''Phyllanthus niruri'' is a widespread
tropical
The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in
the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...
plant commonly found in coastal areas, known by the common names gale of the wind, stonebreaker, shatter stone , seed-under-leaf, quebra pedra and chance pierre. It is in the genus ''
Phyllanthus
''Phyllanthus'' is the largest genus in the plant family Phyllanthaceae. Estimates of the number of species in this genus vary widely, from 750David J. Mabberley. 2008. ''Mabberley's Plant-Book.'' third edition (2008). Cambridge University P ...
'' of the family
Phyllanthaceae
Phyllanthaceae is a family of flowering plants in the eudicot order Malpighiales. It is most closely related to the family Picrodendraceae.Kenneth J. Wurdack and Charles C. Davis. 2009. "Malpighiales phylogenetics: Gaining ground on one of the ...
.
Description
It grows tall and bears ascending herbaceous branches. The bark is smooth and light green. It bears numerous pale green flowers which are often flushed with red. The fruits are tiny, smooth capsules containing seeds.
Research
A 2011 Cochrane review found that there is "no convincing evidence that phyllanthus, compared with
placebo
A placebo ( ) is a substance or treatment which is designed to have no therapeutic value. Common placebos include inert tablets (like sugar pills), inert injections (like Saline (medicine), saline), sham surgery, and other procedures.
In general ...
, benefits patients with chronic HBV (
hepatitis B virus
''Hepatitis B virus'' (HBV) is a partially double-stranded DNA virus, a species of the genus ''Orthohepadnavirus'' and a member of the ''Hepadnaviridae'' family of viruses. This virus causes the disease hepatitis B.
Disease
Despite there bein ...
) infection."
Gallery
Image:Keezharnelli_new.jpg, Niruri fruit
File:Kizhanelli 3.jpg, Niruri proliferation
References
External links
Tropical Plant Database
{{Use dmy dates, date=February 2024
niruri
Medicinal plants of Asia
Plants described in 1753
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus