Family Basellaceae

Alugbati
Basella alba Linn.
SPINACH VINE

Yan zhi cai

Scientific names

Common names

Basella alba L.
Basella cordifolia Lam.
Basella crassifolia Salisb.
Basella japonica Burm.f.
Basella lucida Linn.
Basella nigra Lour.
Basella ramosa J.Jacq. ex Spreng.
Basella rubra Linn.
Basella volubilis Salisb.
Gandola nigra (Lour.) Raf.
Gandola rubra Rumph. ex L.

Alugbati (Bis.)
Arogbati (Bik.)
Dundul (Sul.)
Grana (Tag.)
Ilaibakir (Ilk.)
Libato (Tag.)
Climbing Ceylon spinach (Engl.)
Malabar nightshage (Engl.)
Red vine spinach (Engl.)
Spinach vine (Engl.)

Basella rubra L. is a synonym of Basella alba L. The Plant List

Basella alba L. is an accepted name The Plant List

Other vernacular names

ARABIC: Malabar.
ASSAMESE: Ronga puroi, Ronga puroi sak.
BENGALI: Puishak, Puin sang.
CHINESE: Mu er cai, Hong teng cai, Hong chan cai, Zi luo kui, Zi ruan teng, Zi bei teng cai, Yan zhi cai.
DANISH: Malabarspinat, Indisk spinat.
DUTCH: Oostindische spinazie, Ceylonspinazie, Malabar spinazie.
FRENCH: Baselle rouge, Epinard de Malabar tiges rouges.
GERMAN: Malabarspinat, Weisse Beerblume, Indischer Spinat.
GUJARATI: Valchi bhagi.
HINDI: Lalbachlu, poi, Poi saag, Saag.
ITALIAN: Bassella bianca, Spinacio della Cina.
JAPANESE: Kuki no akai shin tsurumurasaki, Shin tsuru murasaki.
KANNADA: Basal e kempu.
MALAYALAM: Basella cheera, Vashala cheera.
NEPALESE: Poi saag.
PORTUGUESE: Bertalha.
RUSSIAN: Bazella krasnaia.

SANSKRIT: Upodika.
SINHALESE: Vel niviti.
SPANISH: Espinaca de Malabar, Espinaca basela, Espinaca blanca de Malabar, Espinaca de la China.
TAMIL: Kodippasali, Kot ippacal i , Pasalai keerai, Vasalakirrai.
TELUGU: Erra allubaccali.
THAI: Phak pang, Phak plang, Phak plang yai, Po deng chai.
TURKISH: Pazu.
VIETNAMESE: Mongtoi.

Botany
Alugbati is a succulent, branched, smooth, twining herbaceous vine, several meters in length. Stems are
purplish or green. Leaves are somewhat fleshy, ovate or heart-shaped, 5 to 12 centimeters long, stalked,
tapering to a pointed tip with a cordate base. Spikes are axillary, solitary, 5 to 29 centimeters long.
Flowers are pink, about 4 millimeters long. Fruit is fleshy, stalkless, ovoid or nearly spherical, 5 to 6
millimeters long, and purple when mature.

Distribution

- Found in settled areas, in hedges, old cultivated areas, etc., throughout the Philippines.
- Often cultivated.
- Prehistoric introduction.
- Also occurs in tropical Asia, Africa, and Malaya.

Constituents
Phytochemical screening of various extracts yielded cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins, flavonoids,
terpenoids, carbohydrates, and reducing sugars.
Study isolated Basellasaponins A, B, C, and D, oleanane-type triterpenes oligoglycosides, together with
betavulgaroside 1, spinacoside C, and momordins IIb and IIc, from fresh aerial parts.
Leaves yield saponin, vitamin A and B.
Fruit yields mucilage and iron.
Study of wild Basella rubra showed it to be abundant in carotene, middle in vitamin C, and low in
nitrate. Nitrate in planted B. rubra is about twice that of the wild variety.

