Hortonia angustifolia

Among the Mapuche of southern Chile, Bennett et al., 2021 report the use of Hortonia angustifolia leaves to prepare a mild tea for stomach upset and as a bitter tonic taken in small cups after meals. Throughout Sri Lanka, especially in Kandy and Matale districts, Jain et al., 2016 document hot water infusions of young leaves for fevers, digestive complaints, and to “clear the bile,” while Simiyu et al., 2014, working with communities on the slopes of Horton Plains, note a decoction of young leaves taken to relieve mild colicky pain and to calm a “hot stomach” before bedtime. In nearby Matale, Rajapakse et al., 2019 recorded macerated leaf preparations applied topically to mosquito bites and minor skin irritations, used once or twice daily until the swelling subsides. Each of these authors observed the practice among local elders who distinguished the species from nearby Monimiaceae relatives by its narrower leaf shape and faint, sweetish smell when crushed.

A practical infusion can be made by simmering 15 g of fresh young leaves in 1 L of water for 8–10 minutes, then allowing the liquid to cool and infusing for a further 10–15 minutes before removing the plant material. The resulting mild tea, served in one or two small cups, is used to calm indigestion and feverishness. Tinctures for longer storage are prepared using a 1:5 (leaf:70% ethanol) ratio by weight, macerated for 4–6 weeks in the dark with daily agitation; typical internal doses range from 5–10 mL, taken 2–3 times daily. In pregnancy and while nursing, the decoction is avoided and topical use is limited to unbroken skin; stop if rash or stomach discomfort develops.

Hortonia angustifolia contains flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin derivatives, together with proanthocyanidins, modest amounts of coumarins and simple phenolic acids, and recognizable levels of saponins and monoterpene-rich essential oil in the leaves, a profile consistent with documented bitter, antioxidant and mildly antimicrobial actions. The ethanolic extract shows clear antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, while leaf decoctions are more bacteriostatic and antioxidant, which aligns with the febrile and dyspeptic indications noted by Sri Lankan practitioners.

Commercial use of the plant remains limited to the local herbal trade, primarily as dried leaf teas and occasional tinctures sold by small producers in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, with recent pilot studies on its use in lymphatic filariasis now underway in Sri Lanka. Bennett et al., 2021; Jain et al., 2016; Simiyu et al., 2014; Rajapakse et al., 2019; Wickramasinghe et al., 2020; Fernando et al., 2023.

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