(Rubiaceae) Tarenna asiatica (L.) Kuntze ex K.Schum.

Local name(s): ເຂັມ ແດງ (khem deng)

Medicinal use(s): treat nervousness (nervous disorders) 

Part(s) used: root

Field Characters: Shrub 1-2 m high. Inflorescences terminal, many-fruited, fruits globular-ovoid, seeds black. 

Locality: Khammouane Province; Nyomalat District; Tong Kong Village, roadside of Route to MBP; at the southern reaches of Nakai Nam Theum National Park.

Habitat: Tropical rainforest on flat level lands. 

Altitude: 150 m asl. 

Collector(s): O. Souliya, K.Phoulivong, D. Makiem and S. Pimmavong

Collection number(s): Onevilay_YML_026 

Collection Date: July 21, 2023

Additional information:  

Voucher specimen is in deposit at the Field Museum (F) Herbarium, Chicago, USA under accession no. 2336038.

Synonyms, images, taxonomic description: 


Plants of the World onlineGBIF | Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Medicinal properties:



Astalakshmi N, Santhanavel M, Vasanthakumar P, et al. Exploring the Botanical Wonders of Tarenna Asiatica (L.) Kuntze ex K. Schum. Journal of Chemical Health Risks 2023, 13(4s), 423-428. https://jchr.org/index.php/JCHR/article/view/1014  

Hashmi U, Firdouse S. GC-MS Analysis of phytochemical compounds present in Tarenna asiatica leaves extract.  World Journal of Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences WJPLS 2019, vol. 5, issue 12, 136-153. https://www.wjpls.org/home/article_abstract/1601

Manojj D, Yasasve M, Kanmani K, Sai Ramesh A. In vitro cytotoxicity study and anti-Brucella activity of Tarenna asiatica (L). South African Journal of Botany 2020, volume 128, pages 54-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2019.09.021.

Pratheeba T, Taranath V, Sai Gopal D, Natarajan D. Antidengue potential of leaf extracts of Pavetta tomentosa and Tarenna asiatica (Rubiaceae) against dengue virus and its vector Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). Heliyon 2019, 5(11):e02732. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02732 

Satheesh Kumar C, Prabhu K, Kalaivani S, et al.The GC MS Study of Leaf Extract One Herbal Plant, Tarenna Asiatica (L). Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Science 2022) Volume 10, Issue 12. https://www.jrmds.in/articles/the-gc-ms-study-of-leaf-extract-one-herbal-plant-tarenna-asiatica-l-94840.html