(Dicliptera tinctoria), Magenta, "Cây lá cẩm"

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(Dicliptera tinctoria) locally know as Cây lá cẩm, Magenta. 

Extracts of Cẩm leaves contain a large amount of pelargonidin, zizilan, carotenoids, B-sitosterol. These compounds are asserted to cure the tuberculosis, eliminates phlegm, acute bronchitis, antitoxic, anti-inflammatory, windpipe infection, hepatitis and diabetes.

Folklore medicinal use:
The plant is said to have been used in traditional Chinese medicine. The leaves have been used in water extract decoctions for the treatment of cough, dysentery, diarrhoea, and bronchitis.

  • For culinary purpose, it's mainly used for its magenta pigment for food coloring. I use it to color sweet rice and desserts. 
  • An evergreen perennial in tropical Asia region. A tender perennial in USDA zone 9a. It's frost sensitive and needs overhead protection in the winter months.




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