Tetragonia expansa Health Dictionary

Murr.

Synonym: T. tetragonioides (Pall.) O. Kuntze.

Family: Tetragoniaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated in the hills of North Bengal, Shillong and other hill stations, and in the Deccan, in Mysore.

English: New Zealand Spinach.

Folk: Chikesoppu (Karnataka).

Action: Used as a substitute for Spinacia oleracea, as a rich source of calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins A, B and C. Given in pulmonary and intestinal affections.

The shoots of the plant contain saponin, but the seeds do not. The saponin has low toxicity which disappears on boiling the leaves. A sample of the plant contained 1.2% oxalic acid, combined as calcium oxalate which is higher than found in common spinach. Losses of phosphorus and iron on cooking are also reported to be high.

The roots, leaves and immature fruits gave positive reaction for the presence of alkaloids. Cerebroside has been synthesized.