(Acanthaceae) Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz.

Local name(s): (peet tok)

Medicinal use(s): Used to treat dermatitis. 

Part(s) used: 

Field Characters: Shrub 1 m tall; branches green; leaves 8-12 cm long & 1.5-3 cm wide; flowers forming at the ends of the branches; flowers yellow; stems thorny.

Locality: Vientiane, Laos

Habitat: Cultivated, in yards.

Altitude: m asl 

Collector(s): S. Bouamanivong

Collection number(s): Bouamanivong 51

Collection Date: October 9, 1997

---

Local name(s): (tong pan sang)

Medicinal use(s): Used as an anti-inflammatory. 

Part(s) used: 

Field Characters: Shrub 1-1.5 m tall; leaves small and light green; flowers white.

Locality: Vientiane, Laos

Habitat: Clearings and old yards.

Altitude: m asl 

Collector(s): S. Bouamanivong

Collection number(s): Bouamanivong 72

Collection Date: November 18, 1997

Additional information:  

Voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA under accession no. 2193532; 2193511.

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 

Plants of the World onlineFlora of China Vol. 19 Page 461, 462GBIF | Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Useful references:

Kumar AS, Leema M, Sridevi S, et al. A review on synthesis and various pharmacological aspects of Rhinacanthin-C with special emphasis on antidiabetic activity. Materials Today: Proceedings 2021, volume 46, part 8, pages 3084-3088.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.02.588. 
Brimson JM, Prasanth MI, Malar DS, et al. Rhinacanthus nasutus "Tea" Infusions and the Medicinal Benefits of the Constituent Phytochemicals. Nutrients 2020,12(12):3776. doi: 10.3390/nu12123776 
Darbyshire I, Nanyeni L, Chase FM, et al. A synopsis of Rhinacanthus (Acanthaceae) in Angola and Namibia. Kew Bull 73, 21 (2018). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12225-018-9746-5#citeas 
Horii H, Suzuki R, Sakagami H, et al. New biological activities of Rhinacanthins from the root of Rhinacanthus nasutus. Anticancer Res 2013, 33(2):453-9.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23393336/