Properties
Aperient, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, laxative, rubefacient.
Mucilaginous when cooked.
Studies exhibited androgenic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiulcer,
antiviral, CNS depressant, hepatoprotective, and wound healing activities.

Uses
Edibility / Nutrition
- Common market product, a popular leafy and stew vegetable, and a good substitute for spinach.
- The green and purple cultivated varieties are preferable to the wild ones.
- Both the young shoots and stems are eaten.
- Excellent source of calcium and iron; good source of vitamins A, B, and C, with a high roughage value.
Folkloric
- Roots are employed as rubefacient.
- Poultice of leaves used to reduce local swelling.
- Sap is applied to acne eruptions to reduce inflammation.
- Decoction of leaves used for its mild laxative effects.
- Pulped leaves applied to boils and ulcers to hasten suppuration.
- Sugared juice of leaves useful for catarrhal afflictions in children.
- Leaf-juice, mixed with butter, is soothing and cooling when applied to burns and scalds.
- In India, used in hemorrhagic diseases and as tonic. Also used for burns and pruritic skin lesions. In
Orissa, India, paste of root in rice water taken in the morning on an empty stomach for a month to cure
irregular periods.
- In Nigeria, leaves used for hypertension. In Cameroonian folk medicine, used for malaria.
- Mucilaginous liquid obtained from the leaves and tender stalks used for habitual headaches.
- In Ayurveda, used for hemorrhages, skin diseases, sexual weakness, ulcers and as laxative in children.
Leaves applied on the head for half a hour before bathing to help bring about a good refreshing sleep.
Sap is applied to acne eruptions to reduce inflammation. Decoction of leaves used for a mild laxative
effect. Pulped leaves applied to boils and ulcers to hasten suppuration. Leaf juice mixed with butter
applied to burns and scalds for a soothing and cooling effect. Leaves and stems have been used as
anticancer for melanoma, leukemia, and oral cancer.
- Roots and leaves used for the removal of after birth, stomach pains, and increase milk production.

- Used orally for anal prolapse and hernia.

- In Nigeria, use for fertility enhancement in women.
- In Nepal, leaf juice is used to treat dysentery, catarrh, and applied externally to boils.
- In Thai traditional medicine, the mucilage is used as application for bruises, ringworm, and laboring.
Stem and leaves used as mild laxative, diuretic and antipyretic.
- In Cameroon herbal healers use plant extracts to enhance libido and as remedy for infertility.
- In Antilles leaves considered good maturative as cataplasm.
Others
Cosmetic: Fruit used by women as rouge for cheeks and lips; also as a dye.
Dye: With the anthocyanin content, it makes for a natural food colorant. Fruit provides a dark violet color
as food colorant.
Veterinary: Ground leaves rubbed on the human hand to introduce the preparation into the animal
vagina every morning for the treatment of sterility.
Pharmaceuticals: Plant mucilage has been proposed for applications in medicine and cosmetics. The
mucilage has also been proposed as thickener, water-retention agent, gelling agent, suspending agent
and film former.

Studies
Anthocyanins / Natural Food Colorant : Study of pigment extracted from fruits of spinach vine (B.
rubra) showed good stability with a potential as a natural food color. (1)
Antifungal: Study yielded two antifungal peptides with potent activity against Botrytis cinerea,
Mycosphaerella arachidicola and Fusarium oxysporum. (4)
Antimicrobial / Leaves: A study of the aqueous, ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts of the leaves
of Basella rubra exhibited antimicrobial activity against all test organisms except P aeruginosa. The
ethanolic extract showed maximum effect against E coli. Further studies are needed to isolate the active
compound responsible for the antimicrobial effect. (6)
Hypoglycemic / Leaf Pulp: A study of STZ-induced diabetic rats fed with Basella rubra showed the
leaf pulp of B. rubra possesses a strong hypoglycemic effect. (7)
Volatile Flavor Components: Study identified volatile flavor components. The major components from
the volatile oil were: 1-methoxypropane, (Z)-3-hexen-l-ol, 3-methoxyphenyl acetate, acetophenone, 4vinylguaiacol, isophytol, and phytol. (8)

