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Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.

Summary
It is commonly known as Kalmi and is a leafy vegetable belonging to the family Convolvulaceae. It contains the bioactive markers like - Quercetin, Rutin, β-carotene, α-Tocopherol, Riboflavin, 7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-dihydroquercetin-3-O-α-D-glucopyranoside, and Nicotiflorin. Young leaves of I. aquatica are rich source of iron. The leaves of water spinach are nutritious to boost immune system. In vivo assay revealed the reduction of oxidative impairment due to administration of aqueous leaf extract (100 mg/kg, p.o.) against doxorubicin (3 mg/kg, i.p.) in the liver tissue of Wistar rats.

Mode of Consumption : Sauteed, Fried and boiled
Plant Details Agro-climatic Zone Vernacular Names Pictures
Scientific Name: Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.
Family: Convolvulaceae Juss.
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Solanales
Genus: Ipomoea L.
Fruiting Season: April-June
Parts: Leaves, Tender shoots
  • The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The North-Eastern Hill Region
  • The Western Coastal Region
  • The Gujarat Region
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Western Coastal Region
  • The Maharashtra Plateau Region & The Western Coastal Region
  • The South-Eastern Plateau Region & The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Upper Ganga Plain Region & The Middle Ganga Plain Region
  • The Lower Ganga Plain Region
 Andhra Pradesh : Tutukura, Tigabaccali
Assam : Kolmou, Pani Kolmu, Mandemaigong, Kaoasang, Dine thamunglai
Goa : Takasi vel
Gujarat : Nalanibhaji
Karnataka : Neeru Bili gadde hambu, Nerru hambu
Kerala : Ballel, Kozhuppa
Maharashtra : Nalichi-bhaji, Nadishaka
Manipur : Kolamni
Odisha : Kalama saga
Punjab : Ganthian, Nali, Nari
Tamil Nadu : Sarkaravilli, Nali, Nalikam, Vallai, Vallai-k-kirai, Variparni, Vellaikeerai
Uttar Pradesh : Kalmisag, Karmi, Patuasag
West Bengal : Kalmisak

Tender shoots
Compound/Extract Activity Mode of Action Marker/References
Aqueous extract of leafHepatoprotectiveAqueous extract of leaf (400 mg/ml) prevented the Dox-induced increase in ROS, redox imbalance, and activation of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) and intrinsic pathway of apoptosis in hepatocytes. In vivo assay, revealed administration of aqueous extract of leaf (100 mg/kg, p.o.) against Doxorubicin (3 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced the oxidative impairment, DNA fragmentation, ATP formation, and upregulated the mitochondrial co-enzymes Qs in the liver tissues of Wistar rats.MAPK and ROS[4]
Boiled plant extractHypoglycemicBoiled plant extract exerts an oral hypoglycaemic effect in healthy, male, Wistar rats. Significant reduction in the serum glucose concentrations was also observed. [5]
Major Class Metabolites (Content of bioactives: mg/100g Fresh Weight)
CarotenoidLutein: , β- Carotene: [1]
FlavanoidKaempferol-3-O-glucoside: , Luteolin: [1]
Flavonoid Apigenin: , Mycertin: , Quercetin: , Rutin : [3]
FlavonolQuercetin 3-O-glucoside: , Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside: [3]
Flavonol glycoside7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-dihydroquercetin-3-O-α-D-glucopyranoside: [2]
FlavonolsIsorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside: [3]
PhenolKaempferol-3-O-rutinoside: , Nicotiflorin: [3]
TerpeneCryptoxanthin: , Neoxanthin: , Violaxanthin: [1]
TerpenoidLutein epoxide: [1]
VitaminAscorbic acid: , Cyanocobalamin: , Niacin: , Phylloquinone: , Pyridoxine: , Riboflavin: , Thiamine: , α-Tocopherol: [4]
Effect Observation DOI
Disease Formulation Reference Author TKDL
Information from Wealth of India Reference
  • The young terminal shoots and leaves are used as vegetable and salad.
  • It contains Carotene (vitamin A) 3,300 I.U and vitamin B1 87µg. Nicotinic acid 0.6 mg, riboflavin 120 µg, vitamin C 137mg/100g, vitamin E 11.8mg/100g.
  • Leaves and stems are said to be cooling.
  • In Assam, the plant is given for nervous and general debility and it is also used for piles.
 CSIR(1985).The Wealth of India, Raw materials,Vol.-V ,P.237-238, New Delhi, India
4.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.1.1, 4.2.1.2, 4.2.1.3, 4.2.2, 4.2.2.8
    CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat-6, Assam, India
    CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur-61,Himachal Pradesh, India