Kamboji (Breynia patens) Information and Medicinal Uses

Breynia retusa (synonym Breynia patens) is found growing in the scrub lands in rocky hill slopes, roadsides or clearings in sunny places. In Sanskrit this plant is known as Bahupraja as it produces seedlings in abundance, and Bahupushpa due to large number of flowers.

It is a medicinal plant, and has found a predominant use in indigenous, traditional folklore medicines. It is used in the treatment Conjunctivitis, lipoma (tumor), prickly heat, blood diseases, bowel disorders, nervous system disorders, insect bites, animal bites, complications of diabetes, skin diseases, and inflammation.

General Information

Plant Description: It is monoecious spreading much branched shrub or small tree. The branches are arching outwards, branchlets are slender, angular spreading, almost horizontal, smooth, and grey.

Leaves are distichous, 1.3-2.8 x 0.8-1.6 cm, broadly elliptic, membranous, obtuse, light green above, drying brown, paler beneath, main nerves in 3-5 pairs. Petioles is 1.6 mm long, and glabrous.

The flowers are small, greenish-yellow, and occur in axillary fascicles. Male flowers are pedicellate, 1 to few in proximal leaf axils, pedicels 4-8 mm long. Female flowers are greenish, solitary in distal axils, pedicels 3-4 mm long, shorter than in the male, pendulous at first, becoming erect until fruit borne on upper side of branchlets.

Fruit is depressed-globose capsule, covered by enlarged, spreading fruiting perianth, 13-17 mm in diameter, faintly 3-lobed, orange-red, fleshy but dehiscent.
Part(s) used for medicinal purpose: Leaves
Plant type / Growth Habit: Spreading shrub
Duration: Perennial
Distribution: India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka
Habitat: Open hill slopes, and plains
Flowering, and fruiting: Throughout the year.
Propagation, and management: Propagation is done by seeds

Vernacular names / Synonyms

Scientific name: Breynia patens (Roxb.) Rolfe
Sanskrit: Bahupraja, Bahupushpa, Kamboji
Kannada: Kamboji
Malayalam: Aattacherukola, Ekdania
Bengali: Silpati
Marma: Rownee
Chakma: Hamussa Gach, Mach Chok Bichi Gach
Tripura: Satamsakatoma, Taipak
Khumi: Aghkamchi

Scientific Classification

The botanical name of Kamboji is Breynia patens. It belongs to plant family Euphorbiaceae. Below is given taxonomical classification of the plant.

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Euphorbiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae – Spurge family
Genus: Breynia J.R. Forst. & G. Forst. – breynia
Species: Breynia patens (Roxb.) Rolfe

Synonyms

Breynia retusa (Dennst.) Alston.
Phyllanthus retuses Dennst.
Phyllanthus patens Roxb.

Medicinal Uses of Breynia patens / Kamboji

Breynia patens is used in the treatment of a variety of ailments such as body pain, skin inflammation, hyperglycemia, diarrhea, dysentery, and toothache. The stem juice is used in conjunctivitis. The poultice of leaves is antimicrobial, and applied on boils for quicker suppuration or pus forming. The fruits are given in dysentery. The roots are beneficial in fits.

Anti-abortifacient, preventing miscarriage, lactogenic

Leptaden, herbal drug containing jeevanti (Leptadenia reticulata) 150 mg, and Kamboji (breynia patens) 150 mg is given.

Boils

Leaves are applied to hasten suppuration.

Body pain, skin inflammation, hyperglycemia, diarrhea, for diuresis

Macerated leaf juice is taken.

Gastritis

Juice extracted from leaves is taken.

Piles

The extract from leaves is used once a day.

Protein in urine

Leaf ground with milk, and is given once in the morning for 1 weak.

Skin diseases

Tender shoots, and leaves are ground with milk, and given once a day.

Tooth pain, gum problem

Boil the leaves in water. Use this water for gargeling.

Wounds by animal attack (tiger, dogs, etc.)

Bhantaka (Clerodendrum inforrunatam), and Soap nut Acacia (Acacia sinuata) leaves are taken in equal amount, and fried. This preparation is ground, and applied to wounds caused by tiger in cattle.