GYNURA PROCUMBENS

Gynura procumbens, is a small perennial herb with a growth of about 1 – 3 m in height. It has a scandent (climbing) growth habit. The stems are fleshy, and has purple or have purple spots. It has orange flower, dense and clustered inflorescence (capitula) in corymb, on terminal or axillary stem, with long and slender peduncles.

Taxonomy:

• Family : Asteraceae

Common Names: 

• Malay : Sambung Nyawa, Sambung Nyawa Hijau (Brunei)

Habitat and Distribution:

Gynura procumbens is naturally found by the streams in the forests, and sandy slope areas. It thrives in tropical region. It is native to  West Africa, China and Southeast Asia.

Uses:

• Food (Fruit or Vegetable) : In Java and Malaysia, the leaves are consumed raw as a vegetable. The leaves are used in cooking in Thailand.

Traditional Medicinal Uses :

Research supports the traditional use of Longevity Spinach to treat diabetes. Other traditional uses include using it to treat fever, kidney ailments and dysentery. In Singapore, some Chinese use the leaves to lower blood pressure.

It is important to note that some therapeutic effects from traditional medicinal uses of plants are not currently supported or verified by scientific research.