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| Last updated: February 2025 |

This plant is native to South America. My first recorded encounter of this plant in Singapore was in December 2007. However, Joseph Lai had already described this plant on his EARTH website before then, although the website was closed many years ago. Based on specimens from the local herbarium, the earliest collection of this plant dates back to 1999 [1]. According to the iNaturalist website viewed on 9 February 2025, there were 41 observations of this plant in Singapore, with the earliest sighting in January 2020.

A report by Meena in 2014 [2] suggested that the plant might be native to Malaysia, with the first record in Malaysia reported in 2013 in the state of Selangor [3]. However, Ahmad Fuad Morad had already photographed this herb in Ipoh, Malaysia in 2011. In other countries, such as Indonesia, Thailand, and China, it was first reported in 1989 [4], 2006 [5], and 2019 [6], respectively.

My Nature Notes related to this plant: 31 January 2016

References:

[1] Chen LMJ, Ho BC, Choo LM, Koh SL. Additions to the Flora of Singapore, new and overlooked records of naturalised plant species (1). Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 2018;70(1):91-101. | Read article |

[2] Meena SL, Krishna PH, Jadhav CR, Maina V. A new generic record to the flora of Gujarat state (India): Spigelia anthelmia L. (Loganiaceae). J Econ Taxon Bot 2014;38(2):340-342. | Read article |

[3] Julius A, Kamin I, Kiew R, Utteridge TMA. Gardneria and Spigelia (Loganiaceae), two genera new to the Flora of Peninsular Malaysia. Phytotaxa 2013;129.1. | Read article |

[4] Galinato MI, Moody K, Piggin CM. Upland rice weeds of South and Southeast Asia. International Rice Research Institute 1999, page 154.

[5] Phonsena P. Spigelia (Loganiaceae), a new generic record for Thailand. Thai Forest Bull (Bot) 2006;34;176-178. | Read article |

[6] Liang D, Jiang G, Wang G, Guo Y, Liu Z, Wang R. Spigelia L. (Loganiaceae), a newly recorded genus in China. Phytotaxa 2019;402(1):38-44. | Read article |

| Plants of the World Online | iNaturalist | Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) | Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) |

[2017] Araújo SA, Soares AMDS, Silva CR, Almeida Júnior EB, Rocha CQ, Ferreira ATDS, Perales J, Costa-Júnior LM. In vitro anthelmintic effects of Spigelia anthelmia protein fractions against Haemonchus contortus. PLoS One. 2017 Dec 15;12(12):e0189803. | Read article |

[2015] Oluwakemi K. Sobiyi AO, Tom A. In vitro anthelmintic activity of Heliotropium indicum, Senna fistula and Spigelia anthelmia used as worm expeller in South West Nigeria. Bangladesh J Pharmacol 2015;10:417-422. | Read article |

[2007] Ademola IO, Fagbemi BO, Idowu SO. Anthelmintic activity of Spigelia anthelmia extract against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep. Parasitol Res 2007;101(1):63-9. | Read abstract |

[2006] Jegede OC, Ajanusi JO, Adaudi AO, Agbede RI. Anthelmintic efficacy of extracts of Spigelia anthelmia Linn on experimental Nippostrongylus braziliensis in rats. J Vet Sci 2006;7(3):229-32. | Read article |

[2004] Camurça-Vasconcelos AL, Nascimento NR, Sousa CM, Melo LM, Morais SM, Bevilaqua CM, Rocha MF. Neuromuscular effects and acute toxicity of an ethyl acetate extract of Spigelia anthelmia Linn. J Ethnopharmacol 2004;92(2-3):257-61. | Read abstract |

[2003] Assis LM, Bevilaqua CM, Morais SM, Vieira LS, Costa CT, Souza JA. Ovicidal and larvicidal activity in vitro of Spigelia anthelmia Linn. extracts on Haemonchus contortus. Vet Parasitol 2003;117(1-2):43-9. | Read abstract |

[2002] Ade Morais SM, Bevilaqua CM, Souza JA, Assis LM, Chemical investigation of Spigelia anthelmia Linn. used in Brazilian folk medicine as anthelmintic. Rev bras farmacogn 2002;12:81-82. | Read article |

[2001] Hübner H, Vierling W, Brandt W, Reiter M, Achenbach H. Minor constituents of Spigelia anthelmia and their cardiac activities. Phytochemistry 2001;57(2):285-96. | Read abstract |

[1995] Achenbach H, Hübner H, Vierling W, Brandt W, Reiter M. Spiganthine, the cardioactive principle of Spigelia anthelmia. J Nat Prod 1995;58(7):1092-6. | Read abstract |