Largebract Waterbamboo
Murdannia bracteata (C.B.Clarke) J.K.Morton ex D.Y.Hong
Commelinaceae
Location in our garden
Overview
Largebract waterbamboo is native to South China, distributed in Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, and Yunnan. It is grown for medicinal and as an ornamental plant.
Vernacular Names
Da bao shui zhu ye (Chinese).
Agroecology
Growing on limesmargins at altitude 500-850 m and under jungle. Preferred climate zone in tropical, Sub-tropical of monsoonal. It prefers moist soils. Light preference in semi-shade. Water preference need moderate water. Sandy places in ravines.
Morphology
- Roots - fibrous, 0.5-1 mm in diameter, rather densely tomentose. Rhizomes horizontal.
- Stems - pilose, linear or broadly linear, 10-24 cm long, 1-1.5 cm wide; stem leaves alternate, blades linear or oblong lanceolate, 3-8cm long, 8-12 cm wide, apex acute, base sheathlike, leaf sheath pilous, both surfaces glabrous or below surface pubescent.
- Leaves - basal leaves rosulate, leaf blade linear, 20-30 × 1.2-1.8 cm, glabrous on both surfaces or abaxially puberulent, margin ciliate proximally.
- Flowers - dense capitate, borne in terminal, ca. 1 cm in diameter, peduncle 2.5-5 cm long, phyllary configurational, 1-2.5 cm long, 6-8 mm wide; peduncle stubby; bractlets large and persistent, membranous, circular, imbricate; sepals 3, oblong, petals 3, blue or purple.
- Fruits - strongly curved, elongate to 2--3 mm.
- Seeds - yellow-brown, 2 per valve, radiate striate, white reticulate, not pitted.
Cultivation
Propagated by seeds.
Chemical Constituents
Fenolic, tanin, hydroxybutenolides (bracteanolide A, bracteanolide B, isovitexin).
Benefits
- Studies have suggest antioxidant, and hepatoprotective activities.
- In Malaysia, it is used as a traditional remedy for various diseases of the kidney and liver, including inflammation and cancer.
- It has been used as a Taiwanese folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties.
- In Chinese medicine, decoction of whole plant is used for scrofula and tuberculosis, pyretic stranguria.
Simplisia
- Pilih daun dan akar tanaman yang segar dan tidak rusak.
- Cuci hingga bersih dengan air mengalir.
- Kering anginkan bahan tanpa terkena sinar matahari langsung selama beberapa hari atau menggunakan oven bersuhu 40°C hingga kering.
- Simpan dalam wadah bersih dan kedap udara.
Plant Parts Used
Traditional Recipes
1. 1. Mengobati kista dan tumor
- Ambil 15 lembar daun pada suka, cuci bersih.
- Rebus daun dengan 200 ml air, dengan api kecil hingga air berubah warna menjadi keruh.
- Minum selagi hangat 2 kali sehari.
- Minum selama 1,5-2 bulan.
2. 2. Mengobati kanker
- Ambil 3 lembar daun pada suka, cuci hingga bersih.
- Tumbuk dan tambahkan 2 sdm air mendidih. Saring menggunakan kain putih.
- Dewasa: minum 2 sdm, minum 2 kali sehari 1 ½ jam sebelum sarapan dan sebelum tidur malam.
- Anak: Kurangi ½ dari dosis dewasa.
Reference Sources
- eFloras (2021). Murdannia bracteata. Published on the Internet http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=240001471 [accessed 22 November 2021] Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
- Yam M.F., Ang, L.F., Lim, C.P., Ameer, O.Z., Salman, I.M., Ahmad, M., Mohammed, M.A., Asmawi, M.Z., Abdulkarim, M.F., Abdullah, G.Z. 2010. Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Effects of Murdannia bracteata Methanol Extract. J. Acupunct Meridian Stud. 3(3):197−202.
- Wang, G.J., Chen, S.M., Chen, W.C., Chang, Y.M., Lee, T.H. (2007). Selective inducible nitric oxide synthase suppression by new bracteanolides from Murdannia bracteata. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 112(2). pp 221-227.