2937

12(3): Medicinal and poisonous plants 3

Tetrastigma (Miq.) Planchon

A.DC. & C.DC., Monogr. phan. 5(2): 320, 423 (1887).

VITACEAE

x = unknown; Tetrastigma leucostaphylum: 2n = 44

Tetrastigma comprises about 100 species and occurs in tropical and subtropical Asia and northern Australia. The Malesian region is richest in species (about 60), followed by Indo-China (about 20) and Thailand (about 15).

Some Tetrastigma species are used in traditional medicine in Indonesia and Malaysia, mainly in the form of a leaf poultice to treat pussy inflammations, boils and fever. Tetrastigma is also used in traditional medicine in the Philippines and Vietnam, but the identity of the species is uncertain. In the Philippines a plant decoction is taken as a diuretic and applied externally to treat scabies. In Vietnam sap from crushed leaves is used internally as well as externally to treat headache and fever. The fruits of some species are edible, and the stems are occasionally used for binding purposes.

A water extract of Tetrastigma planicaule (Hook.f.) Gagnep. from China inhibited tumour necrosis factor ALFA-induced degradation of NF-_k B, which is related to immune and inflammatory responses.
Daucosterol, 6'-O-benzoyldaucosterol and ß-sitosterol have been isolated from the Chinese Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels & Gilg.

Large dioecious lianas with terete to flattened stems, conspicuously lenticellate, climbing by usually simple, leaf-opposed tendrils. Leaves alternate, palmately or pedately compound, with up to 7(—11) leaflets, occasionally simple; leaflets usually slightly toothed; stipules caducous. Inflorescence an axillary, umbellate, corymbose or dichotomous cyme, pedunculate. Flowers unisexual, regular, small, 4(—5)-merous; calyx cupuliform to disciform; petals free, reflexed, greenish; disk present; male flowers with free stamens opposite petals and rudimentary ovary; female flowers with superior, 2-celled ovary having a short, thick style and large, 4-lobed stigma, and filiform staminodes. Fruit a pear-shaped to globose berry, 1—4-seeded. Seeds with dorsal side convex and ridged or furrowed, ventral side convex or carinate, endosperm present.
Tetrastigma differs from all other Vitaceae genera by its unisexual (dioecious) flowers and its 4-lobed stigma.

The trailing stems of Tetrastigma may be found draping trees and shrubs along roads, river banks and in forest edges, especially at higher altitudes, but also in the lowland. Tetrastigma is well known as the exclusive host of the parasitic Rafflesia with its spectacular flowers.

Tetrastigma plants have been successfully propagated by stem cuttings.

Many Tetrastigma species are known from few collections in a limited area (e.g. Tetrastigma lawsonii), and these may be liable to genetic erosion. Some other species are widely distributed (e.g. Tetrastigma leucostaphylum) and not threatened. In India types of Tetrastigma leucostaphylum with white patches on the leaves have been discovered, which can be grown in pots as an ornamental.

Too little is known about the pharmacological properties of Tetrastigma to predict its possibilities for future use in phytomedicine. However, its leaves have interesting external applications, which merit further research, e.g. on anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities.

[529]Latiff, A., 1984. Studies in Malesian Vitaceae. VII. The genus Tetrastigma in the Malay Peninsula. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 36(2): 213—228.
[671]Nguyen Van Duong, 1993. Medicinal plants of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Mekong Printing, Santa Ana, California, United States. 528 pp.
[760]Quisumbing, E., 1978. Medicinal plants of the Philippines. Katha Publishing Co., Quezon City, the Philippines. 1262 pp.
[1031]Yang, D., Liu, H., Li, X., Huang, X. & Qin, J., 1998. Chemical constituents of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 23(7): 419—421 (in Chinese).
[1054]Zhao, F., Morita, I., Murota, S.I. & Yao, X.-S., 1999. Anti-inflammatory activities of Phyllanthus emblica and Betula alnoides through transcription factor NF-kappa B pathway. Journal of Traditional Medicines 16(4): 155—162.

R.H.M.J. Lemmens

Tetrastigma lawsonii
Tetrastigma leucostaphylum

Lemmens, R.H.M.J., 2003. Tetrastigma (Miq.) Planchon. In: Lemmens, R.H.M.J. and Bunyapraphatsara, N. (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(3): Medicinal and poisonous plants 3. PROSEA Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia. Database record: prota4u.org/prosea

The following species in this genus are important in this commodity group and are treated separatedly in this database:
Tetrastigma lawsonii
Tetrastigma leucostaphylum