Launaea procumbens L.

Launaea procumbens L.  

Botanical Name:             Launaea procumbens L.Launaea-procumbens-L.

Kingdom:                         Plantae

Order:                                Asterales

Family:                            Asteraceae

Species:                         L. procumbens

Genus:                            Launaea

Local Name:                   Dudglak, Batthal         

English Name:               Creeping Launea

Sindhi Name                  Bathar                                                                

Parts Used:                    Leaves

Description:

L. procumbens is a glabrous and perennial herb with yellow juice. Leaves are sessile and lobed. Fruits are achenes truncate at both ends.1,2

 Occurrence:

L. procumbens is found in Egypt, Afghanistan, Iran, India, and Pakistan. In Pakistan, it is found in Karachi and the Indus delta Sindh.2

 Ethnomedicinal Uses in Skin Diseases:

Ringworm

Ground L. procumbens is boiled in water and the extract is applied on the area of infection for the treatment of ringworm infection in Districts Tandojam, Badin, Jamshoro, Sajawal, and Nawabshah (Sindh).

Prickly Heat

L. procumbens is boiled in water. The sieved water is used for bathing for treating prickly heat in Districts Badin, Sajawal, and Nawabshah (Sindh).

Constituents

L. procumbens contains salicylic acid, vanillic acid, 2-methyl-resercinol, and gallic acid. It also contains alkaloids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, (kaempferol, catechin, quercetin, and epicatechin), steroids, glycosides, and triterpenes.3 Leaves contain β-sitosterol and its acetate, stigmasterol, cholesterol, 28-isofucosterol, stigmast-7-enol, and 24-methylcholest-7-enol.4

Chemical Structures

Launaea-procumbens-L.-st

 

Medicinal Uses and Pharmacological/Scientific Studies

Leaves of L. procumbens are used for the treatment of fever, cancer, and swellings.  It has been reported that leaves paste is applied in rheumatism, boils, and swellings.  Extracted juice from leaves is given in jaundice.5 L. procumbens is used for the treatment of kidney disorders like painful urination, gonorrhea, and sexual diseases.6 Plant possessed diuretic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.5  Plant showed insecticidal  activity, and  used   for   the   treatment   of   rheumatism, inflammation,  oxidative dysfunction  in  the kidney, reproductive disorders, hormonal imbalances, and liver dysfunction. 5

References

  1. Pullaih, T. (2006). “Encyclopedia of World Medicinal Plants”, 3, p: 1216, Regency Publications, New Delhi, India.
  2. Baquar, S.R. (1989). “Medicinal and Poisonous Plant of Pakistan”, p: 255, Printas Karachi, Pakistan, First Edition.
  3. Khan, R. A. (2012). “Protective effect of Launaea procumbens (L.) on Lungs against CCl4 Induced Pulmonary Damages in Rat”. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 12(1), p:
  4. http://bioinfo.bisr.res.in/project/domap/plant_details.php?plantid=0109&bname=Launaea%20procumbens.
  5. Rathod, M. C., and Dhale, D. A. (2014). “Pharmacognostic Characterization and Phytochemical Screening of Launaea procumbens.” International Journal for Pharmaceutical Research, Scholars, 3(1), p: 41-50.
  6. Khan, R. A., Khan, M. R., Sahreen, S., and Ahmed, M. (2012). “Assessment of flavonoids contents and in vitro Antioxidant activity of Launaea procumbens”, Chemistry Central Journal, p: 6(1), 43.