 Dyestuff / Microbiological Stain: Study showed the anthocyanin extracted from Basella rubra berries
produced a stain comparable with synthetic stains like crystal violet and safranin, and can be used as an
alternative microbiological stain. (9)
Antidiabetic / Antioxidant: Study evaluated the action of B. rubra against streptozotocin-induced
diabetes in rats. Results showed effective reduction of oxidative stress induced by streptozotocin and
potential reduction in blood sugar level. (12)
Antihyperglycemic / Antioxidant: Study evaluated an aqueous extract of B. rubra for
antihyperglycemic activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Phytochemical screening showed a rich source
of phytonutrients, including enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants. Results concluded the aqueous
extract exhibited significant antihyperglycemic activity. (14)
Haematologic Effects / Amylase Activity: Study evaluated various extracts for hematologic
parameters on Swiss mice and amylase activity on Wistar rats. Results showed an increase in the
haematological parameters (RBC, WBC, Hb, and PCV). There was also an increase in amylase content.
Results suggest potential use to prevent various complications in diabetes. (15)
Antiulcer Activity / Antioxidant: Study evaluated the antiulcer activity of an aqueous extract of B.
rubra leaves on ethanol and pylorus ligated-induced gastric ulcers in rats. Results showed significant and
dose-dependent antiulcer activity and present a potential use in the treatment of gastric ulcers. (16)
Fruit / Betacyanin / Antioxidant: Betacyanin extracted from the B alba fruit exhibited excellent
antioxidant activity, beneficial in scavenging free radicals. (18)
Antimicrobial / Leaves and Stems: Study evaluated various extracts of leaves and stems for
antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Methanol and
aqueous extracts of stems showed maximum activity against S. typhi and P. vulgaris. Ethanol extracts of
leaves and stems showed highest inhibition of B. subtilis and S. typhi. Antifungal activity was shown
against A. niger, C. albicans and R. stolonifers. (21)
Cytotoxic / Antibacterial: Study evaluated the cytotoxic and antibacterial activity of Basella alba whole
plant extract. A methanolic extract showed significant growth inhibition on human cancer cell lines and
moderate activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. (23)
Gastroprotective / Leaf Extracts: Study of aqueous and ethanol extracts of leaves were investigated
for antiulcer activity on rats in pylorus ligated and ethanol induced ulcer models. Results showed
significant dose-dependent gastroprotective effect substantiated by histopathological examination of
ulcerated stomachs of the animals. (24)
Increased Testosterone and Estradiol Production: Study evaluated a methanol extract of Baselia
alba (MEBa) for cell viability, steroid production, and level of aromatase mRNA. Results showed no effect
on Leydig cell viability. There was significant stimulation of testosterone and estradiol production and
enhanced aromatase mRNA level. (25)
Antiurolithiatic / Leaves: Study of leaves extract of Basella alba showed admirable dissolving capacity
of calcium oxalate crystals in vitro. (27)
Mucilage Suspending Properties / Leaves: Study evaluated the suitability of mucilage isolated from
leaves of Basella alba leaves as suspending agent. Results showed B. alba leaves possess properties to
be used as a suspending agent, and superior than both tragacanth and bentonite. (28)
Burn Wound Healing / Leaves: Study evaluated an aqueous extract of leaves of B. alba formulated as
a gel for burn wound healing activity. Results showed significant improvement in burn wound contraction.
(29)
Nephroprotective / Gentamycin Induced Renal Toxicity: Study evaluated an ethanolic extract of B.
alba on gentamycin induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. Results showed the extract protected
GM-induced nephrotoxicity, possibly by enhancing renal antioxidant agent. (30)

Availability
Cultivated vegetable market produce.

Wildcrafted.
Seeds in the cybermarket.

Family Araceae

Gabi
Colocasia esculenta Linn.
TARO

Hong tu yu
Scientific names

Common names

Arum esculentum Linn.

