Asystasia dalzelliana is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae It is commonly known as the violet asystasia, Chinese violet and Ganges primrose.Elliot L. Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson Sub, sp. micrantha (Nees) Ensermu. South Africa, National Biodiversity Institute. 2004; 2:34-50 It is distributed in Asia and Africa.Lithudzha E. Asystasia gangetica (L.) Anderson subsp. micrantha (Nees) Ensermu Pretoria NBG (June 2004) (additions by Yvonne Reynolds) S A National Biodiversity Institute; 2004. Plantzafrica.com
Description It is an annual, perennial, ground spreading herb with opposite leaves.Akobundu IO and Agyakwa CW. A Handbook of West African Weeds. INTEC Printers, Ibadan. 1998; 128.Hamid AA, Aiyelaagbe OO, Ahmed RN, Usman LA and Adebayo LA. Preliminary Phytochemistry, Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties of extracts of Asystasia gangetica Linn T. Anderson grown in Nigeria. Advances in Applied Science Research. 2011; 2(3):219-226.
Uses The leaves are used as a vegetable in Kenya and Uganda.Olufunke MD. Essential Oils from Aerial, Seed and Root of Nigerian Asystasia Wahua and Odogwu; AJOB, 11(4): 18-24, 2021; Article no.AJOB.67521 24 gangetica (L). Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants. 2015; 14(5):582–589. The plant has also uses in traditional medicine in Nigeria.Akah PA, Ezike AC, Nwafor SV, Okoli CO and Enwerem NM. Evaluation of the anti- asthmatic property of Asystasia gangetica leaf extracts. Journal of Ethno Pharmacology. 2003; 89:25-36.
References