Hypoxis hemerocallidea

Hypoxis hemerocallidea, the African star grass or African potato, is a medicinal plant in the Hypoxidaceae family. It is native to southern Africa from South Africa as far north as Mozambique and Zimbabwe.[2][3] This plant is the best known member of this genus.

Hypoxis hemerocallidea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Hypoxidaceae
Genus: Hypoxis
Species:
H. hemerocallidea
Binomial name
Hypoxis hemerocallidea
Fisch.Mey. & Avé-Lall.
Synonyms[1]
  • Hypoxis elata Hook.f. nom. illeg.
  • Hypoxis obconica Nel
  • Hypoxis patula Nel
  • Hypoxis rooperi T.Moore

Medicinal uses

Hypoxis is promoted as an alternative medicine treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, but research has found no evidence of beneficial effect.[4] Additionally, Hypoxis alters the activity of cytochrome P450, suggesting that it may interfere with the effectiveness of other drugs or supplements, such as antiretroviral drugs.[5]

References
  1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  2. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. Gillmer, M.; Symmonds, R. (1999). "Seed collection and germination: Hypoxis hemerocallidea". Plantlife. 21 (36): 37.
  4. Keehn; Taylor; Lowe (2016). "Phytotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia". Curr. Urol. Rep. 17 (7): 53. doi:10.1007/s11934-016-0609-z. PMID 27180172.
  5. Mills E, et al. (2005). "Impact of African herbal medicines on antiretroviral metabolism". AIDS. 19 (1): 95–97. doi:10.1097/00002030-200501030-00013. PMID 15627040.
  • Hypoxis hemerocallidea research University Kwazulu-Natal
  • Hypoxis hemerocallidea South African National Biodiversity Institute


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