Argemone mexicana L.

DeFilipps, Robert A. & Krupnick, Gary A., 2018, The medicinal plants of Myanmar, PhytoKeys 102, pp. 1-341 : 132

Argemone mexicana L.

Names.

Myanmar: khaya. English: Mexican prickly poppy, prickly poppy, yellow prickly poppy.

Range.

Florida to Central America; West Indies.

Uses.

The juice is used as a treatment for edema. Seed: Used in laxative and expectorant preparations. Root: Used in the treatment of skin diseases.

Notes.

Medicinal uses of this species in India are discussed in Jain and DeFilipps (1991). Chemical constituents, pharmacological action, and medicinal uses of this species in Indian Ayurveda are discussed in detail by Kapoor (1990). Indigenous medicinal uses of this species in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India) are described by Dagar and Singh (1999).

The medicinal uses of this plant in the Caribbean region, as well as its chemistry, biological activity, toxicity and dosages, are discussed by Germosén-Robineau (1997). The toxic properties, symptoms, treatment and beneficial used of this plant, parts of which are poisonous, are discussed by Nellis (1997). Worldwide medicinal usage, chemical composition and toxicity of this species are discussed by Duke (1986).

While the oil of this species is not toxic in small amounts, a toxic substance has been isolated from it; two alkaloids, berberine and protopine, are present ( Perry 1980). In India L-glutamic acid (6% of defatted meal of oilseed cake) is used in its free state in treating mental deficiencies in infants and adolescents ( Perry 1980).

References.

Nordal (1963), Perry (1980).