Star of Bethlehem (Isotoma longifera)

Classification

Kingdom     : Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom : Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Division       : Spermatophyta

Class            : Magnoliopsida

Order           : Campanulales

Family         : Campanulaceae

Genus          : Isotoma
Species        : Isotoma longifera 

Popular Names
Gorejat, Kitolod, Tolod (Sundanese) Kendali, Sangkobak (Javaneses), Star of Bethlehem, Madam Fate (English), Estrella (Spans.,)

Habitat
Terrestrial

Microhabitat
On the ground, among the rocks, easily found along drains 

Native Distribution
Caribbean (National Park, Singapore,-)

Utilization

It has the potency to inhibit cervical cancer (Hapsari et al., 2016) dental pain medication, asthma, bronchitis, sore throat, heal the wound (CCRC,-). It is known as cause blindness in animals (Stuart,-) but the flowers are used for traditional eye medicine in Sumedang, Indonesia. In the other place such as Bandung, the local people told me like that, and also there're many articles in Indonesian explained the same thing.

Pharmacology
Anticancer (flavonoids, steroids, saponins, tannins and alkaloids) (Hapsari et al., 2016) and anti-inflammation (CCRC,-).

Toxicity
Contains isotomine can paralyze muscle, affect to the respiration, hearth (Stuart,-) toxic upon ingestion (National Park, Singapore,-).

Picture

References

• CCRC  (Cancer Chemoperention Research Center, Farmasi, UGM)
• Hapsari, A., Asti, D., Selviana, Hidayati, Kumallla, N., and Andi Suhendi. 2016. The potency of Kitolod (Isotoma longifera (L) Persl) herb extract as a cure for cervical cancer: an intro study of Hela Cells. The 2nd International Conference on Science, Technology and Humanity.
• National Park, Singapore
• Stuart