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Zehneria scabra

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Zehneria scabra
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus: Zehneria
Species:
Z. scabra
Binomial name
Zehneria scabra
(Linn.f.) Sond

Zehneria scabra is a perennial climbing or trailing herb that belong to the family Cucurbitaceae.[1]

Morphology

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Closeup of flowers.

The herb can climb up to 10 m (33 ft) long. The older parts of the stems are woody with corky-ridged bark.[2] Its leaves are triangular to ovate in shape, cordate at the base, deep green, and scabrid punctate above. The fruit is oval shaped and bright red.[3]

Distribution

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The plant is widely distributed in Tropical Africa, and present in Madagascar, India, and in Java, Indonesia.

Uses

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In Ethiopia, the herb is known locally as 'hareg ressa' where its fruits and leaves are crushed and oil extracted used to treat scabies. [2] Extracts from the herb are traditionally used to treat diarrhea, alopecia, wound and eczema.[4] Oil extracts are also used to treat skin related infections among the Pare of Tanzania.

References

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  1. ^ Abew, Bereket; Sahile, Samuel; Moges, Feleke (October 2014). "In vitro antibacterial activity of leaf extracts of Zehneria scabra and Ricinus communis against Escherichia coli and methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus". Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 4 (10): 816–820. doi:10.12980/APJTB.4.201414B16.
  2. ^ a b Messele, Bruck (February 2004). Studies on Extracts of Some Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used for Dermatological Disorders in Ethiopia (Thesis thesis). Addis Ababa University.
  3. ^ "Zehneria scabra (L.f.) Sond. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  4. ^ Tadesse, Wondmagegn Tamiru; Hailu, Abebe Ejigu; Gurmu, Abyot Endale; Mechesso, Abraham Fikru (December 2014). "Experimental assessment of antidiarrheal and antisecretory activity of 80% methanolic leaf extract of Zehneria scabra in mice". BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 14 (1): 460. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-460. ISSN 1472-6882. PMC 4265498. PMID 25465058.