(Melastomataceae) Melastoma malabathricum L.

Local name(s): 

Medicinal use(s): to treat cardiovascular disorders. 

Part(s) used: stem

Field Characters: Shrub 1-2 m high. Leaves simple, green, with soft, red hairs. Fruits round, green with red hairs. Stem with light red hairs. 

Locality: Savannakhet Province, KhanthaburyDistrict, Ban That Ing Hang.

Habitat: 

Altitude: 580 m asl. 

Collector(s): Onevilay Souliya

Collection number(s): LAOS_353 (= Souliya 353)

Collection Date: March 10, 2002

Additional information:  

Voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA, under accession no. 2245924.
Project: ICBG
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Local name(s): 

Medicinal use(s): as a medicine (tonic) in pregnancy, at birth or postpartum.

Part(s) used: root

Field Characters: Perennial shrub, about 1.5 m high, much branched, young twigs hairy. Leaves opposite, ovate, with clear main nerve, 2-3 pairs of subnerves. Inflorescence axillary, corilla violet.

Locality: Oudomxay Province, Xay District, Don Xay Village.

Habitat: 

Altitude:   m asl. 

Collector(s):  B. Southavong, M. Vanthanouvong

Collection number(s): LAOS_812

Collection Date: October 23, 2006

Additional information:  

Voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA, under accession no. 2285042.
Project: ICBG

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 

(indented)Plants of the World onlineFlora of China Vol. 5 Page 70GBIF | Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Medicinal properties:


Amin Alnajar ZA, Abdulla MA, Ali HM, et al. Acute Toxicity Evaluation, Antibacterial, Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Effects of Melastoma malabathricum. Molecules 2012, 17(3), 3547- 559. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules17033547

Halim S, Angela T, Florenly, Rusip G. A Review Pharmacological Activities of Melastoma malabathricum. Teikyo Medical Journal 2022, volume 45, issue 08, pages 2257-7262. https://www.teikyomedicaljournal.com/volume/TMJ/45/08/a-review-pharmacological-activities-of-melastoma-malabathricum-635ca2a341576.pdf 

Joffry SM, Yob NJ, Rofiee MS, Affandi MM, Suhaili Z, Othman F, Akim AM, Desa MN, Zakaria ZA. Melastoma malabathricum (L.) Smith Ethnomedicinal Uses, Chemical Constituents, and Pharmacological Properties: A Review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:258434. doi: 10.1155/2012/258434 

Kalita N, Maiti PP. Pharmacognostical, phytochemical, pharmacological evaluation of Melastoma malabathricum Plant Linn.: A Review.  Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 2024, 12(3): 58-62.  https://www.plantsjournal.com/archives/2024/vol12issue3/PartA/12-2-21-352.pdf

Zheng W-J, Ren Y-S, Wu M-L, et al., A review of the traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological activities of the Melastoma genus. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2021, volume 264, 113322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.113322.