Belalai gajah (Clinacanthus nutans)
Common names
- belalai gajah, Sabah snake grass (Malaysia)
- Dandang Gendis, Ki tajam, dendang gendis, gendis (Indonesia)
- Phaya yo, Phaya plongtong, saled pangpon, tua mea (Thailand)
- twist of flowers, alligator flower, er zuihua, niu xu hua, enzui hua, zhu jie huang (China)
-la cam, manh cong (Vietnam)
stigmasterol, lupeol, b-sitosterol, belutin, myricyl alcohol, vitexin, isovitexin, schaftoside, isomollupentin 7-O-bglucopyranoside, orientin and isoorientin
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By methanol extracts:
flavonoids (vitexin; isovitexin; shaftoside; isomollupentin 7-O-β-glucopyranoside; orientin and isoorientin) and sulfurous glycosides (clinacosides A-C; cycloclinacosides A1 and A2).
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By ethanol extracts:
nine cerebrosides and monoacylmonogalactoylglycerol
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By chloroform extracts:
chlorophyll derivatives (e.g 132-hydroxy-(132-R)-phaeophytin b; 132-hydroxy-(132-S)-phaeophytin a; 132-hydroxy-(132-R)-phaeophytin a; 132-hydroxy-(132-S)-phaeophytin b; 132-hydroxy-(132-S)-chlorophyll b; 132-hydroxy-(132-R)-chlorophyll b; purpurin 18 phytyl ester; phaeophorbide a) and fatty acids (e.g. n-pentadecanol; eicosane; 1-nonadecene; heptadecane; dibutylphthalate; n-tetracosanol-1; heneicosane; behenic alcohol; 1-heptacosanol; 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid; mono(2-ethylhexyl)-ester; nonadecyl heptafluorobutyrate; eicosayl trifluoroacetate; dinonyl ester; phthalic acid; dodecyl nonylester).
Chemical constituents
- a tall and erect shrubby herb that can grow up to 1.5 m tall
- the stems are segmented, cylindrical in shape, green in colour and densely striate
- the leaves are single, opposite to each other and dark green in colour
- the leaf blade is lanceolate in shape and measuring about 1-3 cm wide and 8-10 cm long
- the flowers are compound, panicle shape with light red petals
Descriptions
Traditional uses
Preparation/ part of plants used
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consumed as herbal tea
Leaves (fresh): boiled with water
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provide as fresh drink
Leaves: consumed as raw material or mixed with apple juice, sugarcane or green tea
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to treat inflammatory conditions like hematoma, contusion, strains and sprains of injuries and rheumatism
Whole plant
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to treat diabetes
Leaves: boil 7–21 fresh leaves in two glasses of water until the
water level comes to one glass and serve twice daily
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for the treatment of dysuria (painful urination)
Leaves: boil 15 gm of fresh leaves for 15 min (decoction) and consumed daily
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controlling menstrual function, relieving pain, anemia, jaundice and setting of fractured bones
Whole plant
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to treat high blood pressure
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helps to reduce kidney problems
Leaves (fresh): boiled with water and drink it 2 times per day
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helps to control glucose level in blood
Leaves: grinded with green apple and drink 2 times per day
Leaves (fresh): eat as ulam