Evolvulus alsinoides
What's the taxonomical classification of Evolvulus alsinoides?
Evolvulus alsinoides belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, this plant is further categorized under the order Solanales. It is a member of the family Convolvulaceae, which places it within the genus Evolvulus, ultimately identifying it as the specific species Evolvulus alsinoides.
| Taxonomic Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Solanales |
| Family | Convolvulaceae |
| Genus | Evolvulus |
| Species | alsinoides |
What are the morphological characteristics of this plant?
Evolvulus alsinoide has prostrate, trailing stems that form dense mats, small elliptical leaves with entire margins, and funnel-shaped white flowers featuring a distinct central eye. The leaves are typically oppositely arranged and possess a smooth, glabrous texture. Its flowering structures emerge from the leaf axils and exhibit a delicate, trumpet-like morphology. The plant often develops a rooting habit at the nodes where the stems contact the soil. This creeping growth pattern allows it to spread rapidly across open ground.
What is the geographical distribution of this plant?
This plant is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, ranging from the southeastern United States through Central America and deep into South America. It is commonly found in various habitats including coastal areas, disturbed sites, and moist tropical forests. Because it thrives in warm, humid environments, its presence is most concentrated in regions with consistent rainfall. The species has also been introduced to other tropical parts of the world where the climate supports its growth. This wide distribution is facilitated by its ability to colonize open, sunny spaces.
How is this plant cultivated?
This plant requires full sun exposure and well-draining soil to thrive in garden beds or containers.
It prefers regular watering to maintain consistent moisture without allowing the roots to sit in stagnant water. Once established, the plant is relatively drought-tolerant and can handle moderate heat. Frequent deadheading of the small blue flowers will encourage continuous blooming throughout the growing season.
This species is particularly effective as a groundcover to suppress weeds in sunny locations.
What parts of this plant are used medicinally?
This plant Evolvulus alsinoides is utilized medicinally through its leaves, roots, stems, seed coats, and the whole plant. The leaves are frequently prepared as poultices to treat skin inflammations and wounds. Decoctions made from the roots and stems are often consumed to address internal ailments and digestive issues. Additionally, the seed coats are sometimes processed for specific therapeutic properties in traditional remedies. Practitioners often use the whole plant in various preparations to provide broad-spectrum healing benefits.
According to a study published by "Botanical studies", Evolvulus alsinoides possesses medicinal properties such as a brain tonic and antifungal. The research investigated the micromorphology of these taxa to support species identification for uses in pharmaceutical botany. The study provides data on pollen which are monads, spheroidally shaped with a 28-47 µm diameter and 15-pantocolpate apertures type. For the stems, the anatomy consists of a single layer of epidermis, one to four chlorenchyma layers, and one to seven layers of cortical cells. These findings assist in the identification of the source plants used for herbal medicines.
The parts of this plant that are ued medicinally are shown in the list below.
- leaf
- root
- stem
- seed coat
- whole plant
What traditional systems uses this plant?
This plant, Evolvulus alsinoideides, has been utilized for centuries in various traditional medicinal systems such as Ayurveda to treat a wide range of ailments. In Ayurvedic practice, the plant is often valued for its cooling properties and is applied to manage inflammatory conditions and fevers. Beyond India, different indigenous cultures have historically used its leaves and roots to address skin irritations and digestive issues. The species is frequently integrated into herbal formulations aimed at restoring balance within the body's vital energies. These historical applications demonstrate the long-standing reliance on the plant's bioactive properties in folk medicine.
According to a study published by "Life (Basel, Switzerland)", Evolvulus alsinoides is also known as shankhpushpi. This important medicinal plant under the family Convolvulaceae is widely used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. The mitogenome of Evolvulus alsinoides was 344184 bp in length and comprised 46 unique coding genes. These genes included 31 protein-coding genes, 12 tRNA genes, and 3 rRNA genes.
The hystorical systems that uses this plant are shown in the list below.
- Ayurveda
What are the pharmacological activities of Evolvulus alsinoides?
This plant has anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antioxidant, and neuroprotective pharmacological activities. Its bioactive compounds work to regulate blood glucose levels, making it a candidate for managing diabetes. The plant also exhibits strong anti-inflammatory properties and combats oxidative stress through its antioxidant mechanisms. Additionally, its antimicrobial effects allow it to inhibit the growth of various pathogens. Research suggests these properties may also provide neuroprotective benefits by shielding nerve cells from damage.
According to a study published by "Bioinformation", Evolvulus alsinoides is a medicinal plant from the Convolvulaceae family that possesses a variety of pharmacological qualities. These include activities that aid wound healing, hepato-protection, cardio-protection, anti-diabetic action, asthma, epilepsy, memory and learning, and neuroprotection. In Ayurvedic medicine, the whole plant is used to treat neurological disorders like amnesia and is considered a brain tonic. The methanolic extract of Evolvulus alsinoides yielded 10 compounds through GC-MS analysis. All 10 compounds showed the highest number of hits and are characterized as non-toxic. These molecules serve as potential hit-to-lead molecules in preclinical studies due to their ability to modulate various proteins and enzymes.
The primary pharmacological activities of this plant are shown in the list below.
- anti-diabetic
- anti-inflammatory
- anti-microbial
- antioxidant
- neuroprotective
What medicinal compounds this plant contains?
