Fringed Pimpernel

Overview

Bonnaya ciliata is a species of weed that is widespread in Cambodia, India, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Northern Australia. In its utilization, this weed plant turns out to have good health benefits and has traditionally been used as a medicinal plant. This species is widely distributed, common and without any threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2013).

Vernacular Names

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Agroecology

Grows on sunny or lightly shaded, often grassy localities, wasteland, roadsides, fallowed fields, rainfed rice fields, moist places, generally on light soils, often gregarious, at elevations from sea-level up to 1,300 m. Prefers sunny, or lightly shaded, disturbed sites in light, sandy or gravelly, soils. It prefers moist sites and can tolerate several days of submergence.

Morphology

• Roots - tap roots, white or brown.
• Stems - much branched, the branches are bent and sometimes form roots at the last node, rectangular, dense, glabrous or hairy.  No stipules. 
• Leaves - opposite, elliptic-oval, leaf base rounded, leaf tip blunt to sharp (acute), leaf margin aristate-dentate (toothed), sessile.
• Fruits - capsule about 1-1.5 cm long, linear, winged septum, extending beyond the petals.
• Seeds - black.

Cultivation

Propagated by seeds.

Chemical Constituents

Sitosterol, stigmasterol, lup-20(29)en-3β-ol, flavonoids, phenolic compounds.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• The sap from the crushed leaves is given after childbirth. In Taiwan, the plant is considered an effective cure for menorrhagia. 
• Medicines after childbirth.
• Treat gonorrhea, jaundice, urinary disorders, headaches, liver complaints, spleen disease, constipation, cough, intestinal worms, skin diseases, diabetes, anemia, bronchitis, asthma, reduce fever, overcome loss of appetite, hypertension.  
• Has activity as a hepatoprotective (liver protector).