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ເຄືອແຫມ / Berberine

Use
Medicine
Oil Extract
Scientific Name / Family
Coscinium fenestratum (Goetgh.) Colebr. / Menispermaceae
Synonyms
Coscinium maingayi Pierre
Coscinium miosepalum Diels
Coscinium peltatum Merr.
Coscinium usitatum Pierre
Coscinium wallichianum Miers
Coscinium wightianum Miers ex Diels
Menispermum fenestratum Gaertn.
Pereiria medica Lindl.
Other Names
Thai: khreua hen, khamin khreua, haem mahatsa chan. Vietnamese: day vang dang, vang dang latrang, hoang dang, dang giang, daymonang, ko trong, to rong
English: berberine, ceylon/false calumba, calumba root, tumeric tree, columbo wood
Botanical Description

Kheua haem is a creeping and climbing vine 25-30 m in length, with a diameter of 6-7 cm. Its shoots are curved and the stem is knotted or swollen at regular intervals. The outer bark is grey with small scales, and the yellow inner bark has a bitter taste. The wood is bright yellow when cut, releasing a yellow sap, and the vertical sections show radial lines. The leaves measure 9-15 cm long and 6-8 cm wide, have white-green lower blades and a bent leafstalk of 4-7 cm. The inflorescences produce green-yellow flowers which are flat and round-topped, growing from the nodes.

Description of Use

The stem and roots of Kheua Haem are processed to obtain an extract that is used to treat wounds, dysentery and the after-effects of childbirth. The berberine extracted from Kheua Haem is a popular medicine for diarrhoea and intestinal parasites. It displays significant microbiological activity against bacteria, fungi, yeast, viruses and worms, and also has anti-cancer, diabetes, and hepatitis properties. Chipped stems are used to make a yellow dye, resembling turmeric.

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