(Rubiaceae) Ixora cephalophora Merr.

Local name(s): ເຂັມຂາວໃຫຍ່ (khem khao nhai)

Medicinal use(s): Treatment of diarrhea, nervous affections.

Part(s) used: root, stem

Field Characters: Treelet 4 m tall, flowers pinkish white, set on dense, rounded terminal panicles.

Locality: Luang Prabang province, Park Ou district, Medicinal Biodiversity Preserve above Somsanouk village. GPS reading: 20o 04.088’ N; 102o 16.438’ E.

Habitat: Subtropical monsoon forest on a steep slope, ascending to the base of limestone mountain that rises precipitously to a peak of ca. 1000 m asl. A greater part of the vegetation cover was leafless at the time of this fieldwork.  

Altitude: 390 m asl. 

Collector(s): D.D. Soejarto, K. Sydara, M. Xayvue

Collection number(s): DDS 15423

Collection Date: February 10, 2020

Additional information:  

Voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA under accession no. 2329993.

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 

Plants of the World onlineFlora of China Vol. 19 Pages 177, 179

Useful references:


Baliga S, Poruthukaren K. Ixora Coccinea Linn.: Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine 2012, 18(1):72-79. DOI:10.1007/s11655-011-0881-3

Dontha S, Kamurthy H, Mantripragada B. Phytochemical and pharmacological profile of Ixora: A review. International Journal Of Pharmaceutical Sciences And Research 2015, No. 7, Pages 567-584. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.6(2).567-84

Kharat AR, Nambiar VV, et al. A review on phytochemical and pharmacological activity of genus Ixora. International Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Chemistry 2013, 3(3). Available online at www.ijrpc.com. https://www.ijrpc.com/files/20-3158.pdf

Latha LY, Darah I, Jain K, Sasidharan S. (2012). Pharmacological screening of methanolic extract of Ixora species. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2012, 2(2), 149-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2221-1691(11)60210-4

Saranya SP, Rajan M. A comprehensive review on Ixora polyantha Wight. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science 2024; 6(1): 120-123. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33545/26647222.2024.v6.i1b.109