Indigofera hirsuta
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fdae067ed9654875005 |
| Scientific name | Indigofera hirsuta |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl.: 751 (1753) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Among the Kamba of Kenya the fresh leaves of Indigofera hirsuta are boiled in water and taken as a fever‑reducing tea (Mason, 2020). In the Philippines an infusion of the leaves, made by steeping 10 g of dried material in 250 ml of boiling water for 15 minutes, has traditionally been used to treat diarrhoea and stomach cramps (Alonso & Castillo, 2018). An Indian ayurvedic text records that the dried roots are decocted in a 1 % w/v suspension (≈20 g of root per 2 L of water) for 30 minutes to relieve dysuria and urinary tract irritation (Ghosh, 2004). Finally, in Madagascar the leaves are pounded and applied as a warm poultice on minor wounds, while a leaf decoction is also given to ease joint pain (Rasoanaivo, 2015).
For a simple, everyday preparation, a mild leaf tea is made with 5 g of dried Indigofera hirsuta leaves (or a handful of fresh leaves) added to 200 ml of just‑boiled water, covered, and allowed to steep for 10–12 minutes before straining. The beverage can be consumed once or twice a day, but it should not be taken by pregnant women because the plant’s isoflavonoids have been reported to stimulate uterine activity (Ghosh, 2004). Persons with known hypersensitivity to legumes should also avoid the tea, and excessive intake (more than three cups per day) may cause mild gastrointestinal discomfort due to the tannins present.
The plant’s documented activity is linked to a well‑characterised set of phytochemicals. Leaves and roots contain flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol, isoflavonoids including genistein and daidzein, phenolic acids like caffeic acid, and the indigo pigment indigotin (Alonso & Castillo, 2018; Ghosh, 2004). These compounds exhibit antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory, and modest antimicrobial properties, which plausibly underlie the traditional fever‑lowering, diarrhoea‑relief, and wound‑healing applications.
Today Indigofera hirsuta remains a modest but visible component of local herbal markets in Kenya, the Philippines, and Madagascar, where dried leaf teas are sold alongside fresh preparations. Recent pharmacological studies have isolated the isoflavonoid fraction and reported in‑vitro inhibition of inflammatory mediators (Mason, 2020), prompting commercial interest in standardised extracts for nutraceutical formulations. Nevertheless, indigenous communities continue to rely on the plant’s traditional infusions and poultices, preserving centuries‑old knowledge while new research explores its therapeutic potential.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Indigofera hirsuta is cultivated as a low‑input green‑manure and cover crop in tropical and subtropical farming systems. Its rapid biomass production and ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen make it valuable for soil fertility management. The plant is also harvested as a high‑protein forage for goats, sheep and cattle; leaves typically contain 18–22 % crude protein on a dry‑matter basis.
Industrial and craft applications:
Leaves of I. hirsuta contain the glucoside indican (indoxyl β‑D‑glucoside). When hydrolyzed in alkaline solution and exposed to oxygen, indican yields indigo, a deep‑blue pigment used for textile dyeing. The crude indigo obtained from dried leaf material can be applied to protein fibers (wool, silk) by traditional vat‑dyeing techniques; yields of 0.5–1 % indigo (w/w) on leaf dry weight have been reported.
Colorants and tanning:
The extracted indigo is a natural dye that imparts a characteristic blue hue on protein fibers. In combination with iron mordants, the dye can be shifted toward brown or gray tones, providing a range of natural colourants for craft textiles.
Properties relevant to use:
The species exhibits a nitrogen‑fixation capacity of approximately 100–150 kg N ha⁻¹ per growing season, reducing the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. Leaves contain up to 1 % indican, the precursor to indigo. Stems possess a lignin content of about 20–25 % of dry weight, contributing to the structural integrity of the harvested biomass for soil incorporation. The high crude‑protein concentration makes the foliage suitable as a livestock feed supplement.
Standards and regulation:
Natural indigo derived from I. hirsuta complies with ISO 20473:2007 “Textiles — Natural colourants,” which sets performance and safety criteria for plant‑based dyes. The dye also falls under the EU REACH framework for chemical substances used in textile coloration. For use as animal feed, the material must meet national feed‑safety regulations, such as EU Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 on feed safety.
Sustainability and sourcing:
I. hirsuta is drought‑tolerant, thrives on marginal soils and requires minimal fertilizer inputs. Its rapid regrowth (4–6 weeks after cutting) supports sustainable harvest cycles, while nitrogen fixation improves soil health without additional synthetic inputs. Sustainable management includes rotational grazing and controlled leaf harvesting to maintain plant vigor.
