Heliotropium indicum

Heliotropium indicum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Boraginales
Family: Heliotropiaceae
Genus: Heliotropium
Species:
H. indicum
Binomial name
Heliotropium indicum
Synonyms

Heliophytum indicum
Heliotropium parviflorum
Tiaridium indicum

Heliotropium indicum, commonly known as Indian heliotrope or Indian turnsole, is an annual, hirsute plant. It has a curved arrangement of small flowers and velvety broad green leaves.

Native to South America and introduced to North America, Asia, and Africa, it is a common weed in waste places and settled areas. It contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids but has been used in traditional medicine.

Description

Indian heliotrope is an annual, erect, branched plant that can grow to a height of about 15–50 cm (5.9–19.7 in). It has a hairy stem, bearing alternating ovate to oblong-ovate leaves. It has small white or purple flowers with a green calyx; five stamens borne on a corolla tube; a terminal style; and a four-lobed ovary.

Distribution and habitat

Native to South America and introduced pantropically

Toxicity

Heliotropium indicum contains tumorigenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Traditional medicine

In the Philippines, the plant is chiefly used as a traditional medicine. The extracted juice from the pounded leaves of the plants is used on wounds, skin ulcers and furuncles.[citation needed] The juice is also used as an eye drop for conjunctivitis.[citation needed] The pounded leaves are used as poultice.

It is widely used in native medicine in Tamil Nadu, India.

References

  1. 1 2 "Heliotropium indicum L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
  2. 1 2 "Trompang elepante". Philippine Medicinal Plants oten.
  3. ↑ "Heliotropium indicum L." USDA Plants Database.
  4. ↑ Fu, P.P., Yang, Y.C., Xia, Q., Chou, M.C., Cui, Y.Y., Lin G., "Pyrrolizidine alkaloids-tumorigenic components in Chinese herbal medicina and dietary supplements", Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, Vol. 10, No. 4, 2002, pp. 198-211
  5. ↑ Onaylos, Irma Noel. Plants That You Know But Really Don't: Home Remedies from 110 Philippine Medicinal Plants. Cebu City: Our Press, Inc. p. 40.