Herbs from Distant Lands

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Cryptotaenia japonica - Mitsuba, Japanese Parsley

Polska wersja

PLANT PROFILE

Cryptotaenia japonica is a small herbaceous plant from family of Apiaceae also called Umbelliferae family. It is native to shady places and forests of Northeast China, Korea and Japan, and some says that also those of North America. While other recognize the American plants as different species called Cryptotaenia canadensis (there are different opinions, some that both ''species'' are identical, some that they differ slightly but significantly enough to distinct it under separate names, as species, subspecies or varieties, e.g. Cryptotainia canadensis var. japonica ).
C. japonica is nowadays best known worldwide as Mitsuba or Japanese Parsley, as it is common ingredient in Japanese cuisine, used in many ways like common Parsley (that originate from Europe). There are records of Mitsuba cultivation in Japan dated as far back as to seventeenth century, but it is still often harvested from its wild state. It is also very important as both wild and cultivated vegetable in China and Korea. And thanks to it's easy propagation threw seeds, its popularity recently spread from Asia across most of the world. As the seeds quickly become available in most of online shops with rare vegetables and herbs seeds worldwide, and in many countries also Mitsuba plants are nowadays sold in nurseries of edible plants.
But although Mitsuba became quite common view in veggie gardens of greens lovers in many countries across the world. It is rarely known for its medicinal value, except for Japan, China and Korea. Where, despite being mostly used as a vegetable, it is also very popular and highly regarded as a medicinal plant in its true meaning, listed along with the healing herbs. (And this fact actually makes Cryptotaenia also similar to Parsley, which although commonly known around the world as healthy greens, is rarely utilized as an actual herbal medicine. Despite that even ancient Egyptians was using it as a cure for diseases of kidneys and urinary tract, like stones and inflammations.)

Cryptotaenia japonica has quite few common names in English, like Japanese Parsley, Japanese Honewort, Japanese Wild Parsley, Stone Parsley, Japanese Wild Chervil and Mountain Celery. But like I mentioned earlier, its most popular name worldwide nowadays is Mitsuba, which is its Japanese name.
Here are some of its vernacular names from other countries : San Ip, San Ye Qin, Ya Er Jin, Ya Er Quin, Yajiaoban (China), Salderi Djepang (Malaysia), Padudugnamul (Korea), Japanische Petersilie, Kanadische Rispendold, Kanadische Steinpetersilie, Dreiblat (Germany), Persil japonais (France), Perejil Japones (Spain), Skrytnica Japonskaja (Russia), Japaninyrttiputki (Finland), Japońska Pietruszka (Poland).

Besides for sometimes being named as Cryptotaenia canadensis or Cryptotaenia canadensis subsp. japonica or Cryptotainia canadensis var. japonica, it has other (not used nowadays) synonym - Deringa japonica.
In China three forms of this species are recognized : Cryptotaenia japonica f. japonica, Cryptotaenia japonica f. dissecta and Cryptotaenia japonica f. pinnatisecta.
In USA some garden centers are selling Cryptotaenia japonica var. atropurpurea - cultivar with purple leaves, said to grow better under full sun than green one. But its ornamental value might not last long, as there are reports that its maroon spring foliage color fades toward green as the season progresses.

CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING

Cryptotaenia japonica leaves grows straight from the root-base, more upright in shade while more horizontal under strong sun. The leaf three separate blades are usually around 5cm long, and the leaf stem has 10 -15cm. But the flower stalk can reach around 1m in height.
Mitsuba is a short-lived plant, and depend on climate and conditions it grows it can be either annual, biennial or perennial. It can grows a multiple new segments of leaves rosettes from one rootbase, which produce later its own roots. After the flowering, the separate rosette of leaves with flower stalk, dies as soon as the seeds will mature. The other leaves rosettes from that root clump will live until its life cycle will be ended with delivery of seeds too. So in convenient conditions one Cryptotaenia clump can live on for years, if some of its rosettes will not flower before creating new offshoot rosettes. And new Mitsuba plants can be created by clumps division into separate rosettes segments with own roots.
But it also grows so well from the seeds, that in some climates its seedlings might easily overtook lot of your garden space. Becoming even invasive in shady areas with rich, moist compost soil, that it loves. Cryptotaenia flowering occurs mainly during dry season, that's why in some regions it might not flower easily or even at all. The plants therefore can be forced into flowering, by planting them in a pot and put in sunny dry space, gradually giving it less and less water.
Container cultivation of Mitsuba is just as easy as the garden one, whether it is outdoor or indoor. And one of the reasons why I like it so much, is the fact that it grows great in tropics unlike European Parsley. I was trying to grow few Petroselinum Parsley cultivars when I first came to the Philippines, with sad effect. It's leaves was yellowing prematurely from excess of sun and heat, and all the plants get rot after week of strong rainfall of rainy season. In the same time I've noticed that Japanese Parsley can flourish even in strong heat, under strong sun, as long as it have enough water (Its leaves will be smaller and more tough than those of Mitsuba grown in shade, but it is still good). And that C. japonica plants survived whole rainy season even in spots that was waterlogged. All of my Mitsuba plants (that did not flowered) get died only when the drought get severe during dry season. There are different opinions about how hardy Mitsuba really is, some says that it can survive even frosts as strong as -30°C.

