 Gen info
- Homonoia is a plant genus in the family Euphorbiaceae first described in 1790.
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Homonoia riparia is a mangrove species belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae.
- Etymology: The genus name derives from the Greek word Homonoia, which has various meanings: "oneness of mind" or "union of hearts", or a goddess, or referring to the political idea that promoted unity and harmony in classical Greece, or referring to the plant. The specific epithet riparia derives from the Latin riparius, meaning river bank or "growing along streams". (17)
Botany
• Lumanai is a shrub attaining a height of 1 ton 3 meters. Leaves are linear-lanceolate, 12 to 20 centimeters long, 1.5 to 2 centimeters wide; the upper surface is green and shining; the lower surface, brown and hairy. Capsules are about 8 millimeters in diameter, hairy and borne on axillary, solitary, hairy spikes, 5 to 12 centimeters long.
• Shrubs, 1-3 m tall. Branchlets pubescent. Stipules subulate, 5-8 mm; petiole 5-15 mm; leaf blade linear-oblong or narrowly lanceolate, 6-20 × 1.2-2.5 cm, papery, abaxially densely scaly, pubescent, base cuneate or obtuse, margin entire or sparsely glandular-serrulate, apex acuminate. Inflorescences 5-10 cm, puberulent; bracts subovate, 1.5-2 mm. Male flowers: pedicel ca. 0.2 mm; calyx 3-lobed, 3-4 mm, pubescent. Female flowers: sepals 5, oblong, acuminate, 1-2 mm, pubescent; ovary puberulent; style 4-7 mm, base connate. Capsule subglobose, 3-4 mm in diam., pubescent. (Flora of China)
Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
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Along small, swift streams, on banks and stream beds at low and medium altitudes from Cagayan to Sorsogon Province in Luzon, and in Mindoro, Palawan, Sibuyan, Negros, and Mindanao.
- Also native to Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, India, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Maluku, Myanmar, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. (10)
 Constituents
- Phytochemical study of heartwood and stem bark extracts yielded sterols, fatty acid, triterpenoids and their derivatives. The triterpene acid 3-acetyl aleuritolic acid was reported for the first time. (1)
- Study of leaves have reported taraxerone, gallic acid and quercetin glycoside.
- Heartwood has yielded B-sitosterol, stigmasterol, eicosanoic acid, gallic acid, B-sitosterol-3-O-B-D-glucoside; from the bark, taraxerone and taraxerol.
- Aqueous extracts of dried leaves and flowers yielded
tannins, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, and alkaloids. (See study below) (4)
- Study on leaves yielded six new cycloartane-type triterpenes, 24-methylenecycloartane-3β,6β,7β-triol (1), 24-methylenecycloartane-3β,6β,7β,16β-tetraol (2), 24-methylenecycloartane-3β,6β,16β-triol (3), 24-methylenecycloartane-3β,7β,16β-triol 3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside (4), 24-methylenecycloartane-3β,6β,16β-triol 3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside (5), and 24-methylenecycloartane-3β,6β,7β-triol 3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside (6), together with one known compound, 24-methylenecycloartane-3β,6β,7β,16β-tetraol 3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside. (See study below) (5)
- Phytochemical analysis of leaves yielded carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids,
flavonoids, alkaloids, saponin, lignin, gums and mucilage, tannin, phenolics, resin, cardenoilids, and flavones. (see study below) (12)
Properties
- Stimulant, depurative
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Powdered root is considered laxative, diuretic and emetic.
- Studies have shown antifungal, antibacterial, anthelmintic, anti-angiogenesis, anti-gout, cytotoxicity, antiurolithiatic, xanthine oxidase inhibitory, mosquito larvicidal properties.
Parts used
Roots, leaves, fruit, bark, wood.
 Uses
Edibility
- Tender leaves reportedly eaten as vegetable.
Folkloric
- In the southern part of the Philippine Archipelago, species was used, like sarsaparilla, as a stimulant in the treatment of venereal diseases.
