Plant Profile - Cardiospermum Halicacabum

Cardiospermum Halicacabum:-

Cardiospermum Halicacabum also known as balloon vine, balloon plant or many other local names like mudakkotan (Tamil), Uzhinja (Malayalam) etc., is a perennial plant from soapberry family. Cardiospermum Halicacabum is known for many traditional uses and it is said to cure many illnesses. Cardiospermum Halicacabum is a climbing plant, native to Asia, Africa and Australia; the seeds are produced in a papery casing that has exactly three seed inside, the flowers are small and white in colour.

Names:-

Common names-

Assamese: কপাল ফুটা লতা kapaal phuta lata

Hindi: कानफूटा kanphuta, कपालफोड़ी kapalphodi

Kannada: ಬೆಅಗ್ನಿಬಳ್ಳಿ agniballi, ಬೆಕ್ಕಿನ ಬುಡ್ಡೆ ಗಿಡ bekkina budde gida, ಬೆಕ್ಕಿನ ತೊಡ್ಡಿನ ಬಳ್ಳಿ bekkina toddina balli, ಚಿಟಕಿ ಹಂಬು chitaki hambu, ಎರುಂಬಳ್ಳಿ erumballi, ಜೋತಿಷ್ಮತಿ jotishmati, ಕನಕಾಯ kanakaaya, ಮಿಂಚುಬಳ್ಳಿ minchuballi

Konkani: कानफुटी kanphuti, कपाळ फोडी kapala phodi

Malayalam: ജ്യോതിഷ്‌മതി jyotishmati, കറുത്തകുന്നി karuttakunni, പാലുരുവം paluruvam,ഉഴിഞ്ഞ uzhinja

Marathi: कानफुटी kanphuti, कपाळ फोडी kapal phodi

Nepali: ज्योतिष्मती jyotishmati, कपाल फोडी kapaal phodi, केश लहरा kesh lahara

Odia: ଜ୍ଯୋତିଷ୍ମତୀ jyotishmati, ଫୁଟୁ ଫୁଟୁକା phutu phutuka

Sanskrit: कर्णस्फोटा karnasphota, स्फुटवल्कली sphutavalkali

Tamil: கொற்றவன் korravan, முடக்கொற்றான் mudakkotan

Telugu: బుడ్డకాకర buddakakara, జ్యోతిష్మతి jyotishmati

Tibetan: ཀ་ཀེ་ད ka ke da

Tulu: ಉರುಂಡೆ ಬೂರು urunde booru

Growth:-

Cardiospermum Halicacabum is a perennial plant, it grows in many different environment and terrines where it is native to. Cardiospermum Halicacabum is also invasive in many parts of the world, where it is considered as a non-toxic invasive weed, in some places it is totally banned to commercially propagate.

Growing this plant yourself isn't difficult, they don’t need very rich fertile soil. Once you plant, it will establish on its own, even if you don’t water it for a while it will wilt and once you give some water it will get back to its original state.

Uses:-

Cardiospermum Halicacabum has long been used as a leafy vegetable in many parts of India and other Asian countries. It is also prescribed as an effective medicine in Ayurveda and Siddha for various illness.

Medicinal uses:-

Cardiospermum Halicacabum is said to have various medicinal uses. All parts of the plant including leaf, flower, seed and root have many health benefits.

There have been many studies conducted on Cardiospermum Halicacabum for its medicinal benefit, but most of the studies are conducted with rats; but still, this plant has been in use for centuries in traditional medicine for rheumatism and other bone-related issues, headache, fever, inflammation, etc,.

Anti-inflammatory:-

Ethanol extract of Cardiospermum Halicacabum was tested on albino rats for anti-inflammatory properties found that, its more effective when given doses of 500mgkg. It lower the lipid peroxide content and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and phospholipase A₂ activity.

Anti-pyretic:-

The ethanol as well as n-hexane extracts of the whole plant powder showed potent antipyretic activity with doses of 400 mg/kg, while water extract wasn't showing any significant activity. The antipyretic activity of the ethanol extract was concentration-dependent.

Gastric Ulcer:-

Ethanol extract of Cardiospermum Halicacabum inhibits gastric ulcer with a dose of 200-600mg/kg.

Anti-Oxidant:-

Ethanol extract of Cardiospermum Halicacabum also serves as a natural anti-oxidant agent. Methanol extract of Cardiospermum Halicacabum is said to have an antioxidant agent; Cardiospermum Halicacabum extract employing various established in vitro systems, such as the β.-carotene-linoleate model system, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)/superoxide/nitric oxide radical scavenging, reducing power, and iron ion chelating activity.

Anti-Bacterial:-

Acetone, alcohol, benzene, chloroform and aqueous extracts of leaf and stem of Cardiospermum Halicacabum were studied. Acetone and chloroform extracts of the leaf had higher inhibitory action against Salmonella typhi and Streptococcus subtilis. Acetone extracts of stem showed maximum inhibitory action against S. typhi and benzene extracts of the stem had moderate inhibitory action against Escherichia coli.

Anti-Diabetic:-

Ethanol extract of Cardiospermum Halicacabum increased the level of insulin in the body and hence helpful as an antihyperglycemic agent. Taking doses of 200mg had better effects than smaller amounts.

Other Benefits:-

Alcoholic, petroleum ether and aqueous extract of the whole plant contains tannins, flavonoids, saponins, sterols and triterpenes, which has the potential of antidiarrhoeal activity. It also prevents and cures constipation.