Phyllanthus amarus Schum Thonn

 Phyllanthus amarus Schum Thonn

Sat, 14 Mar 2015 | Medicinal Plants

(Euphorbiaceae)

Phyllanthus amarus herbs

Description:

 Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn is a small herbaceous annual plant that can grow up to 60 

cm tall. Leaves are simple, alternate, green and stipulate. The blade is 3-8 mm by 2-4.5 mm and 

oblong-elliptic. The fruits are green, depressed globose in shape, 3-lobed and smooth. Both the 

flowers and fruits are borne under the branches/1'21

Origin:

Native to Mexico and South America.

Phytoconstituents: 

Phyllanthusin D, geraniin, corilagin, elaeocarpusin, ama-riin, amariinic acid, amarosterol-A and B, 

phyllantin, hypophyllantin and others.

Traditional Medicinal Uses:

The aerial part of the plant is used for various conditions. In Chinese medicine, the plant is made 

into a tea to cure kidney problems, venereal diseases, stones in the kidneys and bladder. The 

Malays use it to increase menstrual flow, reduce fever and cure colic. It is used by the Indians as a 

fish poison. Indians also use the plant as liver tonic to treat liver ailments, ascites, jaundice, 

diarrhoea, dysentery, intermittent fever, conditions of the urogenital tract, eye disease, scabies, 

ulcers and wounds. In Vietnam, it is used to induce sweating, and increase menstrual flow. It is 

also prescribed for toothache, muscle spasms and gonorrhoea. It is considered a diuretic, colic 

remedy and abortifacient in Southeast Asia. It is also commonly used in Benin, Africa, as folk 

medicine against malaria.

Pharmacological Activities:

Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antidiarrhoeal, Antifertility, Antifungal, Anti-inflammatory, Antineoplastic, 

Antioxidant, Antiplasmodial, Antiviral, Diuretics, Hepatoprotective, Hypoglycaemic, Inhibition of 

gastric lesion, Antimutagenic, Insecticidal and Radioprotective.

Dosage: 

A decoction may be prepared with 10 plants in 1 L of water.

Adverse Reactions:

No known side effects with therapeutic dosages.

Toxicity:

Non-toxic to mice at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight but at doses of 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg and 

1000 mg/kg body weight in rats.

Contraindications: No information as yet.

Drug-Herb Interactions: An alcoholic extract of P. amarus was found to inhibit cytochrome P450 

enzymes both in vivo as well as in vitro.