Phyllanthus amarus is a leafy herbal plant found in tropical regions in the Americas, Africa, India, China, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. Commons names for this plant include gale of the wind, carry me seed, seed on the leaf, pick-a-back, stonebreaker, and dukung anak (Malay).
Phyllanthus amarus is a small, annual plant that grows to a height of 30âÂÂ60 cm. Its thin branches spread out, and each branch has two rows of small, elliptic-oblong leaves of 5-10mm long that are arranged alternately. Its radial flowers are star-shaped and of about 2mm in size. It grows well in soil of high moisture with light shade, and reaches maturity in 2âÂÂ3 months.
Phyllanthus amarus contains flavonoids (quercetin-3-0-glucoside and rutin), tannins (geraniin, amariin and gallocatechin), and alkaloids (phyllantine, quinolizidine type, securinine, norsecurinine, isobubbialine and epibubbialine).
Phyllanthus amarus has been used in the traditional medicine of various cultures, including Amazonian tribes, Ayurveda and Sinhala folk medicine.