Kalanchoe pinnata); kalanchoe pinnate
Perennial herbaceous evergreen succulent plant of the broad-leaved family. The stem is strong, fleshy, 50-150 cm tall, often woody at the base. The leaves are opposite, short-petiolate, juicy, thick, bright green, with a reddish tint; the lower ones are simple, elliptic or ovoid, notched-toothed, the upper ones are compound, odd-pinnate, with 3-5 leaves. The flowers are bisexual, tubular, greenish-white-pink, erect, collected in an apical panicle inflorescence. The fruit is a leaf. In the conditions of indoor culture, it blooms for a long time.
Distribution . The homeland of Kalanchoe pinnate is tropical Africa, Madagascar, Cape Verde Islands, Reunion Island, Comoros Islands. On the territory of the former USSR, kalanchoe is bred as an indoor decorative plant. Kalanchoe is grown in Adjara under the conditions of field culture.
Raw. In medical practice, plant juice is used. To obtain it, fresh leaves are used together with the herbaceous part of the stems. Before processing, raw materials are kept for 7 days (but not more) in a dark place at a temperature of 5-10°.
Chemical composition . The aerial part of the plant contains polysaccharides, flavonoids, catechins, tannins, organic acids (malic, oxalic, citric, isolimonic, acetic), enzymes (malic acid dehydrase, oxalic and acetic acid carboxylase), ascorbic acid, macro- and microelements (aluminum , magnesium, calcium, copper, silicon, manganese, iron).
Pharmacological properties and use. Kalanchoe juice has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, low toxicity, helps to quickly clean wounds and ulcers from necrotic tissues, accelerates their epithelization. Experimental studies revealed the juice’s ability to heal wounds and thermal burns, inhibit the formation of granulation tissue in the proliferative phase of inflammation, and inhibit the development of the exudative phase of inflammation caused by various substances. Kalanchoe preparations (juice and ointment) are widely used in surgical, dental, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology and otolaryngology practice. In surgical practice, Kalanchoe juice is used for the treatment of long-unhealed wounds, trophic ulcers of the leg, bedsores, and purulent processes accompanied by tissue death. Wounds and ulcers are treated first (toilet wounds), then a thin layer of petroleum jelly or furacilin ointment is applied to the surrounding intact skin, the wound or ulcer is irrigated with juice, covered with 3-4 layers of gauze soaked in this juice, and a bandage is applied, carrying out the procedure daily, and later – every other day. In the case of infected wounds and ulcers, in the presence of purulent secretions, an antibiotic to which the microflora is sensitive is added to the juice for 5-7 days. In the treatment of furunculosis, panaritiums, phlegmon, abscesses and infected wounds, Kalanchoe ointment is used in combination with St. John’s wort oil. First, bandages with St. John’s wort oil, which has pronounced bacteriostatic properties, are used, and after the inflammatory process subsides and the appearance of granulations, Kalanchoe ointment is used, which stimulates reparative processes. Kalanchoe ointment with furazolidone is used in the treatment of a large erosive surface, In dentistry, Kalanchoe juice is used in the form of applications or aerosol inhalations for gingivitis, periodontitis of the 2nd and 3rd degrees, and aphthous stomatitis. In obstetrics and gynecology, Kalanchoe products (juice and ointment) are used to treat perineal wounds, cervical erosion, ruptures during childbirth, endocervicitis, and cracked nipples in nursing mothers. Kalanchoe juice also treats eye injuries (keratitis of various origins, traumatic corneal injuries and eye burns), chronic tonsillitis, purulent inflammation of the ear, rhinitis, etc. It is effective to use the juice in the complex treatment of erysipelas, during tympanoplasty. In folk medicine, Kalanchoe juice is used locally for various inflammatory processes, wounds and ulcers, conjunctivitis and burns, and also instilled into the nose for a runny nose. With burns,
Medicinal forms and applications . Of ready-made pharmacy products, Kalanchoe juice (Succus Kalanchoes) and Kalanchoe ointment (Unguentum Kaianchoes) are used. Kalanchoe juice can be prepared at home. To do this, the leaves and the herbaceous part of the stems are washed in running water, kept for 7 days in a dark place at a temperature of 5-10°, passed through a meat grinder sterilized by boiling, squeezed through a thick cloth, left for 1-3 days at a temperature 4-10° for settling, filter well and add 0.5% chloroform for preservation.