This plant contains the medicinal compounds 6-methoxy-7-O-beta-glucopyranoside coumarin, kaempferol 4'-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, kaempferol 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, kaempferol-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, and kaempferol-7-O-beta-glucopyranoside. These diverse phytochemicals are primarily categorized as flavonoids and coumarins. The specific glycosylated forms of kaempferol are significant for their potential biological activities. These compounds contribute to the overall therapeutic profile of Evolvulus alsinoides. Research into these constituents helps clarify the plant's pharmacological properties.
According to a study published by "Fitoterapia", the ethanolic extract of Evolvulus alsinoides contains two new flavonol-4'-glycoside compounds, specifically kaempferol 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3) and kaempferol 4'-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5). These were isolated alongside 8 known compounds labeled 1, 2, 4 and 6-10. Oral administration of the extract at 200mg/kg p.o. normalized oxidative alterations in rats with an efficacy similar to melatonin. In vitro antioxidant activity was significantly demonstrated by compounds 3, 5, 9 and 10 when tested at 100 and 200 microg/ml.
The primary medicinal compounds of this plant are shown in the list below.
- 6-methoxy-7-O-beta-glucopyranoside coumarin
- kaempferol 4'-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside
- kaempferol 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside
- kaempferol-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside
- kaempferol-7-O-beta-glucopyranoside
What health conditions is this plant used for?
This plant is used for the treatment and management of neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer disease, Parkinson's, and dementia. Researchers study its chemical properties to determine how it might mitigate the progressive loss of cognitive functions. It is frequently investigated for its potential to alleviate memory impairment in aging populations. By targeting specific pathways in the brain, the plant offers a natural approach to addressing complex neurological conditions.
According to a study published by "Talanta", Evolvulus alsinoides contains proteins and peptides with therapeutic potential for Alzheimer disease. These substances were extracted using four different pH based buffer solutions and underwent sequential purification with 10 kDa and 3 kDa cut-off ultrafiltration membranes. The 3 kDa cut-off filtrate of 0.1 M Tris HCl buffer at pH 8.0 demonstrated the highest antioxidant potential across FRAP, DPPH, ABTS and NOS assays. In-silico docking studies revealed that identified peptides from the plant showed high binding affinity against 6 Alzheimer targets, specifically BACE1, nAChR, Aβ, AChE, GSK-3β, and JNK. These findings suggest the plant has antioxidant and neuroprotective potential for delaying neurodegeneration.
The main health conditions this plant is used for are shown in the list below.
- Alzheimer disease
- Parkinson's
- dementia
- neurodegenerative diseases
- memory impairment
What are the herbal preparations of this plant?
This plant is used to create various medicinal herbal preparations including Pet ether extract, aqueous fraction, essential oils, ethanolic extracts, and water infusion. Researchers utilize these different solvents to isolate specific bioactive compounds responsible for the plant's therapeutic properties. For instance, ethanolic extracts and Pet ether extracts are often studied for their concentrated phytochemical profiles. Water infusions and aqueous fractions provide different methods for extracting water-soluble components for traditional or laboratory use. Additionally, the extraction of essential oils allows for the isolation of volatile aromatic compounds found within the species.
According to a study published by "Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS", Evolvulus alsinoides is an established ayurvedic herb having neuropharmacological effect. The study aimed to conduct a phytochemical comparison between Pet ether and Ethanolic extracts of Evolvulus alsinoides (EAE). Phytochemical investigation was used to identify the presence (+) or absence (-) of different phytoconstituent in these extracts by using various phytochemical testing methods. When comparing the extracts, the Ethanolic extracts of the plant showed more phytoconstituent as compared to Pet ether extracts. This investigation concludes that phytochemical comparison is useful in finding chemical constituents in plant substances that may lead to quantitative evaluation and pharmacologically active chemical compounds.
The main herbal preparations of this plant are shown in the list below.
- Pet ether extract
- aqueous fraction
- essential oils
- ethanolic extracts
- water infusion
What side effects this plant can have?
This plant can act as an antifungal agent and a brain tonic when utilized in traditional medicinal practices. The chemical compounds within Evolvulvus alsinoides possess properties that inhibit the growth of various fungal pathogens. Additionally, its extracts are frequently used to enhance cognitive functions and support neurological health. These diverse biological activities make the species a significant subject in ethnopharmacology. Regular application of its derivatives may offer both protective and restorative health benefits.
According to a study published by "Botanical studies", Evolvulus alsinoides has several reported medicinal properties. This specific plant is recognized for its use as a brain tonic. Additionally, it has been identified as an antifungal. These properties highlight the medicinal value of the species.
The main side effects this plant can have are shown in the list below.
- antifungal
- brain tonic
What herbs are paired with Evolvulus alsinoides?
This plant, commonly known as blueنمية or blue morning glory, pairs effectively with trailing herbs like creeping thyme or sweet alyssum to create a layered groundcover effect.
The vibrant blue flowers of Evolvulus alsinoides provide a striking visual contrast when planted alongside silver-foliaged herbs such as lavender or sage. Using aromatic herbs in the same container or garden bed helps to mask the soil scent and enhances the overall sensory experience for the viewer. These combinations work best in sunny locations where the herbs and the creeping plant can spread together to form a dense, colorful mat.
Selecting complementary textures ensures that the delicate leaves of the blue morning glory are balanced by the structural presence of the paired herbs.