Description

Ayapana triplinervis (aya-pana, water hemp) is a tropical American shrub in the family Asteraceae. This plant has long slender leaves which are often used to make a stimulating medicine. It contains Herniarin, a methoxy analog of umbelliferone, while its essential oil contains thymophydroquinone dimethyl ether.

Characteristics:

An ascending, slender perennial. Leaves purple, subsessile, lanceolate, 3-nerved, acuminate, subentire, glabrous. Inflorescence a lax, few-headed corymb, heads pedicellate, about 20-flowered; flowers slaty blue. Constituents. A rich source of naturally occurring coumarin chemicals. Leaves contain a volatile oil, ayapana oil, 1.14%. Plant yields cineol, alpha-phellandrene, alpha-terneol, ayapanin, ayapin, borneol, coumarin, sabinene, umbelliferone among many others. Hemarin, one of the coumarins is used as an anti-tumor remedy in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Uses:

The herb is stimulant, tonic in small doses and laxative when taken in quantity. A hot infusion is emetic and diaphoretic. Decoction of the leaves is antiseptic and haemostatic; useful against various kinds of haemorrhage and to clean foul ulcers. An aqueous extract of the dried leaves is a cardiac stimulant. Fresh leaves are used by the Marma for cut and stomachache. Ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of the plant possess antibacterial and anti fungal properties.