The Characteristics, Contents and Efficacy of Myrmecodia (Ant Plants)

You probably think that Myrmecodia plants or Ant Plants are the nest to lay and raise ant’s eggs. Your assumption is not entirely wrong. The word Myrmecodia, is derived from myrmekodes (Greek) that means ‘full of ants’ or ‘ant-like’. Like other genus of epiphytic myrmecophytes, myrmecodia plants form a symbiotic relationship with fungi and ants. They provide suitable habitats; an above-ground home for ant colonies inside its hollow and smooth-walled tunnels.

Mymercodia plants are native to Southeast Asia and some islands extending south to Queensland, Australia. Native people of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam have been using this efficacious plant for generations to treat various ailments. Due to the reason, the exploration of Myrmecodia plants has been committing since 2006. Below are further descriptions of the characteristics, contents, and efficacy of the plants.

 1.  The Characteristics

Myrmecodia plants usually grow on trunks or in tree branches deep inside the forest. In such nature, the tubers of Myrmecodia often grow hanging downward on branches without any significant amounts of substrate. Thus, they depend upon symbiosis for most nutriment. Myrmecodia plants store water and food in caudex with grayish brown color that grows and swell spines over time. Its unbranched and thick stems are covered in alveoli and clypeoli which also are densely filled with dry bracts and grow spines.

Myrmecodia plants have small white flowers that emerge from the alveoli. They can self-pollinate themselves to yield a bright orange and fleshy berry filled averagely with up to six small seeds. The birds help seed dispersal and often deposit droppings on the trunks and branches of trees they land on. The plants also have well-develop leaves and good adaptations to mutualism with ants which means they grow mainly to support other living things and to escape from the shade on the forest floor.

Both myrmecodia plants and ants form a symbiotic relationship. When the plants provide a habitat for the ants, ants likewise prevent tissue damage and provide defense for the plants. Moreover, ant colonies leave wastes within the tunnels inside the caudex that become nutrients to the plants. Then special glands that line the tunnels absorb nutriment for the plant. As the result, the symbiosis allows the plant to gather nutrient from a much larger area via the ants than the roots ever could cover.

Based on The Plant List, Myrmecodia plants have 27 species, they are Myrmecodia Alata, Albertisii, Angustifolia, Archboldiana, Aureospina, Beccarii, Brasii, Erinacea, Ferox, Gracilispina, Horrida, Jobiensis, Kutubuensis, Lamii, Longifolia, Longissima, Melanacantha, Oblongata, Oksapminensis, Paradoxa, Pendens, Platytyrea, Pteroaspida, Schlechteri, Sterrophylla, and Tuberosa. From the 27 species, Myrmecodia Pendans is the most efficacious species among genus Myrmecodia. This species grows from 25 cm up to 45 cm that is generally found in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua islands of Indonesia. Myrmecodia Pendans grows along the waterfront to a mountainous area 2,500 meters above the sea level.

According to Johan Florentinus in his book, the spread of these plants has reached some places, such as Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Papua, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Cambodia, the Solomon Islands and Cape York. In addition to that, Natural Magazine from June 16^th, 2006 mentioned that the spread of Myrmecodia plants reached Thailand, Vietnam and Brazil.

 2.  The Contents and Efficacy

Based on the result of scientific research of the Center Biotechnology LIPI, Myrmecodia plants contain some active compounds which are familiar to the medical world for the treatment of various diseases. The Expert Researcher of LIPI, Dr. M. Ahkam Subroto mentions that the plants contain flavonoids, tannins and polyphenols as antioxidants for human body. In addition, it also contains other beneficial active compounds, such as tocopherol, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and zinc.

·       Flavonoid

Flavonoid protects the cell structure, improve the effectiveness of Vitamin C, prevent the bone loss, and act as an anti-inflammatory and antibiotics. It functions not only for prevention but also for the treatment of cancer. As an anti-virus, it undermine HIVE/AIDS and herpes virus as well.

According to some studies, flavonoids play a role in the prevention and treatment of several diseases such as asthma, cataracts, diabetes, arthritis/rheumatism, migraines, hemorrhoids and periodontitis (inflammation of the connective tissue supporting the roots of teeth).

·       Tannins

Tannins are astringent that bind and precipitate the excess protein in the body.  It is used to treat diarrhea, hemostatic (stops the nosebleed), and hemorrhoids.

·       Polyphenols

Other than Myrmecodia, Polyphenols are usually found in fruits, vegetables and grains. Human could consume polyphenols 23 mg per day to get an anti-microbe and lower the level of blood sugar.

·       Phenolic Acids

Phenolic Acids are antioxidants or compounds that eliminate free radicals that clog the arteries and lead to DNA change. Any changes to DNA may lead to cancer and other disease.

·       Tocopherol

Many studies show that alpha-tocopherol at a concentration of 12 ppm is able to reduce free radicals by 96%. Myrmecodia, especially Myrmecodia Pendans from Papua is rich in tocopherol compounds; about 313 ppm. The more Myrmecodia plants contain tocopherol compounds, the higher its percentage in reducing free radicals.

The plants are known to have a quick reaction in suppressing cancer, tumors and various forms of lumps that may lead to tumor or cancer. Generally, consuming Myrmecodia on regular use for 1 – 2 months may result definite betterment and improvement.

·       Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that may dilate the coronary arteries, dilate the blood flow to the heart, increase good cholesterol (HDL) and maintain a normal heart rhythm. When you have good blood circulation, heart disease, even migraines can be overcome easily. In addition, Magnesium is needed to absorb enough calcium in the body.

In the future, the researchers may possibly find other active compounds inside the Myrmecodia through various studies which has not been found now. After knowing the extraordinary advantages of Myrmecodia plants in helping many people to cure various types of cancer, tumors and other severe diseases, it is well worth for you to try this herbal medicine. Keep healthy and live longer.