Opinion that Cryptotaenia japonica differs from Cryptotaenia canadensis by '' having more inflorescence and floral bracts, and with more flowers in the umbellules (ultimate floral clusters)''. Might be in my view wrongly caused by the observation of the fact, that Cryptotaenia plants in places of shorter vegetation period like in Canada. Will have smaller number of leaves in one segment rosette that raise flower stalk, than those from relatively warmer regions in Japan or China. In the Philippines I've seen C. japonica plants with very branched flower stalks around 1m tall. While those that have sprouted last and had no time to grow strong before dry period, or stayed small due to poor soil that contained more clay than compost, grow small stalk with only few flowers. So this should be verified by growing the plants of both geographic origin next to each other, to make proper observations.

Cryptotaenia japonica is still often harvested from its wild state, from forests and other shady areas, at elevations from 200 to 2400m. But it is more and more widely cultivated by people in their veggie-herb gardens or just in pots, as well as in big scale plantations, including hydroponics cultivation. In Japan, in order to achieve more tender petiole stems, Mitsuba is often cultivated in techniques of blanching, either in dark conditions or under special layer of sand. In commercial growing the main harvest usually begins after 2 months, and whole plants are harvested by uprooting.
In household cultivation Mitsuba leaves can be harvested separately, leaving few leaves on every plant to ensure its further good growth. But it is convenient to keep lots of those Mitsuba plants to harvest it whole by uprooting, if you want to storage it for longer time without wilting. You can keep those uprooted plants later in room temperature, with its roots immersed in water. While the separated leaves are best to be kept in foil bag in fridge.
Unlike Petroselinum Parsley, I've never seen Cryptotaenia japonica to create one main, thick, storage root. Instead it grows few main, relatively thin (less than 1cm) roots from each clump, that can have even more than five separate leaves rosettes, sometimes called crowns. Yet Mitsuba roots are still appreciated as a vegetable.

Cryptotaenia is rather resistant to pest and diseases, but snails and slugs like it. Copper rings around the plants or copper wall borders are good defense, as snails and slugs will never touch the brass. I've read that also application of lime around the plants keep them away, but if the leaves will touch the lime it will turn black.
In greenhouses occasionally white flies and grey mold had also been noted on Mitsuba.

CULINARY USES

Mitsuba is best known in culinary world for being one of the traditional Japanese vegetables. But apart from being one of the most important greens in Japanese cuisine, it is also commonly used and highly regarded in many parts of China, Korea and Taiwan. As its English name Japanese Parsley indicate, its leaves posses aroma similar to that of a Parsley leaves, but also resemblance to Celery, and I would even say that it has some note of a Lovage (all of those plants belongs to the same plants family).
Cryptotaenia leaves with stems are mainly used fresh, chopped, shredded or putted whole on top of sandwiches, salads, soups, etc. But just like Parsley it can be also dried, crushed and used to sprinkle food like other dried herbs, although it is then less aromatic than when fresh. And aroma is what Mitsuba is so appreciated for in Japanese, Chinese and Korean cuisine.
Japanese people believe that Mitsuba's aroma stimulate appetite. They add it's leaves with stems as a topping in miso soup, Japanese-style steamed eggs, and other foods since ancient times. It is often considered to be more of a potherb than a vegetable, as it is used in rather moderate amounts, like a garnish and flavoring. But some people also eat it fresh or blanched as a vegetable side dish, or cook it in soups, stews or stir-fries. When cooked, the leaves should be added near the end, as longer cooking destroys all its aroma and flavor. Whole leaves are also used for tempura and a variety of fried foods like spring rolls. The leaf stems or young flower stems can be also candied in sugar. In Japan Mitsuba stems are often valued more than leaf blades itself. And you can often buy there on vegetable markets bundles of Cryptotaenia leaves with abnormally long petioles (30cm), which is effect of special deliberate technique of growing, and called Itomitsuba.
Kirimitsuba and Nemitsuba are kinds of Mitsubas grown in eastern Japan under blanching conditions protected from sunlight. The first one is grown in blanching room and the petioles are eaten without the roots. In the second technique, plants are cultivated with sand, and the petioles are eaten with the roots.
Cryptotaenia roots are mainly cooked or fried, but it can be eaten raw too. The seeds are used as a spice for cookies, biscuits, cakes and breads or food dishes. Mitsuba seedlings are used as sprouts, added to soups, sandwiches, salads or other foods.

