Persicaria hydropiper

Persicaria hydropiper L. is an erect herb that can grow up to 30–50 cm tall. Leaves are oblong-lanceolate, short petioled, tapering to a pointed end, ciliate on the under surface. Flowers are white, in sparse, thin and with hanging false ears. Fruit is black, nut-like and has a flat and domed side. Native to Northern Africa, tropical and temperate Asia, Australia and Europe.

Special Precautions of Persicaria hydropiper

• No known side effects with therapeutic dosages. Larger amounts can cause gastroenteritis. Skin irritation may occur if applied externally.
• Toxicity: Toxic to animals and the LD50 for its chloroform leaf extract was 758.58 mg/kg in male albino mice.

Phytoconstituents

Rhamnazin, hydropiperoside, polygoidal, warburganal, isopolygodial, isodrimeninol, drimenol, confertifolin and others.

Pharmacological Activities

Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Antifertility, Antifungal, Antineoplastic, Antioxidant, Antimutagenic and Insect repellent.

Health Benefits and Uses of Persicaria hydropiper

• The liquid extract of the plant is used as a contraceptive and a haemostatic.
• The plant is also used alone or with other herbs decocted for diarrhoea, dyspepsia, dysentery, enteritis, diuretic, expelling worms, heat stroke, itching skin, haemorrhage, jaundice and cancer as well.
• In folk medicine, it is used internally for uterine bleeding, menstrual bleeding, bleeding of haemorrhoids, gastrointestinal bleeding, rheumatic pain, as a diuretic, for bladder and kidney disease, and gout. It is used externally for poorly healing wounds, sprains and contusions.*
• The leaves are pounded and applied to skin diseases, for uterine disorders, while its seeds are used as carminative, diuretic and stimulant.
• Anthelmintic : the methanol extracts from the aerial parts of P.hydropiper have shown active in vitro anthelmintic effect against adult stage of Pheretima posthuma
• Cancer : Antiproliferative activity : the methanol extracts from the aerial parts of P.hydropiper have shown and active in vivo antiproliferative activity against EAC cell line. However much more investigation (including toxicological and hematological studies) with this plant extract has to be carried out using higher animal models, in order to authenticate it as a potent anthelmintic and antiproliferative agent.

Dosage

A tea prepared by pouring 0.25 L of hot water over 1 heaped teaspoon of the dried plant extract and strained after 10 min is to be drunk 3 times a day.Homeopathically, it is used to treat varicose veins, 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules are to be taken every 30 to 60 min in acute cases, or 1 to 3 times daily for chronical cases.

References

• https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0724/1477304bd863c66f47d0c82d80ce86522a88.pdf
• Wang K.W., Zhu J.R., Shen L.Q. A new lignan with anti-tumour activity from Polygonum perfoliatum L. Natural Product Research, 2013, vol. 27, no. 6, pp. 568-573.