| Common Name: |
Country Mallow |
| Other Names: |
Bala, Heartleaf, Vatya |
| Botanical Name: |
Sida Cordifolia |
| Genus Name: |
Sida |
| Family Name: |
Malvaceae |
| Location: |
It is a common weed distributed throughout tropical and sub-tropical india and ceylon in waste places and jungles upto an altitude of 1050 m. |
| Cultivation: |
A method was developed to initiate multiple shoots from mature nodal explants of Sida cordifolia Linn. High frequency of regeneration was achieved on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.0 mg l-1 6-benzylaminopurine, 0.5 mg l-1 a-naphthalene acidic acid, 1.0 mg l-1 adenine sulfate, and 10% (v/v) coconut milk. Multiple shoots were initiated within 21 d and the above media was capable of inducing the formation of more than 20 shoots from each explant. Regenerated shoots were successfully rooted on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg l-1 indole-3-butyric acid and 3% (w/v) sucrose. Rooted plantlets were established in soil. The regenerated plantlets showed no morphological differences from the parent material. This protocol could be useful for germplasm conservation, cultivation, and genetic improvement of S. cordifolia. |
| Propagation: |
Seeds Readily |
| Harvest: |
Whole plant to be harvested immediately after flowering |
| Height: |
0.75 – 1.5M |
| Properties: |
No tannin or glycosides have been identified. Roots and stems contain the alkaloid ephedrine, normally observed in the different varieties of Ephedra belonging to the Gymnosperms. Recent analyses have revealed that ephedrine and pseudoephedrine constitute the major alkaloids from the aerial parts of the plant, which also show traces of sitosterol and palmitic, stearic and hexacosanoic acids. From seed oil sterculic, malvalic and coronaric acids are isolated along with other fatty acids (Chem. Ind. 1985. 483). |
| Parts Used: |
Whole Plant |
| Medicinal Uses: |
The plant is aphrodisiac, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and tonic in nature. It effects on central nervous system and provides relief from anxiety. It is used to reduce the body weight. It lowers the blood pressure and improves cardiac irregularity. It is useful in fevers, fits, ophthalmia, rheumatism, leucorrhoea, micturition, gonorrhoea, colic, nervous disorders and general debility. The root juice is used for the healing of wound. Whole plant juice is used in spermatorrhoea. Plant bark is effective in curing facial paralysis and sciatica. It is also used to improve sexual strength. The oils are used topically to the sore muscles, sore joints in arthritis and rheumatism, in sciatica and neuritis of legs. It is diaphoretic in nature and increases perspiration and thus reduces fever.
To treat asthma, colds, and flu; to strengthen the skeletal system; to aid in weight loss and fat burning; to increase energy. |
| Typical Dose: |
A typical dose of country mallow may range from 0.5 to 1.0gm of the powdered root, leaves, and/or seeds two times daily, or 15 to 30ml of fresh juice two times daily. |
| Possible Side Effects: |
Country mallow's side effects include dizziness, irritability, insomnia, and heart palpitations. |
| Drug Interactions: |
| Taking country mallow with these drugs may increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): |
| Acarbose, (Prandase, Precose) |
Acetohexamide, (Acetohexamide) |
Chlorpropamide, (Diabinese, Novo-Propamide) |
Gliclazide, (Diamicron, Novo-Gliclazide) |
| Glimepiride, (Amaryl) |
Glipizide, (Glucotrol) |
Glipizide and Metformin, (Metaglip) |
Gliquidone, (Beglynor, Glurenorm) |
| Glyburide, (DiaBeta, Micronase) |
Glyburide and Metformin, (Glucovance) |
Insulin, (Humulin, Novolin R) |
Metformin, (Glucophage, Riomet) |
| Miglitol, (Glyset) |
Nateglinide, (Starlix) |
Pioglitazone, (Actos) |
Repaglinide, (GlucoNorm, Prandin) |
| Rosiglitazone, (Avandia) |
Rosiglitazone and Metformin, (Avandamet) |
Tolazamide, (Tolinase) |
Tolbutamide, (Apo-Tolbutamide, Tol-Tab) |
| Taking country mallow with these drugs may increase the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure): |
| Belladonna, Phenobarbital, and Ergotamine, (Bellamine S, Bel-Tabs) |
Bromocriptine, (Apo-Bromocriptine, Parlodel) |
Cabergoline, (Dostinex) |
| Dihydroergotamine, (Migranal) |
Ergoloid Mesylates, (Hydergine) |
Ergonovine, (Ergonovine) |
| Ergotamine, (Cafergor, Cafergot) |
Iproniazid, (Marsilid) |
Methylergonovine, (Methergine) |
| Methysergide, (Sansert) |
Moclobemide, (Alt-Moclobemide, Nu-Moclobemide) |
Pergolide, (Permax) |
| Phenelzine, (Nardil) |
Selegiline, (Eldepryl) |
Tranylcypromine, (Parnate) |
| Taking country mallow with these drugs may increase the risk of adverse effects: |
| Pentoxifylline, (Pentoxil, Trental) |
Theophylline, (Elixophyllin, Theochron) |
Theophylline and Guaifenesin, (Elixophyllin-GC, Quibron) |
| Taking country mallow with this drug may be harmful: |
| Dexamthasone, (Decadron, Dexasone)—May reduce the drug's effectiveness. |
|
| Lab Test Alterations: |
- May increase or decrease blood glucose levels.
- Positive urine tests for ephedrine (a constituent of country mallow), which is typically banned by athletic organizations.
|
| Disease Effects: |
- May encourage the formation of kidney stones.
- May increase anxiety.
- May worsen anorexia by diminishing the appetite.
- May worsen cases of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) by causing the bladder to retain urine.
- May worsen cases of cardiovascular disease by causing the heart to beat rapidly or irregularly, by raising blood pressure, or by triggering angina.
- May worsen cases of essential tremor.
- May worsen cases of hyperthyroid by stimulating the thyroid gland.
- May worsen cases of poor blood flow to the brain by constricting blood vessels.
- May worsen cases of narrow-angle glaucoma.
- May worsen diabetes by interfering with control of blood sugar.
|
| Food Interactions: |
Increased stimulatory and adverse effects of caffeine and ephedrine when taken with caffeine-containing beverages, due to ephedrine content of country mallow. |
| Supplement Interactions: |
- Increased risk of hypertension and adverse cardiovascular effects when used with herbs and supplements that have stimulant properties, such as caffeine, Coffee, Cola Nut, Ma-Huang, and others.
- Increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias when used with Digitalis.
- Increased risk of hypertension (elevated blood pressure) when used with secale alkaloid derivatives (Ergot).
|
| Bibliography: |
Pole, Sebastian (2006). Ayurvedic Medicine. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 137. ISBN 9780443100901. Ayurvedic Medicine,Google Books. Retrieved on 2008-11-03.
The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grosberg,PhD and Barry Fox,MD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,MD. Pp.169-171 |