Arum colocasia Linn.
Colocasia esculenta (Linn.) Schott & Endl.
Colocasia esculentum Linn.
Colocasia antiquorum Schott
Calla gaby Blanco
Caladium esculentum Vent.
Coladium colocasia W. F. Wight.
Coladium violaceum Desf.
Yu (Chin.)

Aba (ilk.)
Aua (ilk.)
Abalong (Bis.)
Amoang (Bon.)
Gabi (Tag.)
Pising (Bon.)
Dagmai (Bis.)
Kimpoi (Bis.)
Lagbai (Tag.)
Abalong (Bis., Tag.)
Linsa (Bik.)
Lubingan (If.)
Natong (Bik.)
Elephant's ear (Engl.)
Taro (Engl.)
Taro potato (Engl.)

Other vernacular names

AFRIKAANS: Amadoembie.
CHINESE: Lao hu guang cai, Dong nan cai, Hong tu yu, Yu tou hua, Yu tou, Tai yu, Guang cai.
FRENCH: Colocasie.
GERMAN: Kolokasie, Yamswurzel..
HAWAIIAN: Kalo.
INDIAN: Alu, Dasheen.
JAPANESE: Sato imo.
KOREAN: T'a ro t'o ran.
MALAY: Aaa

HAWAIIAN: Kalo.
MALAY: Daun keladi, Talas (Indonesia).
SPANISH: Aro.
THAI: Bai bon, Bon, Bon chin dam, Bon nam, Phuak (Phueak), Pheuak.
VIETNAMESE: Khoai mn, Khoai nc.
ZULU: Amadumbe.

Botany
Gabi is a long-stalked herbaceous plant with huge leaves, growing to a height of 30 to 150 centimeters.
Rootstock is tuberous, up to 10 centimeters in diameter. Leaves, in groups of two or three, are longpetioled, ovate, 20 to 50 centimeters long, glaucous, with entire margins, with a broad, triangular, basal
sinus extending one- third or halfway to the insertion of the petiole, with broad and rounded basal lobes.
Petioles are green or purplish, 0.2 to 1 meter long. Peduncles are usually solitary. Spathe is variable in
length, usually about 20 centimeters long, the tubular part green, usually about 4 centimeters long, with
the lanceolate, involute yellow limb about 20 centimeters long. Spadix is cylindric, half as long as the
spathe, green below and yellowish above; male and female inflorescences are each 2.5 to 5 centimeters
long, separated by intervals and covered with flat, oblong neuters.

Distribution
- Generally cultivated throughout the Philippines but is not a native of the Archipelago.
- in cultivated soil, nearby swamps or water.

- Pantropic cultivation.

Constituents
- Plant has yielded flavonoids, -sitosterol, and steroids.
- An ethanol extract showed alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins as major constituents.
- Good source of calcium, phosphorus, and iron.
- Young leaves are rich in vitamin C, roots are rich in starch.
- Tubers yield amino acids.
- Corms yield anthocyanins perlargonidin, 3-glucoside, cyaniding 3-rhamnoside and cyaniding 3glucoside.
- Ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of leaves yielded 10 compounds, namely (1), orientin (2),
isoorientin (3), vitexin (4), isovitexin (5), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (6), luteolin-7-O-rutinoside (7), rosmarinic
acid (8), 1-O-feruloyl-D- glucoside (9) and 1-O-caffeoyl-D-glucoside (10). (see study below) (18)

Properties
- Leaves and petioles are excellent to taste, also rich in minerals.
- Leaf juice considered expectorant, astringent, styptic, stimulant, rubifacient.
- Juice of corm is considered laxative, demulcent and anodyne.
- Tubers are digestive, laxative, diuretic, lactagogue, and styptic.
- Pressed juice of petioles are styptic.
- Acridity of leaves, petioles and tubers is due to raphides which easily disappear on boiling or cooking.
These crystals may cause irritation.
- Studies have suggested analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, hypolipidemic properties.

Parts utilized
Roots and leaves.

