Phyllanthus niruri
Chanca piedra | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malpighiales |
Family: | Phyllanthaceae |
Genus: | Phyllanthus |
Species: | P. niruri |
Binomial name | |
Phyllanthus niruri L. | |
Synonyms[1] | |
List
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Phyllanthus niruri is a widespread tropical 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 of the family Phyllanthaceae.
Description
It grows 50–70 cm (20–28 in) 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.
Traditional & Medicinal Use
Kidney Stones
The most studied use of chanca piedra is for kidney stones. This is where it gets its name "stone breaker."
A 2018 clinical study of 56 people with kidney stones showed that the use of chanca piedra contributed significantly to the elimination of small (<10mm) kidney stones. 3
Kidney stones are more prone to form when oxalate or uric acid levels become too high. Chanca piedra lowered urinary oxalate and uric acid (waste products that exit your body via urine). Further research is needed to confirm this effect.
Gallstones
In traditional medicine, chanca piedra is used to treat gallstones.1 It appears to work on gallstones, much in the same way it helps break up kidney stones. Chanca piedra has alkalizing properties that may prevent and treat gallstones.
However, no current scientific research supports Chanca piedra’s use for gallstones.
Gout
Gout occurs when an excess of uric acid in the blood pools in joints, causing painful crystals to form. Chanca piedra may help to lower uric acid levels and prevent gout.
In animal studies, Chandra piedra supplements can lower uric acid levels.1 However, human studies are limited, and there is no evidence to support that it actually works in people
Hepatitis
A 2011 Cochrane review found that there is "no convincing evidence that phyllanthus, compared with placebo, benefits patients with chronic HBV (hepatitis B virus) infection."[2]
Gallery
- Niruri fruit
- Niruri proliferation
References
- ^ "Phyllanthus niruri (L.)". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Xia, Y; Luo, H; Liu, JP; Gluud, C (13 April 2011). "Phyllanthus species for chronic hepatitis B virus infection". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (4): CD008960. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008960.pub2. PMID 21491412.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikispecies-logo.svg/34px-Wikispecies-logo.svg.png)
- Tropical Plant Database