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The leaves and the top 15cm of stem tips of the Sauropus plant have
a pleasant taste, similar to fresh garden peas, with a slightly
nutty flavour. They are normally eaten raw in salads or steamed,
added to stir-fry, rice and egg dishes, soups or casseroles. The
leaves retain their dark green colour and firm texture on cooking.
The flowers and small purplish fruits of the plant can also be
eaten.
Uses --- Young shoots, leaves, but also flowers and fruits are
eaten, raw, cooked or in the soup, as a vegetable throughout the
region; they taste sweet and have a nice or very typical odour. The
shoot tips have been sold as tropical asparagus.Stripped leaves and
young shoots are sold in the market. Medical use: Dried and crushed
root is used medicinally in Chiang Mai (Thailand) against head ache,
but seemingly also acts against fever or urinary problems; the
leaves are thought to stimulate milk production and recover the womb
after child birth. In Java the leaves are also used to treat wounds
and against colds. A green dye, used in foo are used as a green dye
in food products. icinally, as dye, and ornamentally.There have been
reports of toxicity following excessive consumption. Severe lung
damage manifested by a condition called bronchiolitis obliterans has
occurred in patients within months of consuming it.Some people have
needed lung transplantation for this condition. |