Uses
Culinary / Nutrition
- Prized for its large corms or underground stems, used as staple food in many localities.
- Fresh edible leaves and petioles are a rich source of protein, ascorbic acid, dietary fiber, and some
important minerals.
- The corms, petioles and leaf blades are good sources of vitamin B.
- To the early Hawaiians, grown mainly for poi production.
- Its easy digestibility makes it a great nutritional supplement for weight gain needs in cancer-cachexia,
AIDS, pancreatitis and a miscellany of weight-loss conditions.
Folkloric
- Used for asthma, arthritis, diarrhea, internal hemorrhage, skin disorders.
- Juice of petioles sometimes used for earache and otorrhea.
- Juice of the corm used in alopecia.
- Leaf juice also used for internal hemorrhages, otalgia, adenitis.
- Internally, a good laxative. Also, used for piles.
- Also, used as antidote for wasp and insect stings. Leaf juice applied to scorpion stings and snake bites.
- Heated tubers are applied locally to painful rheumatic joints.

- Ash of the tubers, mixed with honey, is used for buccal aphthous stomatitis.
- Raw juice of gabi, mixed with sugar, used as febrifuge.
- In Hawaii, end of petioles used to stop wounds from bleeding.
- Stem leaf used on insect bites to prevent swelling and pain.
- In India, leaves used as anthelmintic.
- Borl tribal people of Goalpara district, Assam, use the leaf juice for boils and pains.
- Poultice of roots used on infected sores.
- In Ayurveda, plant pacifies vitiated vata and pitta, constipation, stomatitis, alopecia, hemorrhoids, and
debility.
- Juice consumed to reduce fever.
- In Venezuela, the corm is used as an abortifacient and to treat tuberculosis, pulmonary congestion,
crippled extremities, fungal abscesses in animals and as an anthelminthic. The Warao use the stem sap
for wasp stings. Poi, a ferment from corm shavings, is used bo bathing the sickly to improve muscle
tone.

Studies
Lactobacillus / The Medicinal Uses of Poi The possibility of poi being a probiotic in medical
nutrition therapy was raised. Investigation has determined that the predominant bacteria in poi are
Lactobacillus lactis (95%) and Lactobacilli (5%), containing more lactobacilli per gram than yogurt. It was
also considered for use in infants with allergies and failure-to-thrive. This review suggests a need to
confirm these results. (3)
Anti-Colon Cancer: The anti-cancer effects of poi (Colocasia esculenta) on colonic adenocarcinoma
cells in vitro: The study results suggest that poi may have a novel tumor specific anti-cancer activities
and suggests further animal studies and human clinical trials. (4)
Anti-inflammatory: An ethanol extract study of the leaves of Colocasia esculenta in wistar rats
showed significant anti-inflammatory activity with inhibition of carrageenan induced rat paw edema and
leukocyte migration and reduction of pleural exudates. (5)
Antioxidant / Flavonoid Glycosides: Study isolated 6 C-glycosylflavonoids and one Oglycosylflavonoid from the shoot system of Taumu (CE) identified as schaftoside, isoschaftoside,
orientin, isovitexin, isoorientin, vitexin and luteolin 7-O-sophoroside. Some of the compounds showed
strong antioxidant activity. Study results suggest the potential of the leaf of Colocasia esculenta as a

source of dietary antioxidant. (6)