Persons that have allergy to Parsley, Celery, Celeriac, Lovage, Parsnip, Angelica or any other plant from Apiaceae family should be very cautious when trying Mitsuba, or in strong cases avoid its consumption at all. There are some reports of dermatitis from repeated contact with it and toxicity from eating large quantities of the plant.
Cryptotaenia canadensis considered by many people to be seperate species than Cryptotaenia japonica is said to have nearly identical flavor.

MEDICINAL USES

Cryptotaenia japonica has long traditions of medicinal uses in China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Its chemical constituents, and pharmacological actions has been tested in those countries for few decades, with significant increase in number of the researches in last decade. But the data is still limited, and outside of the region this plant is very rarely known as medicinal herb, despite its growing popularity worldwide as a vegetable.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine and Japanese Kampo, the whole Mitsuba plant, especially aerial parts, are used as a tonic to strengthen the body and remove toxins, eliminate inflammation, quicken blood, disperse swelling and help remove phlegm.
It is consumed to treat: weakness, mounting qi, urinary problems, strangury, colds, cough, pneumonia, fevers, diarrhoea, inflammations, meningitis, rheumatism, haemorrhages, painful menstruation, wind-fire toothache, herpes zoster, itchy skin and traumatic injury. It is also used as a female aphrodisiac.

Cryptotaenia japonica leaves and stems has been proved in scientific tests to act as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. It has been highly reputed in folkloric medicine as a diuretic, hypotensive, hypocholesterolemic, and antiobesity agent.
Mitsuba seeds aqueus extract has shown in vitro powerful ferrous chelating and DPPH scavenging effects, and the seeds essential oil to be a prominent hypolipidemic agent.

Cryptotaenia japonica is one of the ingredients in TCM formula for topical treatment of breast cancer. K7G and tilianin extracted from C. japonica showed good inhibition of melanin production in a dose-dependent manner with no cytotoxity, in B16 melanoma murine tumor cell line.

Aerial parts of Mitsuba contain vitamins A, B1, B2, B9 and C, carotenoids, big ammounts of iron, around 2% protein, over 4% carbohydrate, and about 0.23% fat. It is a good source of flavonoids (luteolin, apigenin and p-coumaric acid are its main compounds). It also contain : cryptotaenen, kiganen, kiganol, petroselic acid, vanillic acid, chlorogenic acid, pentadecanoic acid, isomesityl oxide, mesityl oxide, methyl isobutyl ketone, genistein, tilianin, phytol and beta-sitosterol.
The essential oil of the Mitsuba has been found to be dominated by several seskuiterpene constituents, including cuparene, alpha- and beta-selineine, germacrene D, trans-farnesene, beta-elemene and eremophilene, it also contain monoterpenes like beta-myrcene, beta-pinene, a-pinene, camphene, p-pinene, sabinene, myrcene and limonene.

The seeds contains about 22% of oil, huge amount of soluble dietary fibers (SDF), abundant amount of soluble arabinogalactan, polyphenolics, flavonoids and terpenes (germacrene, selinene, farnesene, elemene).

