Common Name:

General Information

Senecio scandens is an evergreen climbing plant producing slender, scrambling, much-branched woody stems 2 - 5 metres long from a rhizomatous rootstock[, ].
The plant is a commonly used medicinal heb, especially in China where its recorded use dates back to the 6th century and it is an ingredient of more than 100 herbal preparations. It is commnly gathered from the wild for local use and for trade[].
Senecio scandens has a very wide distribution, a large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

Senecio scandens is a commonly used medicinal herb, especially in China, where it is a component of more than 100 compound herbal medicines. However, the plant is known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These alkaloids, which are derived from various amino acids including ornithine, have a range of antinutritional activities. In particular, they can have a pronounced hepatic toxicity, though the lungs and other organs may be affected as well; mutagenic and carcinogenic activities have also been reported[, ]. The alkaloids have a cumulative effect upon the body and, unless concentrations in a plant are high, occasional use is generally safe and in the case of medicinal herbs, can be very beneficial. In general it is best to seek advice before medicinal use.

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - China, southern Japan, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia (Sulawesi), Philippines.

Habitat

Climbing in forests and thickets, on shrubs, over rocks, on buildings, by streams, on mountain
slopes; at elevatons from sea level to 4,000 metres[]. Forests in the Himalayas; at elevations from 1,800 - 3,600 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	3.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Senecio scandens is a plant of warm temperate to tropical areas. It is unable to tolerate much frost[]. It succeeds outdoors in the milder areas of the temperate zone, where it needs to be grown against a sunny sheltered wall[].
Succeeds in a sunny position in most well-drained moderately fertile soils[].
Plants can be cut back to the ground in cold winters, though they usually resprout from the base[].
A climbing plant, it needs support and to be tied onto wires[]. Any pruning is best carried out in spring[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

See notes above regarding potential toxicity before using this plant.
Senecio scandens is a popular herbal medicine in China where it is considered to be depurative, febrifuge and ophthalmic[, ]. The herb clears and detoxifies the body in addition to treating diseases of the eye and drying parts of the body that have been made overly wet by disease. It is used both internally and externally, either on its own or more commonly in conjunction with other herbs, to treat a wide range of maladies including carbuncles, furuncles, colds, epidemic influenza, fevers, malaria, pruritus, diarrhoea, eczema, upper respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, acute tonsillitis, mumps, acute enteritis, bacterial dysentery, icteric hepatitis, cholecystitis, acute urinary tract infection, erysipelas, ringworm sores, trichomoniasis vaginalis, burns, and swollen red eyes[, ].

About 180 compounds have been isolated and identified in the plant including flavonoids pyrrolizidine alkaloids, phenolic acids, jacaranone glycosides, and benzofuranone lactones, as well as terpenoids, steroids, lignans, and some the carotenoid compositions and thetrace elements. Many of these have been shown to have medicinal activities including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral and analgesic[].

Other Uses

The plant is used as an ingredient of soaps, skin lotions and toothpastes, where it provides antibacterial and antiseptic activities[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in spring[].
Root cuttings in early spring[].