Kingdom: Plantae

Subkingdom: Tracheobionta

Superdivision: Spermatophyta

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Malvales

Family: Sterculiaceae

Genus: Melochia L.

Species:

Melochia

corchorifolia

L.

COMMON NAME: Bankalanan

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Melochia corchorifolia L.

SYNONYMS/ OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Lochemiaa corcorifolia Arn.
Melochia affinis Wall.
Melochia borbonicaa Cav.
Melochia corchorifolia L.
Melochia concatenata Linn.
Melochia fasciculata Noronha
Melochia pauciflora Wall.
Melochia supina Linn.
Melochia truncata DC.
Mougetia corchorifolia (L.) Kunth
Polychlaena ramosa G.Don.
Polychlaena simplex G.Don.
Riedelia borbonica (Cav.) DC.
Riedelia capitata Boj.
Riedelia concatenata (L.) DC.
Riedelia corchorifolia (L.) DC.
Riedelia radiata Bl.
Riedelia supina (L.) DC.
Riedelia truncata DC.
Visenia concatenata (L.) Spreng.
Visenia concatenata (L.) Spreng.
Visenia supina (L.) DC.

OTHER COMMON NAME:

Kaliñgan (P. Bis.)
Chocolate weed (Engl.)
Crab's eggs (Engl.)
Redweed (Engl.)
Wirebush (Engl.)

MORPHOLOGY:
 ROOTS
Taproots system

 LEAVES
Leaves are oblong-ovate, and 2 to 6 centimeters long, with pointed
tip and broad, rounded, or heart-shaped base.

 FLOWERS
Flowers are somewhat crowded in terminal or axillary heads. Petals
are obovate, white, pink or pale purple, and about 7 millimeters
long.

 STEM/BARK
Stem with a line of stellate hairs.

 FRUIT
Fruit is a small capsule, depressed-globose, 4 to 5 millimeters in
diameter, green, whitish or pink to purplish black. Cells are 1-2
seeded.

 SEEDS
Seeds and small and wingless. Endosperm is abundant.

CULTIVATION:
Melochia corchorifolia is mostly found in sunny or slightly shaded,
humid localities such as river banks, lake shores and alluvial plains. It is a
common and important weed, notably in rice (both upland and lowland),
soybean, cotton and cassava. Its weedy and invasive characteristic
inhibits its wider cultivation.
PROPAGATION:
Propagation is done by seed; germination can be improved
considerably by scarification. Scarified seed germinates best at
temperatures of 35–40°C.

PHYTOCHEMISTRY:
- Phytochemical screening of leaves of M. corchorifolia yielded triterpenes
(friedelin, friedelinol, and ß-amyrin), flavonol glycosides (hibifolin, triflin,
and melocorin), aliphatic compounds, flavonoids (vitexin and robunin), ß-
D-sitosterol and its stearate,-D-glucoside, and alkaloids.
- Study yielded adouetine and a new cyclopeptide alkaloid, melofoline.
- Study isolated a cyclopeptide alkaloid, franganine, and a new
pseudooxindole alkaloid, melochicorine.
- A glycoside, melocorin, was isolated from the leaves of M. corchorifolia
along with hibifolin and trifolin.
- Phytochemical screening of methanol extract of aerial parts yielded
alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, phenolic compounds, flavanoids, and
glycosides.
- Proximate composition of leaves (DW basis) were crude lipid
(13.33±2.89%), ash (10.00±0.10%), crude fiber (23.33±2.89%).and
available carbohydrate (30.03±2.83%). Mineral composition in mg/100 g
DW were: K(7.250±37.50), Ca (750.37 ±10.58), Mg (108.33±5.77) and P
(101.89±0.08), Na (95.00—1.15), Cu (33.50±2.55), Fe (19.91±3.01), Mn
(9.68±0.59) and Zn (6.73—0.62).

MEDICINAL USES:
The stems are used for tying bundles and are used in the
construction of conical roofs for local houses. Leaves are used for
unspecified stomach disorders in coastal East Africa. In Benin the seed is
used to treat stomachache. In Malaysia and India, the leaves and roots
are used to treat a wide range of medical problems: urinary disorders,
abdominal swelling, dysentery, snakebites and sores. An aqueous solution
of leaves has insecticidal properties.
- Leaves used for poulticing sores.
- Roots and leaves used for snakebites.
- Sap used for wounds poisoned by Antiaris.
- Leaves used for poulticing swellings of the abdomen and the heart.
- Leaves and roots used for poulticing in small pox.
- Decoction of roots and leaves used for dysentery.
- Simple leaf decoction used to stop vomiting; compound decoction,
with Millettia and Celosia, used for urinary troubles.
- Plant is used to relieve gastralgia and headaches.
- In Tamil Nadu, India, decoction of leaves taken orally twice daily on an
empty stomach for dysentery.
- In India, leaves and roots used for treatment of urinary tract disorders,
abdominal swelling, dysentery, and snakebites.
- In coastal East Africa, leaves used for stomach disorders. In Benin seeds
used to treat stomach aches.
- In Malaysia, leaves are used for poulticing sores and swelling of the
abdomen. Sap applied as antidote to wounds caused by arrows poisoned
with Antiaris toxicaria.
- Leaves and roots used for poulticing in small pox.
- In Sri Lanka ayurveda, leaves used in the treatment of intestinal bowel
syndrome, diabetes mellitus.

REFERENCES:

Melochia corchorifolia (PROTA). (n.d.). Retrieved September 02, 2020, from

https://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Melochia_corchorifolia_(PROTA)

Melochia corchorifolia. (n.d.). Retrieved September 02, 2020, from

https://ayurwiki.org/Ayurwiki/Melochia_corchorifolia
Classification: USDA PLANTS. (n.d.). Retrieved September 02, 2020, from
https://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=display

Bankalanan, Melochia concatenata, CHOCOLATE WEED, Ma song zi: Philippine

Herbal Therapy / Alternative Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved September 02,
2020, from http://www.stuartxchange.org/Bankalanan.html