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Russelia equisetiformis - Fountainbush

Polska wersja

PLANT PROFILE

Russelia equisetiformis is a perennial, evergreen subshrub native to Mexico and Central America. Because of it's beautiful red flowers (pink, yellow and white varieties also exist), abundantly covering it's elegantly weeping, needle-thin green stems. This plant is nowadays more or less popular in most tropical and subtropical regions in whole world, as an ornamental garden plant. But most of it's owners are totally unaware of the fact, that Russelia has much more to offer than just it's beauty.
Only in few countries like Mexico, Colombia, Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan and China, some people heard of great medicinal qualities of this plant. Which is very rarely mentioned in herbal encyclopedias, and therefore still very little known even to herbalists, that can see it in their local garden centers. But more than decade ago first scientific medical researches on this herb emerged, and more and more is coming recently. With Nigeria being the leader that made more research testing healing properties of this plant, than other countries all together. It might be not surprising, as it seems to be quite often used by Nigerian folk healers to treat cancer, malaria and inflammatory diseases.

The genus Russelia is currently classified as the members of plantain family, Plantaginaceae. But in older books it is sometimes placed in the families of Scrophulariaceae or Veronicaceae. The name Russelia honours Alexander Russell (1715 - 1768), who was a naturalist and physician, which means that plants has interested him from botanical point of view, but probably more for it's usefulness for his medical practices. And it was Nikolaus von Jacquin (1727 - 1817) that gave this name to that genus. He also studied medicine, botany and chemistry, and it is noted that he spent four years in the West Indies and Central America.
Therefore it is possible that in some of their works, some nowadays forgotten knowledge about medicinal use of this plant has been recorded. And surely the herb that is highly acclaimed as a powerful medicine, yet with such a limited information available on it's traditional applications and biological and pharmacological actions like Russelia equisetiformis, is worth very deep research.
So If anyone of you will ever have a chance to access A. Russell's or N. Jacquin's writings and will find some unwritten here information, please let me know. Also if you will find some knowledge that I didn't disclose in Medicinal Uses section, form sources in Spanish or other that I sadly can not access, please write in comments below or email me. I would be very grateful, as I classified this plant for my favorites list. Both because of it's very attractive look combined with low maintenance and high drought resilience. And for the fact that it's infusions being said to be potent cure for some serious conditions, while improving general health by cleaning the blood, also please my taste buds very much. It's one of those herbal teas, that I drink not when I have to due to need for remedy, but when I want to. As it tastes nice and makes me feel good.

Russelia equisetiformis has many common names in English, that relates to it's appearance : Fountainbush, Fountain Plant, Coral Fountain, Coral Plant, Coral Blow, Firecracker Fern, Firecracker Plant, Firecracker Bush, Firecracker flower.
Here are some of it's names in other languages : Coralillo (Spanish), Rasili (Hindi), Bao Zhang Zhu
(Chinese), Plante Corail (French), Coral de Italia (Italian), Cola de Caballo (Mexico, Colombia) - but this name is also used there for Equisetum species, Flor de Coral, Lagrima do Diablo (Brazil), Coral de Sao, Lagrimas de Amor, Lagrimas de Cupido, Lagrimas de Jupiter (Cuba), Lluvia de Coral, Lluvia de Fuego (Ecuador), Lagrimas de Venus (Dominican Republic), Coralito (Paraguay).
Ruselia equisetiformis is sometimes still called by it's synonym Russelia juncea.

CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING

Russelia eguisetiformis is a peculiar shrub, it's stems are thin and quite straw-like, reminding stalks of Equisetum plants. But it's main stems which sprout strait from the underground base, or from older main stems, have initially tiny leaves. As it grow bigger each main stem produce multiple off-stems from each node, in radiant manner. Those needle-like thin side stems grows no leaves, but are evergreen and play leaves role itself. The main stems becomes brown and woody with age, but it never gets very thick. It usually grows not higher than 2 m, and has weeping nature. Thanks to which Russelia is a great plant to grow in hanging baskets, in pots on pillars or on a slope terrain (in Egypt it is planted for ornamental and slope erosion protection purposes). But it also looks beautiful on vast open flat space, where it's natural character of growth is creating fountain water flow looking shape.
Fountainbush grows naturally in open spaces, on hillsides or river banks, and creates colonies, that in humid, tropical climate can easily become invasive. It's underground, main stems base has nature of rhizomes and create clump that can expand vastly. And it's main stems that touch the ground starts to grow roots in short time. Which makes it easy to propagate this plant threw division of clump or layering, but it can be also propagated from cuttings or seeds.
Russelia equisetiformis has beautiful flowers, which although small, appear in such an abundance that it makes this plant very showy. The most popular are Fountainbush plants with red flowers, but varieties with pink, yellow or white flowers can be also found. Russelia produce it's flowers during warm, sunny and not to wet months, therefore in some climate zones it can have it's color for whole year round, while in other it will only flower shortly. The flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Fountainbush plants like tropical and subtropical climate, but it can also grow as a perennial plant in warm temperate climate. The branches will be killed by frost, but if temperatures will not be lower then -8 ºC then it's underground base will survive and the plant will regrow in spring. In colder areas it is sometimes grown as an annual, or grown in pots that are kept indoors over winter, in bright spot.
R. equisetiformis likes full sun and light shade, and will not do well in strong shade. It grows fast and robust in high temperatures in rich, moist but well drained soils (with pH between 6.1 and 7.8), but can tolerate any kind of soil, and moderate salinity. It is drought resistant but do not tolerate waterlogging.
This plant is absolutely low maintenance. Older, well established plants doesn't require watering, except during extreme, long period droughts. It's young branches overgrown and naturally cover those old unattractive looking one, that will eventually die and turn into compost. So pruning is generally not needed, except for when you want to curb the plant's size, or in cold climate when you want to remove whole dead above-ground part after winter, to give more sun to new springs coming up from plant's roots. Russelia is actually one of those plants that looks best when left alone uninterrupted, which let them form it's natural beautiful shape.
I have found information that R. equisetiformis can be found from sea level to 1400 m elevation. But I've seen it growing great in Baguio, the Philippines, in areas over 1600m height, and greatly resisting destructive force of strong tajfun winds. In Hawaii, it is recommended for planting in areas near the beach, as Russelia is salt and wind tolerant and help prevent soil erosion.
Fountainbush can be affected by mites, nematodes and caterpillars, but it's resilience and resistance to pests and diseases is rather much higher than that of average plants.

I didn't found any information about the best time for harvesting of R. equsetiformis stems, except for one, that in China it is harvested during summer. So I can only guess that it is more medicinally potent during flowering period. But this not necessarily has to be true, as while level of some chemical compound is on rise in plants while in bloom, levels of other substances in the stems often drops. There is also no specification if flowers itself are more valuable than Russelia stems, or if color of flowers makes much difference on it's healing powers. And generally whole flowering or not branches are cuted for drying in bundles or to be used fresh. The flowers are easily falling off the stems during the process, so at the end you have mostly bare stems left anyway. But I'm planning to make one day an effort do gather only separate flowers, to see if infusion from it tastes any better that one from stems only (so you can look for updates here).

CULINARY USES

Russelia equisetiformis open flowers can be picked straight from the bush to suck out it's nectar threw the bottom of pulled flower tubular corolla. Although because of the small size of the flower, there in not much of nectar in each. The easiness of pulling it, and usual abundance of open flowers at one time on even small plant, makes Rusellia a lovely sweet treat.
Tea made from fresh flowering Fountainbush stems (I didn't bother yet to dry it to see if it changes anything), has such a mild taste that it is even hard to characterize it. But there is something truly pleasant about it. It is almost like drinking pure water, but the water that is much softer, smoother yet richer. And it makes you feel good while drinking and even more after. I know how weird it sound, so I strongly recommend for everyone to try it for themselves. And even if you do not enjoy the taste that is at the brink of absence, then you can at least keep in mind all of Russelia tea health benefits.
The 'feels-good' effect of Fountainbus Tea has been scientifically confirmed and explained. Water extracts of this plant showed to have stronger antidepressant action of Prozac, and the herb was confirmed to ease excitement, irritation and improve sleep in rodents, as well as act as analgesic and anticonvulsant.

MEDICINAL USES

Russelia equisetiformis is not popular as a medicinal plant, except maybe for some rural parts of Mexico, Colombia and Nigeria. But among those that know it's healing virtues, whether they are folk healers, shamans, modern herbalists or even orthodox medicine trained doctors. It posses a high reputation of an important herbal cure. This fact has resulted in small (but growing) number of scientific pharmacological and phytochemical studies, that have been conducted in last decade, mostly in Nigeria, but also in India, Pakistan, Egypt and Japan. But both modern scientific data and ethnobotanic reports of use of Russelia remain scarce. Yet there is enough evidence to consider moderate use of this herb as safe, and general directories for it's utilization are seen.

