Content uploaded by Hayk S. Arakelyan
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Hayk S. Arakelyan on Feb 03, 2019
Content may be subject to copyright.
Tradescantia Zebrina - Mother Nature Healing.
Author
Prof. Hayk S. Arakelyan. Full Professor in Medicine,
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Ph.D , Grand Ph.D .
Senior Expert of Interactive Clinical Pharmacology , Drug Safety,
Treatment Tactics, General Medicine and Clinical Research.
The elegance and beauty cannot be separated from health.
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Indroduction.
Tradescantia are herbaceous perennials and include both climbing and
trailing species, reaching 30–60 centimetres (0.98–1.97 ft) in height.
The leaves are long, thin and blade-like to lanceolate, from 3–45 cm long (1.2–
17.7 in). The flowers can be white, pink, or purple, but are most commonly bright
blue, with three petals and six yellow anthers (or rarely, four petals and eight
yellow anthers). The sap is mucilaginous and clear. Tradescantia / træd skæntiˌ ɪˈ ə
is a genus of 75 species of herbaceous perennialwildflowers in the
family Commelinaceae, native to the New World from southern Canada to
northern Argentina, including the West Indies. Members of the genus are known by
the common name spiderwort. Phylogenetic studies suggest that Tradescantia can
be subdivided into as many as twenty distinct sections. Enlarging the sections from
eight to twelve added six further species for a total of 68. Within
section Tradescantia, he distinguished the American species (series Virginianae)
from the three Mexican series (Tuberosae, Sillamontanae,
and Orchidophyllae). "Type" as listed here indicates species typica.
Therapeutic Benefits of Tradescantia Zebrina.
Tradescantia zebrina Heynh. ex Bosse syn. Zebrina pendula Schnizl.
(FamilyCommelinaceae), commonly known as 'Wandering Jew' is an important
medicinal plant with several traditional medicinal uses in many countries
around the world. The plant have demonstrated significant pharmacological
activities such as anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, antitrypanosomal,
antiarrythmic and larvicidal activity against Anopheles benarrochi.
Cultivation of Tradescantia Zebrina.
Though sometimes considered a weed, spiderwort is a popular ornamental plant
cultivated for borders and also used in containers. Where it appears as a volunteer,
it is often welcomed and allowed to stay. Temperate species are grown as garden
plants while tropical species such as T. zebrina and T. spathacea are used as
house plants.
Toxicity of Tradescantia Zebrina.
Some members of the genus Tradescantia may cause allergic reactions in pets
(especially cats and dogs) characterised by red, itchy skin. Notable culprits
include T. albiflora (Scurvy Weed), T. spathacea (Moses In The Cradle), and T.
pallida (Purple Heart).
Uses of Tradescantia Zebrina.
American Indians used T. virginiana to treat a number of conditions, including
stomachache and cancer. It was also used as a food source. The cells of
the stamen hairs of some Tradescantia are colored blue, but when exposed to
sources of ionizing radiation such as gamma rays, the cells mutate and change
color to pink; they are one of the few tissues known to serve as an
effective bioassay for ambient radiation levels. Studies have shown anti-
proliferative properties.
Folkloric .
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
- Elsewhere, used for treatment of common cold, hypertension, tuberculosis,
uterine disorders.
- In Jamaica, used for treatment of high blood pressure, coughs, tuberculosis,
and as cold cure.
- In combination with other herbs, used to purify the blood and for amenorrhea.
- In China, leaves applied to reduce swellings. Also used for hemorrhoids,
blood in the stools, tuberculous cough, conjunctivitis, kidney infections.
- Leaves mixed with other types of herbs as a blood tonic and to treat
amenorrhea.
- In Mexico, used for treating diarrhea.
- Leaf decoction used for diabetes.
- Decoction of leaves used for urinary tract infections and for flushing the
kidney.
- In Afro-Cuban Santeria, decoction of leaves drunk to flush gravel out of the
kidneys and bladder, break the crisis of colitis, and provoke menstruation.
(Cabrera, 1971)
- In Guyana, leaves used as tea for cleansing blood and treating influenza.
Antineoplastic Components: Study isolated three components identified as β-
sitosterol, 3β, 5α, 6β-trihydroxy stigmast and succinic acid. Anti-tumor activity
was seen in ascites-type-180 sarcoma of mice: 43% (160mg/kg) for succinic
acid, 91% (100mg/kg) for β-sitosterol and 98%(100mg/kg) for 3β, 5α, 6β-
trihydroxystigmast.
Anti-Cancer / Anti-Proliferative: Study evaluated the anticancerous properties
of Tz extracts against two cancer cell lines, A-549 lung carcinoma and SCC-13y
malignant keratinocyte cells. Tz treatment resulted in decreased cellular growth. Tz
treatment was also tested on non-cancerous cell line of HFF-human foreskin
fibroblasts cells to determine relative toxicity of the extract. Results showed
inhibitive effects of Tz extracts on cancerous and non-cancerous cells.
Antineoplastic Components: Study isolated three components from Zp: ß-
sitosterol, 3β, 5α, 6β-trihydroxy stigmast and succinic acid. Anti-tumor
rates were 43% (160mg/kg) for succinic acid, 91% (100 mg/kg) for ß-sitosterol,
and 98% (100 mg/kg) for 3β, 5α, 6β-trihydroxystigmast in anti-cancer test of
ascites type-180 sarcoma of mice.
Effect on Human Cancer Cells: Study evaluated the anticancer characteristics of
Tradescantia zebrina and Tradescantia fluminensis. Study confirmed the general
inhibitory effects of T. zebrina and T. fluminensis extracts on cancerous and non-
cancerous cells.
Antioxidant / Antibacterial / Leaves: Study evaluated the antioxidant and
antibacterial activity of five Commelinaceae methanolic leaf extracts. Antioxidant
activity was evaluated by TPC, TTC, TFC assays, while antioxidant activities were
measured by DPPH, FRP, and FIC. Of the five plants, the methanolic leaf extract
of T. zebrina showed the highest antioxidant content and activity, and exhibited
antibacterial activityy against six Gm-positve and two Gm-negative bacterial
speces.
Antioxidant / Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity / Leaves: Study
evaluated the in vitro antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of
methanol extract of leaves of T. zebrina. The ME of TZ at 100.00 µg/ml and 10.00
µg/ml showed significant inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity (p<0.05) of
14.0% and 15.3%, respectively. The extract also exhibited 18.1% reduction and
capability to scavenge free radical against DPPH.
Silver Nanoparticles / Antibacterial / Leaves: Study reports on the biosynthesis
of silver nanoparticles using aqueous leaf extract of T. zebrina and its antibacterial
activity against common human pathogenic bacteria viz. S. epidermis, S. aureus, S.
enterica, E. coli and B. cereus. Results showed good zones of inhibition
comparable to amikacin.
If you have any questions concerning “ Tradescantia Zebrina - Mother
Nature Healing. ”, interactive clinical pharmacology , or any other questions,
please inform me.
Prof. Hayk S. Arakelyan
