Scoparia dulcis L.
| Botanical Name | Scoparia dulcis L. |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Genus: | Scoparia |
| Species: | S. dulcis |
| Common Names: | English: Sweet broom; bitter broom; broom weed; licorice weed |
Plant Synonyms
Scoparia ternata Forsslc, Capraria dulcis (L) Kuntze; Gratiola micrantha Franch & Sav.
Plant Local Names
Burkina Faso: Moor6 - koostiiga, Dioula - N'timintiminin
Ghana: Twi - Onyame ko metiri; Fante – Oguan nkyene, Ga - Shuoblo
Mali: Bamabara - Ntimitimini, Bruturut
Senegal: Balanta - Brutulut
Sierra Leone: Bulom - Tjunkae
Plant Habitat
A common weed of waste places in villages and on road and path sides; also in marshy places. It is widely distributed in many tropical countries.
Plant Material of Interest
Leaf
Plant Description
An erect shrubby plant, 20-70 cm high; stems glabrous; leaves opposite or whorled, narrowly lanceolate, crenulate in upper half, narrowed, entire in lower half, glabrous; flowers in slender racemes in upper leaf-axils; petals four, white or bluish, bearded inside; fruit globose, capsule.
Plant Used Parts
Plant Uses
Scroparia dulcis is used to treat diabetes, hypertension, abdominal disorders, pain, fever, inflammation, bronchitis, haemorrhoids and hepatosis (Hayashi, 2000; Satyanarayana 1969; Freire etal., 1993; Hayashi et al., 1993; Chow et al, 1974). The plant is used against burns, herpes, pimples, dysentery and hair loss (Luziatelli et al., 2010). Leaves of S. dulcis are used for dermatological (Rodrigues, 2006) and prostate disorders (Lans, 2007b). The whole plant is used in magico-religious rituals (Paulino de Albuquerque et al., 2007).
Plant Therapeutic Action
Antiasthmatic, anticancer, antioxidant, febrifuge, antidiabetic, antispasmodic, antihypertensive analgesic, antimicrobial (Mshana et a/., 2000; GHP 1992).
Plant Precaution for Use
Caution should be taken in the administration of the aqueous extract in liver disease.
Plant Adverse Effect
No adverse effects known if used in therapeutic doses although in one study an ethanol extract inhibited radioligand binding to dopamine and serotonin and an aqueous extract given intragastrically to rats potentiated the effects of barbiturates
Plant Contraindication
Known hepatic disease, elderly patients and children; pregnancy; antidepressants or barbiturates; hypoglycaemia
Plant Dosage Forms
Decoction, infusion, capsules.
Plant Dosage
Infusion/decoction; 30 g in 600 ml of water; 1 teacup twice daily
Tincture: 1:5 in 60% alcohol, 5 ml three times daily
Capsules: 2-3 g twice daily
Plant Storage
Store in a cool dry place away from light
Plant Chromatographic Fingerprint
Analytical TLC on silica gel G60 F254, 0.25 mm layer in petroleum ether (40-60 oC)/chloroform [2:8], detection in daylight, after spraying with
Plant Constituents
Diterpenoids (scopadulcic acid A, B and C; scoparic acid A and scopadulin); triterpenoids (friedelin, glutinol, a-amyrin, betulinic acid, ifflaionic acid and dulcioic acid); scopadiol, scopadulciol; amellin; coumarins, saponins, tannins, amino acids, flavonoids (8- hydroxytricetin-7-glucoronide, apigenin); alkaloids (6-methoxy benzoxazolinone), oleoresins; reducing sugars (Akendengue ef ai, 2005; Hayashi 2000; Mahato efa/.,1981; Freire, 1993; Nath, 1945).
Scopadulcic acid B Ifihioaic acid
Scopadulric acid A
anisaldehyde (0.5 ml) mixed with 10 ml glacial acetic acid, 85 ml methanol and 5 ml concentrated sulphuric acid and heated to 100- 110°C for 5-10 min. Presence of three characteristic spots with Rts 0.85 (pink), 0.59 (brown) and 0.42 (pink).
Plant Pictures
Plant References
Ahmed, M. et at. (2001). Analgesic, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory principle from Scoparia dulcis. Pharnwie 56(8):657-660.
Ahsan, M. et at. (2003). Cytotoxic diterpenes from Scoparia dulcis. Journal of Natural Products 66(7):985-961.
Akendengue, B., Lemamy, G.J., Bourobou, H.B., Laurens, A. (2005). Bioactive natural compounds from medico-magic plants of Bantu area. Studies in Natural Product Chemistry 32(12):803-820.
Asano, S., Mizutani, M., Hayashi, T., Morita, N. et at (1990). Reversible inhibitions of gastric l-r,K+-ATPase by scopadulcic acid B and diacetyl scopadol. New biochemical tools of H\K+- ATPase. Journal of Biological Chemistry 265: 22167-22173.
Chow, S.Y., Chen, S.M., Yang, C.M., Hsu, H. (1974). Pharmacological studies on China herbs. (I) Hypotensive effect of 30 Chinese herbs. Journal of Formosan Medical Association 73:729-739.
Dokosi, O.B. (1998) .Herbs of Ghana, 400-402. Ghana University Press: Ghana.