Acalypha fruticosa

Acalypha fruticosa Forssk.

Common Names:

in Arabic: anama

in Kenya: etetelait

in Tanzania: gonasokola, mchacha, mfulwe, mhacha, mkima-dimbya, mnukovunda, ndyavadimi, nyautitili, shaiti, simamarete

in India: chinee mara, chinnaaku, chinni, chinni chedi, chinni gida, chinni mara, chinnimara, cinnakkilanku, cinnaku, cinni, cinnicceti, cinnikkilanku, cinnimar, cinniver, ciri, cirucinni, cirumanikacceti, italai, kacci, kalam, kannikkilanku, kantali, kantalikam, katalikam, katalikamaram, kilamacunacceti, kilimacunam, kilanku cinni, kitikkilanku, kitti, kittik-kilanku, kittik-kizhang, kittikkilanku, kupokacinni, kupokam, mabbaku, malaisiruthutthi, munja, nanti, nantiracinni, nantivirutcam, nariccinni, nariccinnicceti, perim-munja, perun cinni, siru sinni, tsinnie

Scientific name:(Synonyms)

• Acalypha betulina Retz.
• Acalypha fruticosa var. villosa Hutch.
• Acalypha fruticosa var. fruticosa
• Acalypha paxiana Dinter ex Pax & K.Hoffm.
• Ricinocarpus fruticosus (Forssk.) Kuntze

Pharmacological Activities:

1. Dried aerial parts insecticidal to adult sandflies.
2. Leaves antioxidant, cytotoxic, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, infusion or decoction, for swellings, bee sting, skin diseases, infected wounds, itch, stomachache, epilepsy, used in combination with Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. And Suregada zanzibariensis Baill.;
3. decoction of leaves taken orally for dysentery;
4. leaf extract given to children for cough and breathing problems.
5. Roots washed and boiled and the liquid drunk to treat cholera, liver problems, venereal diseases, stomach problems and whooping cough, liquid applied to eyes to treat conjunctivitis.
6. Roots decoction taken hot to relieve fever and colds, for convulsion, hydrocele;
7. Root infusion for stomachache.
8. Stems and roots used to treat toothache
9. For itch, insect bites, leaf and root paste applied topically on the affected places

Acalypha fruticosa Forssk. var. fruticosa

Common Names:

in Ethiopia: migomali, walainabi

in Kenya: eteteleit, kaparasamugh, kasilaya, mahacha, mutasatsa, olando-makwar, tapakapow

in Somalia: jambac

in Tanzania: mchakari, mfulwe, mzahati, simamanela, simamanelle

in India: cinnakkilanku, cinnikkilanku, kilanku cinni, kitikkilanku, kittik-kilanku, kittik-kizhang, kittikkilanku, munja

Pharmacological Activity:

1. Leaves antibacterial, infusion or decoction, for swellings, infected wounds, itch, stomachache, epilepsy.
2. Roots decoction for convulsion, hydrocele;
3. Root infusion for stomachache.
4. Ethnoveterinary medicine.

Acalypha fruticosa Forssk. var. villosa Hutch.

Common Names:

in Tanzania: mchacha, mchakari, mfulwe, mzahati, simamanela, simamanelle, simamarete

Pharmacological Activities:

1. Stem and roots for toothache.
2. Roots decoction used to treat asthma, gonorrhea, fever and cough.
3. Also used as a snakebite remedy.