About Breynia androgyna (L.) Chakrab. & N.P.Balakr.
Breynia androgyna (L.) Chakrab. & N.P.Balakr. is a multi-stemmed upright shrub that grows up to 2.5 meters (8 feet 2 inches) tall. It has dark green oval leaves that are roughly 5 to 6 centimeters (2.0 to 2.4 inches) long. This species is native to India, Bangladesh, southern China (including Hainan), and Southeast Asia. It grows in tropical and subtropical humid lowland forests, occurring on brushy slopes and sunny forest margins at elevations between 100 and 400 meters. Freshly harvested leaves, especially mature leaves, contain high amounts of provitamin A carotenoids, plus high levels of vitamins B and C, protein, and minerals. One study suggests that excessive consumption of uncooked, juiced leaves of this plant (also known as katuk) can cause lung damage, due to its high concentration of the alkaloid papaverine. Multiple studies have confirmed that this plant contains notable phytochemical constituents, and has various pharmacological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity activities. An association has been reported between consumption of large quantities of uncooked leaves or raw leaf juice and bronchiolitis obliterans that leads to lung failure, although the exact cause of this link remains unknown.
