Published Paper Details:

Tradescantia pallida -- the spiderwort, a perennial herb native to eastern Mexico Gulf coast, at present farmed as an ornamental commonly known as purple heart or purple queen. Because of its pendulous nature, it is commonly grown in green house or outdoors as groundcover or in containers. The plant is part of the genus Tradescantia in the Commelinaceae family, which comprises approximately 80 herbaceous species endemic to Neotropics. Although T. pallida is recognized in the Food Technology and Environmental area for its uses of identifying, binding and elimination work for soil; air contaminants. The research was also done on bioactive compounds, such as epigallocatechin and hydroxytyrosol that have anticancer, anti-inflammatory activity and antidiabetic & antioxidative. Most notably these phytochemicals, and others from Tradescantia give some of the numerous potential uses for this plant, which may be evidence that its bioactive components are synergistic. For millennia, herbs have been a valued food, flavoring and healing plants these days they are widely used in the form of powders or capsules, teas and extracts. The Tradescantia genus is particularly famous for its traditional medicinal properties against different diseases, traditionally anti-inflammatory and antioxidant- antibacterial, antiarrhythmic. Traditionally, Its roots have been brewed in drinks to cure some digestive and kidney disorders, while the leaves were traditionally used in the treatment of bug bites or stings. Individual species such as T. zebrina are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of chloasma, and throughout Jamaica; T. pallida has been taken for the treatment of tuberculosis, coughs and hypertension. One of the decoctions of its leaves, is used to prepare the beverage "Matali" in Mexico. Usually these plants are herbaceous, 30-60 cm tall with perennial or annual fibrous- to tuberous-rooted stems that give rise dense mats. Flowers are bisexual, actinomorpic or slight zygomorphic and has its own unique inflorescence. Those traditional uses of Tradescantia species may be widespread and clear, but further scientific work is needed to substantiate the cause-effect relationship underlying the supposed medicinal benefits