(Rubiaceae) Rubia argyi (H.Lév. & Vaniot) H.Hara

Local name(s): (kheua lin ma nai)

Medicinal use(s): treatment for kidney stone, backache

Part(s) used: Vine 

Field characters: Vine with fine spiny bristles, flowers small, pale green, fruits green. 

Locality: Xieng Khouang province, Kham District, Kham Medicinal Biodiversity Preserve, 15 km from Kham town. GPS reading: 19o 42.637’ N; 103o 35.350’ E.

Habitat: Broadleaved evergreen submontane forest. Edge of forest along the road. Not common.

Altitude: 1130 m asl. 

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

Collection number(s): DDS 14961

Collection Date: May 16, 2014

Additional information:  

The voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA, under accession no. 2313834. Samples of this plant were submitted for anticancer testing.

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 


Plants of the World onlineFlora of China Vol. 19 Pages 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 314, 317, 319 GBIF | Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Useful references:


Chung M-I, Jou S-J, Cheng T-H, et al.  Antiplatelet Constituents of Formosan Rubia akane. Journal of Natural Products 1994, 57 (2), 

313-316. DOI: 10.1021/np50104a020 

Eskandarzadeh M, Esmaeili A, Nikbakht MR, et al. Genus Rubia: Therapeutic Effects and Toxicity: A Review. Herbal Medicines Journal 2023; 8(1):34-48 DOI: 10.22087/hmj.v8i1.903 ISSN: 2538-2144 

Shan M, Yu S, et al. A Review of the Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology of Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma. Molecules 2016, 21(12), 1747; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21121747    https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/21/12/1747