Antihepatotoxicity: Study evaluated the antihepatotoxic and hepatoprotective activity of C. esculenta
against two well known hepatotoxins--paracetamol and CCl4. Results showed the leaf juice to possess
antihepatotoxic and hepatoprotective efficacy in vitro using rat liver slice method. (9)
Anti-Diabetic: Study of an ethanol extract of leaves for antidiabetic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic
rats showed antihyperglycemic activity. Phytochemical screening yielded alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins,
and tannins as major constituents in the extract. (10)
Antimicrobial / Anti-Vibrio spp / Aquaculture: Study evaluated the antimicrobial property of C.
esculenta against 5 strains of Vibrio spp. Resistant pathogenic bacteria has posed a problem in the
aquaculture industry. Results showed only the leaf aqueous extract showed antimicrobial activity against
all tested bacterial strains (Vibrio alginolyticus, V. cholera, V. harveyi, V. parahaemolyticus and V.
vulnificus). (11)
Antioxidative / Response to Arsenic Stress: Study showed an increase in antioxidant stress enzyme
activities in response to arsenic exposure may be taken as evidence for an enhanced detoxification
capacity of C. esculentum towards reactive oxygen species that might be generated in the stressed
plants. (12)
Antihelmintic: Study evaluated aqueous and ethanolic extracts of leaf for antihelmintic activity against
earthworm. Piperazine citrate was used as standard drug reference. Results showed significant
anthelmintic activity at highest concentration, 50 mg/ml extract. (14)
Anti-Lipid Peroxidative Activity in CCl4 and Acetaminophen Mediated Damage: Study using a rat
liver slice method showed C. esculenta whole leaf juice prevented lipid peroxidative reactions caused by
free radicals generated by the hepatotoxins (CCl4 and acetaminophen). Results showed the whole leaf
contains free radical scavenging efficacy. (15)
Antimicrobial / Antioxidant / Anti-Cancer: Study evaluated extracts of different plant parts--corm,
stem, and leaf-- for antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer activities. Study showed antimicrobial
activity against against Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, Edwardsiella tarda, Flavobacterium sp.,
Klebsiella sp., Salmonella sp., Vibrio alginolyticus, V. parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae and Pseudomonas
aeruginosa. Antioxidant activity was revealed using a DPPH radical scavenging assay. Anticancer
activity was done with Colorimetric MTT assay against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7). (16)
Poi / Probiotic Potential: Poi is the pasty starch made from cooked, mashed corm of the taro plant.
Study has hypothesized that poi has potential use as probiotic. No scientific studies have explored the
potential of poi as a probiotic in medical nutrition therapy. An investigator reports the predominant
bacteria in poi are Lactococcus lactis (95%) and Lactobacilli (5%), both lactic-acid producing bacteria.
Also, poi contains more bacteria per gram than yogurt. A literature search produced documented
evidence that poi shows promised for use in infants with allergies or failure-to-thrive. Study suggests
further research for poi as potential probiotic. (17)
Aldose Reductase Inhibition / Anti-Diabetic: Ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of leaves yielded
10 compounds. Orientin (2) and isoorientin (3) significantly inhibited rat lens aldose reductase. Results
suggest flavonoid derivatives from C. esculenta possess compounds with the potential for prevention
and/or treatment of diabetic complications. (18)
Antibacterial: Ethyl acetate extract of leaves showed the highest activity against pathogenic bacterial
strains tested and recommends potential use for treatment of typhoid, pneumonia, otitis, urinary tract
infections and diarrheic infections. (19)
Antimetastatic Effect / Immunostimulation: Study extracted a crude polysaccharide from the Taro.
The purified active compound, Taro-4-I activated the complement system through classical and
alternative pathways. Taro-4-I significantly increased production of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis
factor. Administration of taro-4-I also significantly inhibited the lung metastases of B16BL6 melanoma
cells. (20)
Antibacterial / Antifungal: Aqueous extract of leaves was tested for in-vitro antimicrobial activity
against gram positive bacterial strains (Streptococcus mutans, B. subtilis), gram negative bacterial

strains (K. pneumonia, Pseudomonas fragi, E. coli) and fungal strains (Aspergillus niger and C.
albicans). The extract showed good antimicrobial activity against some of the tested bacteria and
fungus, with maximum activity against Streptococcus mutans. (21)
Anti-Compulsive Activity: Study evaluated the anti-obsessive-compulsive disorder activity of
hydroalcoholic extract of leaves using marble-burying behavior test in mice. Results showed anticompulsive activity comparable to reference drug fluoxetine. Both HECE and fluoxetine do not produce
overt motor dysfunction. (22)