Zehneria scabra is a perennial climbing or trailing herb that belong to the family Cucurbitaceae.[1]
| Zehneria scabra | |
|---|---|
.jpg)
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
| Genus: | Zehneria |
| Species: | Z. scabra
|
| Binomial name | |
| Zehneria scabra (Linn.f.) Sond
| |
Morphology edit
.jpg)
The herb can climb up to 10 m (33 ft) long. The older parts of the stems are woody with corky-ridged bark.[2] Its leaves are triangular to ovate in shape, cordate at the base, deep green, and scabrid punctate above. The fruit is oval shaped and bright red.[3]
Distribution edit
The plant is widely distributed in Tropical Africa, and present in Madagascar, India, and in Java, Indonesia.
Uses edit
In Ethiopia, the herb is known locally as 'hareg ressa' where its fruits and leaves are crushed and oil extracted used to treat scabies. [2] Extracts from the herb are traditionally used to treat diarrhea, alopecia, wound and eczema.[4] Oil extracts are also used to treat skin related infections among the Pare of Tanzania.
References edit
- ^ Abew, Bereket; Sahile, Samuel; Moges, Feleke (October 2014). "In vitro antibacterial activity of leaf extracts of Zehneria scabra and Ricinus communis against Escherichia coli and methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus". Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 4 (10): 816–820. doi:10.12980/APJTB.4.201414B16.
- ^ a b Messele, Bruck (February 2004). Studies on Extracts of Some Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used for Dermatological Disorders in Ethiopia (Thesis thesis). Addis Ababa University.
- ^ "Zehneria scabra (L.f.) Sond. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
- ^ Tadesse, Wondmagegn Tamiru; Hailu, Abebe Ejigu; Gurmu, Abyot Endale; Mechesso, Abraham Fikru (December 2014). "Experimental assessment of antidiarrheal and antisecretory activity of 80% methanolic leaf extract of Zehneria scabra in mice". BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 14 (1): 460. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-460. ISSN 1472-6882. PMC 4265498. PMID 25465058.