Guinea Hen Weed

Petiveria alliacea

Physical Characteristics

Petiveria alliacea is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, north through S. America to the Caribbean and Florida, through Central America to Mexico and Texas.

Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Abortifacient Acrid Anodyne Antiasthmatic Antibacterial Antidiarrhoeal Antifungal Antiinflammatory Antirheumatic Antiseptic Antispasmodic Antitumor Cancer Diuretic Febrifuge Odontalgic Tonic A popular medicinal herb in the tropics, its pungent, garlic-like aroma (which is due to the presence of sulphur compounds) at least in part accounting for this popularity[238 ]. All the parts are excessively acrid; chewing a small portion of the leaves is said to render the tongue as dry and black and rough as it appears in cases of malignant fever[460 ]. The whole plant is used, or the leaves and roots separately[238 ]. Many biologically active compounds have been isolated from all parts of the plant, the most important ones being sulphur compounds, but flavonoids, triterpenes and steroids have also been identified[299 ]. The sulphur-containing compounds are similar to the odour compounds in garlic and onion, but in the latter they have alkyl instead of benzyl parts[299 ]. Water, methanol and ethanol extracts of the whole plant have been shown to slow the growth of leukaemia cells and several other strains of cancerous tumour cells in vitro. The water extracts were toxic to leukaemia, lymphoma and several other cancer cell lines[299 ]. Water extracts of the whole plant have been shown to stimulate the immune system[299 ]. The hexane and cyclohexane extracts of leaves and stems increased the phagocytotic index of human granulocytes. One of the active immunomodulatory compounds present in the extracts was dibenzyl-trisulfide[299 ]. A crude extract of the whole plant has shown a protective effect on blood cells infected with the pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes[299 ]. Root extracts have shown significant anti-inflammatory effects, as well as a significant pain-relieving effect[299 ]. Many clinical reports and studies confirm that the extracts of the aerial parts and roots have significant broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties in vitro and in vivo against numerous strains of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi and yeast[299 ]. The crude water extracts perform in a similar way to the alcohol extracts[299 ]. The whole plant is a pungent herb that is said to be abortifacient, antiseptic, antispasmodic, diuretic and febrifuge. It is believed to calm the nerves, control diarrhoea and stimulate the uterus[238 ]. The plant is used in the treatment of a range of conditions. It is taken internally to treat nervous spasms, paralysis, hysteria, asthma, whooping cough, pneumonia, bronchitis, hoarseness, fevers, headaches, influenza, cystitis, venereal diseases and menstrual complaints[238 ]. Taken externally, the plant is used to treat earaches, fever and headaches[238 ]. It is said that a vapour bath or fumigation of the plant can restore motion to paralysed limbs[460 ]. The roots are used as a remedy for toothache, and it has also been used to procure an abortion[460 ]. A leaf maceration is applied to the belly to induce contractions in case of difficult delivery[299 ]. The liquid from the leaves is instilled as nose or eye drops to cure violent headache, and as nose drops to cure sinusitis[299 ]. A bath or vapour bath with a leaf decoction is taken in case of oedema[299 ]. A leaf decoction is applied to abscesses, and is used as an analgesic against muscular pain and to treat skin diseases.[299 ]. An infusion of pounded bark is drunk to treat colic, rheumatism, cancer, syphilis, colds, fever, bronchitis and asthma. Colombians chew the leaves to coat their teeth and prevent caries[299 ].

Known Hazards

The sharp spines of the fruit penetrate the skin readily and painfully if the plant is handled carelessly[469 ]. The plant can accumulate nitrates and has caused nitrate poisoning in cattle[299 ].