This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Ixora coccinea contains flavonoids (luteolin, rutin) and tannins that contribute to its wound-healing properties. These compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, which may reduce oxidative stress at wound sites. Tannins provide astringent effects that help contract tissues and reduce bleeding. The plant's antimicrobial properties may also help prevent wound infection. Evidence Level: C (preliminary studies).
Does Ixora coccinea interact with any medications?
There is limited research on Ixora coccinea drug interactions. The tannin content may potentially reduce absorption of certain medications, including iron supplements and some alkaloid drugs. Due to insufficient clinical data, individuals taking prescription medications should consult a healthcare provider before using Ixora coccinea preparations. Evidence Level: C (based on constituent properties, not clinical trials).
What is the recommended dosage of Ixora coccinea?
Traditional preparations use 3-5 grams of dried flowers or leaves brewed as a tea, taken twice daily. For topical applications, a paste made from crushed fresh leaves or flowers can be applied directly to affected skin areas. Standardized extracts lack established dosing guidelines. Always follow product-specific instructions or consult a qualified herbalist. Evidence Level: Traditional/C.
Is Ixora coccinea safe during pregnancy?
Ixora coccinea is contraindicated during pregnancy. Traditional use includes stimulating menstrual flow, which may pose risks of uterine contraction and potential pregnancy complications. There is insufficient safety data for breastfeeding women. Women who are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or nursing should avoid Ixora coccinea in all forms. Evidence Level: C (based on traditional use and pharmacological properties).
What are the medicinal uses of Ixora coccinea?
Ixora coccinea has been used traditionally for wound healing, skin conditions, fever, diarrhea, and menstrual disorders. The flowers and leaves are the primary parts used medicinally. In South Asian folk medicine, preparations are applied topically for skin ailments or consumed as tea for internal conditions. Current evidence is preliminary (Level C), and more clinical research is needed.
What are the side effects of Ixora coccinea?
Common side effects include gastrointestinal upset and, with excessive use, constipation due to the high tannin content. Individuals with existing constipation should avoid internal use. Allergic reactions are possible with topical application. Discontinue use if adverse symptoms occur and seek medical attention for severe reactions. Evidence Level: C/Traditional.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Ixora coccinea is an evergreen shrub of the Rubiaceae family used in traditional medicine for various ailments, demonstrating antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties in experimental models [PMID:22231708, PMID:38562312].
Background
Ixora coccinea, also known as jungle geranium or flame of the woods, is a perennial shrub and flowering plant native to Eastern India and found throughout India and other tropical/subtropical regions [PMID:22231708, PMID:38562312, PMID:30754286, PMID:28539719].
Traditional uses
In Ayurveda and folk medicine, the flowers, leaves, roots, and stem are used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, fever, headache, skin diseases, eye trouble, wounds, sores, ulcers, hypertension, menstrual irregularities, and sprains [PMID:22231708, PMID:25185927, PMID:24624303, PMID:24704593].
Active compounds
The plant contains triterpene acids (ursolic acid, oleanolic acid), lupeol, sitosterol, rutin, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, glycosides of kaempferol and quercetin, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, alkaloids, and novel bioactive peptides (ixorapeptide I and II) [PMID:22231708, PMID:15214483, PMID:21106454, PMID:38562312].
