Family

Melastomataceae

Genus

Melastoma

Common Name

Ye Mu Dan

Plant Figure

Description

Melastoma malabathricum is an important traditional medicinal and landscape shrub that is commonly found in tropical and temperate Southeast Asian countries. Recent studies revealed that many phytochemicals from flowers have pharmacological properties, such as antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, antidiarrheal, cytotoxic, and antioxidant activities. To date, more than 30 phytochemicals have been identified in M. malabathricum flower extracts, most of these constituents are generalized flavonoids, anthocyanins, and alkaloids.