- The Ati tribe of Antique, Philippines,
decoction of roots along or with I. cylindrica drunk for stomach ulcers, appendicitis, or for intestinal cleansing. Root decoction, alone or with M. pudica, I. cylindrica, L. speciosa, and A. muricata drunk for treatment of UTI and kidney stones. (26)
- Leaves used for toothache.
- Decoction of roots used as an emetic.
- Water running at the foot of the shrub considered to be depurative.
- Malays of northern Perak use a poultice of pounded leaves and fruit for skin diseases; a decoction may be drunk for at the same time.
- In Cambodia, juice of leaves and shoots used on the hair; drink made from them is considered depurative and clearing to the skin. Infusion of wood used for malaria.
- In Indonesia, sap used to strengthen loose teeth.
- Decoction of root is laxative and diuretic; used for stone, bladder stones, gonorrhea, syphilis and thirst.
- In Java, fruit is considered medicinal.
- In Laos, decoction of leaves used for itching.
- In India, used to treat skin diseases.
- In Vietnam, roots used for influenza; also for detoxification.
- In India, root
used as laxative and diuretic, and in treatment of vesical bladder stone. (7) Wood infused used for malaria. In Andhra Pradesh, India, roots used in treatment of gastric ulcer.
- Traditional healers of Sikkim Himalayas use root decoction as laxative.
(13)
Others
- Dye: In Java, plant sap used to dye the teeth black.
- Fiber: In China, bark used for making rope.
- Crafts: In Ilocos Sur, long a pliable stems used as raw material in basket making. (20)
- Fishing: Highly branching stems are bundled are bundled and used as cover or temporary hom of wild fishes. (20)
- Firewood: Stems and branches are a good source of firewood with energy value.
- Fodder: In Vietnam, leaves used as forage.
- Wood: In Borneo, roots used for making bolo handles.
- Hair oil: In Cambodia, hair oil is produced from young shoots and leaves.
- Agroforestry: With its long and extended root system, the species is planted along rivers and streams to stabilize and protect the banks. (24)
Studies
• Anthelmintic:
Study of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Homonoia riparia was evaluated for anthelmintic activity against adult earth worms, Pheretima posthuma. Both extracts showed significant anthelmintic activity, the ethanol extract more potent than the aqueous extract. Standard reference drug was albendazole. (2)
• Antifungal:
Study evaluated the antifungal activity of extracts of three plants, viz., Homonoia riparia, P. tithymaloides, and Phyllanthus fraternus. Only Homonoia riparia showed antifungal activity, the aqueous extracts of dry flowers and leaves inhibiting the growth of T. mentagrophytes. (4)
• Angiogenesis Inhibitory Activity / Cycloartane-type Triterpenes:
Study yielded six new cycloartane-type triterpenes. (See constituents above). Study investigated the inhibitory effects of compounds 1, 3-7 on VEGF-induced vascular permeability in vivo in rats. (5)
• Chemical Constituents / Roots / Weak Cytotoxicity:
Study of ethyl acetate extract of roots yielded a new compound and twelve known compounds. (See constituents above) Compound 2, aleuritolic acid, exhibited weak cytotoxicity against AGZY 83-a (human lung cancer cells). (6)
• Anti-Gout:
Study evaluated water willow saponins in the hyperuricemic animal animal model. Results showed significant inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity, with a significant dose-response relationship to blood uric acid level. Results show the compounds can be used as lead compounds for the development of an anti-gout drug. (8)
• Antiurolithiatic Activity:
Study evaluated an ethanol extract of roots for antiurolithiatic activity against calcium oxalate and magnesium phosphate stones in male albino rats. Results showed the EE of HR to be effective in reducing deposition of calcium in the kidney of both prophylactic and curative group. It was also effective in reducing formation and dissolving pre-formed magnesium phosphate stones. (9)
• Antibacterial Activity:
In a study of various extracts of dried leaves of Homonoia riparia for antimicrobial activity, an ethyl acetate extract showed significant range of inhibitory effect against Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella typhimurium, Becillus cereus. (see constituents above) (12)
• Antimicrobial Activity:
