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

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(Dicliptera tinctoria) locally know as Magenta plant, Cây Lá cẩm, 红蓝草, 红榄.

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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