Mechanism of action
The herb exhibits antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals (DPPH, ABTS, nitric oxide) and restoring catalase and SOD activity [PMID:30333948]. It enhances wound healing by upregulating the expression of collagen type III (COL3A1) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) [PMID:24624303]. Anti-inflammatory effects are associated with the inhibition of human neutrophil polarization, phagocytic activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production [PMID:24704593].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DDiarrhea
Aqueous flower extract showed significant inhibitory activity against castor oil-induced diarrhea in rats [PMID:21731376]
Evidence DPain and Inflammation
Ethanol leaf extract significantly increased reaction time in hot-plate tests and inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing and carrageenan-induced paw edema in rodents [PMID:24468614]
Evidence DDepression
Methanol extracts (100-200 mg/kg) significantly reduced immobility duration in tail suspension and forced swim tests in mice [PMID:32454651]
Evidence DCardiac Toxicity
Methanolic leaf extract (200-400 mg/kg) reduced ST segment elevation and maintained blood pressure in doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity rat models [PMID:22529471]
Evidence DWound Healing
Methanol leaf extract promoted wound contraction and increased hydroxyproline quantification in rat excision models [PMID:24624303]
Evidence DCancer (In Vitro/Animal)
Evidence summary
The current evidence consists primarily of in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), suggesting broad pharmacological potential, but lacks human clinical trials.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 38562312 (2024) — In Vitro Evaluation of Extracts From Ixora Species for a Potential Phytosomal Formulation. · Cureus
2.PMID: 22231708 (2012) — Ixora coccinea Linn.: traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. · Chinese journal of integrative medicine
3.PMID: 30333948 (2018) — Amelioration of arsenic-induced oxidative stress in CHO cells by Ixora coccinea flower extract. · 3 Biotech
4.PMID: 38800336 (2024) — In Vitro Wound Healing and Anticancer Effects of Ixora coccinea in Malignant Melanoma Cell Lines. · Cureus
5.PMID: 21731376 (2010) — Antidiarrheal activity of flowers of Ixora Coccinea Linn. in rats. · Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
Active fractions of flowers increased the lifespan of mice with Dalton's lymphoma and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma; specific peptides showed potency against Hep3B liver cancer cells [PMID:9751274, PMID:21106454]
Evidence DArthritis
Ethanolic leaf extract was evaluated for antiarthritic potential in complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats [PMID:38687315]
6.
PMID: 25185927 (2014) — Identification and characterisation of phenolics from Ixora coccinea L. (Rubiaceae) by liquid chromatography multi-stage mass spectrometry. · Phytochemical analysis : PCA
7.PMID: 22556712 (1995) — Antimicrobial properties of ixora coccinea L. (Rubiaceae). · Ancient science of life
8.PMID: 24468614 (2014) — Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effects of Ixora coccinea. · Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
9.PMID: 32454651 (2018) — Phytochemical Analysis and Antidepressant Activity of Ixora coccinea Extracts in Experimental Models of Depression in Mice. · Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences
10.PMID: 15214483 (2004) — New cycloartenol esters from Ixora coccinea. · Natural product research
11.PMID: 22529471 (2012) — Cardioprotective effect of methanolic extract of Ixora coccinea Linn. leaves on doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity in rats. · Indian journal of pharmacology
12.PMID: 26214753 (2016) — New dammarane and ursane-type triterpenoids from the flower of Ixora coccinea Linn. · Natural product research
13.PMID: 38687315 (2024) — Antiarthritic potential of ethanolic extract of Ixora coccinea leaves on complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in animal model. · Indian journal of pharmacology
14.PMID: 9751274 (1998) — Cytotoxic and antitumour principles from Ixora coccinea flowers. · Cancer letters
15.PMID: 30754286 (2010) — Pseudocercospora ixoricola Causing Leaf Spots on Ixora coccinea in Brazil. · Plant disease
16.PMID: 24624303 (2014) — Ixora coccinea Enhances Cutaneous Wound Healing by Upregulating the Expression of Collagen and Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor. · ISRN pharmacology
17.PMID: 22118031 (2011) — Evaluation of wound healing and antimicrobial potentials of Ixora coccinea root extract. · Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine
18.PMID: 24704593 (2014) — Inhibition of phagocytic and intracellular killing activity of human neutrophils by aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Ixora coccinea. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
19.PMID: 11406864 (2001) — Chemoprotective effect of Ixora coccinea L. flowers on cisplatin induced toxicity in mice. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
20.PMID: 21106454 (2010) — Ixorapeptide I and ixorapeptide II, bioactive peptides isolated from Ixora coccinea. · Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
21.PMID: 28539719 (2017) — Ultrasound-assisted Extraction of Ursolic Acid from the Flowers of Ixora coccinia Linn (Rubiaceae) and Antiproliferative Activity of Ursolic Acid and Synthesized Derivatives. · Pharmacognosy magazine