Bryophyllum pinnatum

(Katakataka)

Katakataka is an erect, more or less

branched, smooth, succulent herb, 0.4 to
1.4 meters in height. Leaves are simple or
pinnately compound, with the leaflets
elliptic, usually about 10 centimeters long,
thick, succulent, and scalloped margins.
Plantlets grow along the notches of the
leaf margins which can develop while still
attached to the plant or when detached, a
fascinating characteristic that earns its
name.

Properties
Leaves considered astringent, antiseptic,
hemostatic, mucilaginous, anti-inflammatory,
disinfectant, and Pharmacologic studies have
showed pharmacologic properties: analgesic, antiinflammatory, anti-allergic, , antiulcer, antibacterial,
antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal, sedative, muscle
relaxant.
Parts utilized
Entire plant. May be collected year round;
preferably used fresh.

Uses Folkloric - Leaves used as astringent, antiseptic, and

counterirritant against poisonous insect bites.
- Pounded fresh material is applied as a poultice for a variety of
conditions: Sprains, eczema, infections, burns, carbuncle and
erysipelas. - Leaves, made pliable by hold over fire, are applied to
wounds, bruises, boils; also, used as poultice or power in bad
ulcers.
- Juice is mixed with lard and used for diarrhea, dysentery, cholera,
and phthisis.
- Pounded leaves are applied as poultices to the soles of the feet to
stop hemorrhages.
- Leaves are used as topicals in dislocation, ecchymoses,
callosities.
- Leaves, pounded and mixed with salt, used as plaster and applied
to stomach to relieve enuresis
- For boils, the whole leaf is pressed by hand, to and fro, until it
becomes moist with the leaf extract. A small opening is made in the
middle of the leaf which is then placed on the boil with hole over the
pointing of the abscess.
- For asthma, leaves of leaves places in hot water for 15 minutes,
then juice squeezed out of the leaves, and drunk. - Juice of leaves
used in bilious diarrhea and lithiasis.

Studies Neuropharmacological Effects / CNS Depressant: Study evaluated

aqueous leaf extracts for neuropharmacological activities in mice. Results
revealed CNS depressant activity attributed to the presence of bufadienolide
and other water soluble constituents. (1)
Antinociceptive / Anti-inflammatory / Antidiabetic: Leaf extract study of BP on
animals showed it to possess antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and
hypoglycemic properties probably due to the flavonoid, polyphenol and
triterpenoid contents. (2)
Antiulcer: Results of methanolic extract study in rats showed that BP possessed
potent antiulcer properties. Leaf extract showed significant reduction in
incidence of ulceration in indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in a dosedependent manner.
Antimicrobial: Extract of leaves showed activity against all test organisms except
for Candida albicans. Of all the extracts of Bp, the methanol extract was the
most active with marked antibacterial activities against control strain of S
aureus, E faecalis, B subtilis and P aeruginosa. (9)
Antihypertensive: Study showed a blood pressure lowering effect. However,
since the reduction in blood pressure was only slight, and because of potential
hepatotoxic nephrotoxic effects, and cardiotoxicity at high doses, it is not
suggested as a blood pressure lowering agent.