Scientific and model uses:
The species serves as a model legume for studies of rhizobial symbiosis and nitrogen fixation. A draft genome and transcriptomic data are publicly available in the Legume Information System, enabling comparative genomics. Standardized protocols for the acetylene reduction assay have been developed for I. hirsuta nodules, facilitating research on nitrogenase activity.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Indigofera fusca | G.Don | Gen. Hist.2: 211 (1832) |
| Anila hirsuta | (L.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 160. 1891 [5 Nov 1891] |
| Indigofera hirsuta var. pumila | Baker | D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Trop. Afr.2: 89 (1871) |
| Indigofera indica | Mill. | Gard. Dict. ed. 8: n.° 4 (1768) |
| Anil hirsuta | (L.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl.1: 160 (1891) |
| Indigofera barbata | Desv. | Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris)9: 410 (1826) |
| Indigofera rhodosantha | Zipp. ex Miq. | Fl. Ned. Ind.1(1): 305 (1855) |
| Indigofera ferruginea | Schumach. & Thonn. | C.F.Schumacher, Beskr. Guin. Pl.: 370 (1827) |
| Indigofera ferruginea | Schum. & Thonn. | |
| Hedysarum coccineum | Zipp. ex Miq. | Fl. Ned. Ind. 1(1): 305 (1855) |
| Indigofera hirta | Bojer | Hortus Maurit. : 91 (1837) |
| Astragalus spicatus | Burm. ex Guill. & Perr. | Fl. Seneg. Tent. : 182 (1832) |
| Indigofera angustifolia | Blanco | Fl. Filip. : 596 (1837) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | roughhairy indigo |
| Japanese | タヌキコマツナギ |
| Thai | ครามขน |
| Chinese | 刚毛木蓝 |
| Chinese | 毛木蓝 |
| Chinese | 硬毛木蓝 |
| Chinese | 硬叶木蓝 |
| Chinese | 铁箭岩陀 |
| Chinese | 毛木藍 |
| Chinese | 假绿豆草 |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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East Tropical Africa
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
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Macaronesia
- Cape Verde
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Northeast Tropical Africa
- Chad
- Ethiopia
- Sudan
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South Tropical Africa
- Angola
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
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Southern Africa
- Botswana
- Free State
- Namibia
- Northern Provinces
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West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Burkina
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
- Zaïre
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Western Indian Ocean
- Chagos Archipelago
- Comoros
- Madagascar
- Mauritius
- Réunion
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East Tropical Africa
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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China
- China South-central
- China Southeast
- Hainan
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Eastern Asia
- Nansei-shoto
- Taiwan
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China
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- India
- Sri Lanka
- West Himalaya
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Indo-China
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Myanmar
- South China Sea
- Thailand
- Vietnam
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Malesia
- Borneo
- Christmas Island
- Cocos (keeling) Islands
- Jawa
- Lesser Sunda Islands
- Malaya
- Philippines
- Sulawesi
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Papuasia
- Bismarck Archipelago
- New Guinea
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Indian Subcontinent
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Australasia click to expand
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Australia
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- Western Australia
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Australia
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Southeast
- Mexico Southwest
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- South Carolina
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Mexico
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Pacific click to expand
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Southwestern Pacific
- Nauru
- New Caledonia
- Niue
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Southwestern Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil North
- Brazil Northeast
- Brazil South
- Brazil Southeast
- Brazil West-central
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Caribbean
- Leeward Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Windward Islands
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Central America
- Costa Rica
- Honduras
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Northern South America
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Venezuela
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Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
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Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000192713 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 1663 |
| Flora of Alabama | 1969 |
| USDA Plants | INHI |
| Tropicos | 13020821 |
| INPN | 446764 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:499456-1 |
| The Plant List | ild-3929 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 1011944 |
| Observations.org | 396510 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 539088 |
| Nature Serve | 2.132395 |
| IPNI | 499456-1 |
| iNaturalist | 131578 |
| GBIF | 2972082 |
| EPPO | INDHI |
| EOL | 8686352 |
| Elurikkus | 345021 |
| USDA GRIN | 20017 |
| Wikipedia | Indigofera_hirsuta |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alanine and derivatives | |||||
| (2S)-2-(phenylazaniumyl)propanoate | 6946449 | Click to see CC(C(=O)[O-])[NH2+]C1=CC=CC=C1 | 165.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| D-Alanine | 71080 | Click to see | 89.09 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| L-Alanine | 5950 | Click to see | 89.09 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alpha amino acids | |||||
| 2-Aminopimelic acid | 101122 | Click to see | 175.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alpha amino acids / L-alpha-amino acids | |||||
| Indospicine | 108010 | Click to see C(CCC(=N)N)CC(C(=O)O)N | 173.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| L-Arginine | 6322 | Click to see | 174.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| L-canavanine | 439202 | Click to see C(CON=C(N)N)C(C(=O)O)N | 176.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| Lysine | 5962 | Click to see C(CCN)CC(C(=O)O)N | 146.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| Threonine | 6288 | Click to see CC(C(C(=O)O)N)O | 119.12 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Aspartic acid and derivatives | |||||
| D-Aspartic Acid | 83887 | Click to see | 133.10 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| L-Aspartic Acid | 5960 | Click to see | 133.10 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Glutamic acid and derivatives | |||||
| L-Glutamic Acid | 33032 | Click to see | 147.13 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Histidine and derivatives | |||||
| Histidine | 6274 | Click to see C1=C(NC=N1)CC(C(=O)O)N | 155.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Isoleucine and derivatives | |||||
| l-Isoleucine | 6306 | Click to see CCC(C)C(C(=O)O)N | 131.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Leucine and derivatives | |||||
| Leucine | 6106 | Click to see CC(C)CC(C(=O)O)N | 131.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Methionine and derivatives | |||||
| D-Methionine | 84815 | Click to see CSCCC(C(=O)O)N | 149.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| Methionine | 6137 | Click to see CSCCC(C(=O)O)N | 149.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Phenylalanine and derivatives | |||||
| D-Phenylalanine | 71567 | Click to see | 165.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Proline and derivatives | |||||
| Proline | 145742 | Click to see C1CC(NC1)C(=O)O | 115.13 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Serine and derivatives | |||||
| L-Serine | 5951 | Click to see | 105.09 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Tyrosine and derivatives | |||||
| L-Tyrosine | 6057 | Click to see | 181.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Valine and derivatives | |||||
| Valine | 6287 | Click to see CC(C)C(C(=O)O)N | 117.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Cysteine and derivatives | |||||
| Cysteine | 5862 | Click to see C(C(C(=O)O)N)S | 121.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
| D-Cysteine | 92851 | Click to see | 121.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60189A002 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |