An annual commonly used as an ornamental bedding plant. Source of vincristine and vinblastine used in western medicine to treat childhood leukemia and Hodgkin's disease. Centella asiatica gotu-kola. Tender perennial native to Asia. Current studies show that extracts from the fresh leaves have a positive effect on certain neurotransmitters in the brain that control learning and memory.
Further studies are underway to determine how it can be best used.
Datura stramonium thornapple, jimson-weed. Annual native to North America. Source of the alkaloids hysoscyamine and atropine, used in western medicine for its antispasmodic and narcotic properties. Do not self medicate. Digitalis species foxglove.