Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq. (= O. stamineus Benth.)

DeFilipps, Robert A. & Krupnick, Gary A., 2018, The medicinal plants of Myanmar, PhytoKeys 102, pp. 1-341 : 99

Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq. (= O. stamineus Benth.)

Names.

Myanmar: hsee-cho, thagyar makike, si-cho. English: cat’s whiskers, Java tea, kidney tea plant.

Range.

Temperate and tropical Asia, Australia. Found cultivated throughout Myanmar.

Uses.

This plant is most well-known as a diuretic and as a medicine for diabetes.

Leaf: Prepared as a herbal tea to alleviate kidney disorders, bladder diseases, and urinary problems as well as to treat aching joints.

Notes.

In India the leaf is used as a diuretic, for nephrosis, and for edema; also used in an infusion for kidney and bladder diseases and rheumatism ( Jain and DeFilipps 1991). The medicinal uses of the species from Taiwan south to Palau, in the Philippines, and on the Malay Penisula are discussed in Perry (1980).

Reported chemical constituents include a glucoside and orthosiphon. The leaves contain volatile and essential oils; both the leaves and stems have a high potassium content, urea, and ureids ( Perry 1980). An extract of the leaf has been found to lower blood sugar ( Jain and DeFilipps 1991).

References.

Nordal (1963), Agricultural Corporation (1980).