Scientific name: Tradescantia zebrina Loudon
Family name: Commelinaceae
Inch plant is popular in planting because of its easy to grow and beautiful leaves. It is applied as a groundcover, and houseplant in Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and also be found on the Caribbean islands. However, it has been cultivated in Asia at present.
The general characteristic of inch plant is described as followed. It has attractive purple and green leaves with silver-colored stripes on the outer edges. There are thin and translucent leaf sheaths with 8 to 12 mm long and 5 to 8 mm wide. Its shoots are glabrous or hairy. Moreover its flower has the three pink petals and the white sexual organs.
Medicinal benefits:
There are amazing therapeutic properties of inch plants such as strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory, antiarrhythmic, anticancer activity, and insecticidal properties. Many countries have used it as herb e.g. China, Jamaica, and Malaysia to help kidneys function.
Chemical compositions: Its chemical composition has been studies by HPLC-DAD- MS, HPLC-DAD-TOF-MS, MS, and NMR as shown in figure 3. Its active ingredients have been promoted for various medical advantages as mentioned earlier.
Nevertheless inch plant is toxic for pet such as dogs and cats. Therefore people should be careful with them if they have pets.
References:
1) http://www.rspg.or.th
2) https://en.wikipedia.org
3) https://www.samunpri.com
4) https://www.thailandplus.tv
5) Butnariu, M., Quispe, C., Bravo, J.H., Ochoa, Á.F., Yazdi, S.E., Adetunji, C.O., …, Rad, J.S. (2022) Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed). A review on Tradescantia: Phytochemical Constituents, Biological Activities and Health-Promoting Effects, 27(6), 197-211.
