeding Different Dose of Cynoglossum Zeylanicum Leaf Extract on the Growth Performance and Haemato-Biochemical Parameters of Pekin Ducks / Alagbe John / Agricultural Systems, 2025; 10(2): pp 1-6 / DOI: 10.55220/25766740.v10i2.288
(16)
ETHNOVETERINARY PRACTICES OF SOME PLANT SPECIES BY ETHNIC PEOPLE OF PARBAT DISTRICT, NEPAL / Birendra Malla, RB Chhetri / Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology, 2012; 8(1): pp 44-50

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