About Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.) W.T.Aiton
Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.) W.T.Aiton is a flowering plant species in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, and its English common name is black creeper. It is native to large parts of China, India, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia. This plant is a woody shrub with sprawling lianas that reach a maximum length of 10 m (33 ft) and a diameter of 6 cm (2.4 in). Its bark produces a creamy white sap. Its leaves grow up to 11 cm (4.3 in) long and 4.5 cm (1.8 in) wide. The inflorescence forms a head containing several flowers. Each flower has a calyx made up of densely hairy sepals, and a five-lobed corolla just under one centimeter long. The fruit is a follicle that can grow over 14 cm (5.5 in) in length, and the plant's roots may be reddish or purple. This plant is sold in markets in some regions of India. This plant has numerous traditional medicinal uses, including treatment for rheumatism, asthma, cholera, and fever. Some in vitro studies and rodent studies have suggested that extracts from the plant may inhibit tumors, protect liver cells from damage caused by acetaminophen overdose, and reduce complications of hyperlipidemia in diabetic rats. To date, there are no published studies that test any of these effects in humans. The fibrous bark of the plant is used to make rope.
