Dichrocephala latifolia Lamk DC
[From Greek, di = two and khros = colour and kephale = head, and from Latin, latus = broad and folium = leaf]
Synonymy: Dichrocephala bicolor (Roth) Schlect., Cotula latifolia Pers., Grangea latifolia Lam. ex Poir., Dichrocephala integrifolia (L.f.) O.K.
Common name: Cho ke (Vietnam).
Physical description: It is a herb which grows to a height of 40 cm in Southeast Asia, South China, Australia and Pacific Islands. The stems are subglabrous and somewhat angular. Leaves: simple, spiral, and without stipules. The petiole is channeled, hairy and 3mm-9mm long. The blade is hairy, obovate, 3.8 cm x 2.5cm-1.2cm x 8 mm. The base is hastate. The margin is serrate. The midrib is filled with hairs. The blade shows 3-5 pairs of secondary nerves. The inflorescences are terminal racemes of globose purplish capitula (Fig. 369).
Pharmaceutical interest: 3,4-Dicaffe-oylquinic acid and 5-caffeoylquinic acid isolated from Dichrocephala latifolia (Lamk.) DC. enhance the proliferation of human mononuclear cells and the production of interferon-y
- Fig. 369. Dichrocephala latifolia (Lamk.) DC. From: KLU Herbarium 9139. Field collector & botanical identification: JMB Smith. 12 Aug 1967. Geographical localization: Mt. Kinabalu, altitude: 11 000 ft, near Panar, Laban huts, herb growing near huts in open site cleared of shrub and tree, Sabah.
Uses: In Indonesia, Dichrocephala lat-ifolia (Lamk.) DC. is used to promote urination and the secretion of sweat. In Taiwan, the plant is used to resolve swelling and to heal ulcers. In Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, the plant is used to heal bites occasioned by insects and to counteract putrefaction of the genital parts.
(Lin C et al., 1999). Essential oils, obtained by distillation from the leaves and the flowers of Dichrocephala latifolia (Lamk.) DC., contain sesquiterpenes with germacrene-D in it (Kuiate JR et al., 1999).
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