Study of leaves and male flowers of H. riparia showed antimicrobial activity with growth inhibition of Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Phytochemical analysis yielded tannins, saponins, and flavonoids. (14)
• Inhibition of Aldose Reduction and AGES (Advanced Glycation End Products):
Study showed a soluble fraction of 80% ethanol extract of leaves has considerable inhibitory effects on both AGEs formation and rat lens aldose reductase (RLAR). Phytochemical analysis yielded 15 phenolic compounds. Compounds 3, 5-7, 10, 11, and 14 showed significant inhibition of AGEs formation with IC50 ranging from 2.33 to 15.14 µM. In RLAR assay, compound 4 showed potent inhibitory activity with IC50 of 0.064 µM. (15)
• Anticoagulant Activity / Leaves:
Study evaluated chloroform and ethanol extracts of air-dried leaves of H. riparia for its effect on clotting time of healthy volunteers. Results showed dose-dependent anticoagulant activity. Phytochemical screening of leaf extract yielded alkaloids, carbohydrate, carboxylic acid, flavanoids, phenol, steroid, saponins, tannin, and terpenoids. (16)
• Nephroprotective / Antioxidant / Whole Plant:
Study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant and nephroprotective activity of methanol extract and fractions of H. riparia. The extract and fractions showed significant nephroprotective activity against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity (p<0.05). Cisplatin (8 µg/ml) exhibited 50% inhibition in cell viability in HEK293 cells. Highest activity was seen with the butanol and aqueous extract with % viability of 293.09 and 345.07 at concentration of 200 µg/ml. Gallic acid was detected in HRM/fractions using HPTLC. (18)
• Myricitrin / Benefits in Diabetic Retinopathy:
Study using MTT assay and flow cytometry evaluated the effects of H. riparia and its major component, myricitrin, on high glucose (HG)-induced apoptosis of primary retinal pericytes (HRPs). HG produced cytotoxic effects of HRPs, which showed increased Sp1 expression and ROS levels. Extract and myricitrin significantly inhibited HG-induced apoptosis and ROS generation, and also inhibited Sp1 activity, evidenced by attenuation of HG-mediated increase in extra- cellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation. HG-mediated induction of Sp1 is one of a number of key signaling pathways involved in HRP apoptosis. Results may provide useful approaches for treatment and prevention of diabetic retinopathy. (19)
• Riparsaponin / Apoptosis Induction of Oral Cancer Cells / Roots:
Study evaluated riparsaponin (RSP), an active constituent from H. riparia, for antitumor effect on human oral carcinoma cells by MTT assay. RSP was isolated from the roots. RSP exhibited significant anti-proliferative effect on oral carcinoma cells at concentrations between 10 and 200 µg/ml via apoptosis. Expression of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, Bad, Bax, c-Met, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in oral carcinoma cells was significantly increase. Expression of Bcl-1 and E-CAD was decreased. Results suggest RSP possessed notable antitumor activity against oral squamous cell carcinoma via induction of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. (21)
• Silver Nanoparticles / Antimicrobial / Cytotoxic / Leaves:
Study reports on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using H. riparia leaf extract as reducing agent. The AgNps showed antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumonia. On cytotoxicity testing, the AgNPs showed promising results against human lung cancer cells. (22)
• Riparsaponin / Inhibitory Effect on Xanthine Oxidase / Stems: Study isolated a new cycloartane-type triterpenoid saponin, riparsaponin (1) from stems of H. riparia, together with six known compounds. Riparsaponin showed significant inhibitory activity on xanthine oxidase. (23)
• Insecticidal / Larvicidal Against Aedes aegypti / Leave: Study evaluated the larvicidal activity of Homonoia riparia ethanol leaf extract (EE) against mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. The EE was tested at concentrations of 40, 60, 80, 85, and 95%. The ethanol extract showed substantial differences in the concentration range with 60% yielding 95% death rate. Results showed significant efficacy against primary dengue vectors in early stages of 3rd and 4th instar larvae. (25)
Availability
Wild-crafted. |