The whole stems of Fountainbush fresh or dried, are taken orally in form of infusions or decoctions.

In Nigeria R. equisetiformis is used by traditional healers to treat malaria, cancer, leukemia, diabetes, pain and inflammatory diseases. It is also used to promote hair growth among the Yoruba tribe.

In Mexico this herb is used as remedy for kidney diseases, diabetes, cancer, inflammatory diseases and tuberculosis.

In Colombia the fresh entire plant decoction is taken orally to cure kidney stones.

In China (mostly in Fujian), Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners call this herb - Baozhangzhu, saying it is sweet and neutral in nature, with actions of reuniting bone fraction, promoting blood circulation and dispelling stasis.
For swellings, bruises, injuries and sprains from falls, knife wounds, fractures and tendon injuries, decoction of 10-15g is drunk. Or appropriate amount of fresh plant is smashed and applied as poultice.

Fountainbush medicinal actions are described as : antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and analgesic, antibacterial, antiplasmodial - antimalarial, anthelmintic and hair growth promotor. It also has been reported to be anticonvulsant and strong antidepressant, acting as central nervous system depressant.

Russelia equisetiformis contains : flavonoids, polyphenols and phenols derivatives (gallic acid, caffeoylquinic acids, isoverbascoside, glycosylated flavonoids, methylgallate, vicenin
II, chrysoeriol-7-O-ß-D4C1 glucopyranoside, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, luteolin-7-O-ß-D4C1-
arabinoside, quercetrin, apigenin, luteolin, acetoside; 6, 8-diglucosylapigenin, 6-arabinosyl-8-glucosyl apigenin, orientin, vitexin, apigenin-O-glucuronide, chlorogenic acid, methyl protocatechuate, p-coumaric acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, caftaric acid, syringic acid, catechin ), saponins, tannins, steroids, alkaloids, terpenoids, triterpenes of lupane type (including lupeol), phenylethanoid glycosides (russectinol, verbascoside, russeliaoside, isoverbascoside), iridoids and iridoid glucosides, phenyl propane glucosides, phenyl ethanoids, lignan glucosides and flavonoid glucosides.

It has around 20 essential oil compounds, the major constituents are : hexadecanoic acid methyl ester 11.04%, 11-methyltetracosane 8.44%, n-docosane 7.66%, α-pinene 7.26%, octadecanoic acid methyl ester 6.37%, eicosanoic acid methyl ester 6.16%, ctadecanoic acid ethyl ester 5.69%, geranic acid 5.60%, methyl tetradecanoate 5.27% and beta-pinene 4.60%.

Methanol extract of Russelia equisetiformis has been observed to have protective effect on DNA.

The study in Nigeria, has brought conclusion that the ethanol extract of R. equisetiformis possesses antimalarial effect (against Plasmodium berghi), which supports the folk medicine claim of this herb's usefulness in the treatment of malaria.

Recently, two flavonoid compounds isolated from R. equisetiformis were reported to have potential analgesic activity.

Russelia equisetiformis aerial parts alcoholic extracts has shown generally significant but not very strong inhibition against bacteria and fungi like : Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pasteurella multocida, Rhizoctonia solani, Alternaria alternata. Dichloromethane extract from R. equisetiformis roots showed strong inhibition on Shigella flexneri and significant against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa but no effect on Escherichia coli.

Hydro-alcohol extract exhibited significant hepatoprotective effect against carbon tetrachloride injured liver cells.

N-butanol and water extracts of Russelia equisetiformis has shown stronger antidepressant actions than Fluoxetine (Prozac).

Topical application of methanol extract of the whole plant of R. equisetiformis has hair growth promoting effect on rats, produced a significant increase in the rate of hair growth (P<0.05), in a concentration dependent manner.

Studies has shown that lupeol isolated from extract of Russelia equisetiformis possesses anti-inflammatory activity in acute, and certain aspects of chronic inflammation.

Laboratory animal study suggests that R. equisetiformis methanol extract possesses anticonvulsant activity, and may be an alternative supplementary therapy for the management and/or control of convulsions and epilepsy.

Experiment shows that R. equisetiformis is a depressant on the central CNS and acts by blocking the neurotransmitter GABA.

Study results suggests that aqueous-ethanol extract of R. equisetiformis possesses the membrane stabilizing activity