Balloon Vine Health Benefits, Plant Description, Nutrition data, Regional Names, Uses in various Health Conditions, Possible Side Effects and FAQ
What is Balloon Vine?
Balloon Vine is a herb belonging to the ‘Sapindaceae’ plant family and packed with medicinal properties. It is a plant widely spread over tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Australia and North America. Also popularly known as ‘blister creeper’, ‘heart-pea’, ‘heart-seed’, ‘love in a puff’, ‘winter cherry’.
Chinese, Indian and European diets and traditional medicinal uses in cough, skin diseases, menstrual cramps, piles, constipation, aphorism arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis considers balloon Vine as an effective remedy. The primary bioactive component of the balloon vine is phytosterol which has shown to have good anti-inflammatory properties that strengthen bones and joints and even implement rheumatoid arthritis and control stiffness of the limbs.
Health Benefits of Balloon Vine
Plant description
The balloon vine is a powerfully grown, everlasting vine that can be more than 10 meters high. The plant is found to be growing in humid cover, waste space, river banks, gardens, roadsides, plantations, forest margins, woodlands, grasslands, flood plains, rock areas, pastures, cultivated areas, riparian areas and shrub lands. Triangular leaves are divided into petioles and pinnate leaf plaques. The petiole (from 0.5) is 1.5 to 3.5 cm long and the rasis is 0.4 to 2 cm long. The flowers are small, white and about 2.5 millimeters long. Flowers are usually from July to August. It can swell throughout the year except for prolonged drought. Fertile flowers are followed by seed capsules which are almost round. These capsules are thin lying open, puffy and angle which measures up to 3cm diameter. The fruits are initially green and mature into light brown in the autumn. When ripe it is divided into three segments with a seed. The seeds are black, opaque and smooth.
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Chemical Composition
The balloon vine leaves contain beta-sitosterol and its de-glucoside, an alkaline, oxalic acid and amino acids. The plant has a presence of a saponine and a quibrillator. Aerusic acid in seed oil is 43%, oleic acid is 30%, ecosonic acid is 12%, octanoic acid is 4.57% and n-hexadecanoic acid is 4.15% and triple terpenoid is rich.
Different Regional Names of Balloon vine
- Assamese: Kopalphuta lata
- Hindi: kanphata, kapalphodi
- Kannada: agniballi, bekkina buddle gida, bekkina toddina balli
- Malayalam: jyotishmati, karuttakunni, paluruvam, uzhinja
- Marathi: panphuti, kapal phodi
- Odia: jyotishmati, phutu phutu
- Sanskrit: karnasphota,
- Tamil: korravan, mutakkorran
- Telugu: buddakakara
Scientific Classification of Balloon vine
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Tracheophytes
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Eudicots
- Clade: Rosids
- Order: Sapindales
- Family: Sapindaceae
- Genus: Cardiospermum
- Species: C. halicacabum
- Scientific name: Cardiospermum halicacabum
Health Benefits of Balloon Vine
- Anti-Ulcer Properties
The extract obtained by boiling the leaves of the forehead in water has mild ulcer-resistant properties and people suffering from acidity will benefit interestingly if they add the forehead to your diet. Try to eat it as a soup for good results.
- Anti-Diarrheal Properties
The extraction of balloon vine contains anti-diarrhea activity and is traditionally used for this in some parts of India. This has been proved through research and is due to the tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, sterols, triterpenes and saponins present in the balloon vine.
- Increases Fertility
The balloon vine has the ability to increase sperm motility and sperm count. Regular use of balloon vine for just 30 days significantly increased sperm count and also increased the ‘Serum testosterone’ level.
- Anti-Arthritic Activity
Balloon vine is used for the treatment of arthritis and this traditional use has been supported by research. Balloon vine creeper is regularly given to patients suffering from arthritis and it helps a lot in reducing inflammation and pain.
- Anti-Inflammatory & Antioxidant Properties
Balloon vine has amazing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Flavonoid, glycoside and phenol present in the forehead hole are responsible for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It also has analgesic properties (pain relief properties) which makes it very effective in reducing all forms of inflammation.
- Antibacterial Properties
The Balloon vine has strong anti-bacterial properties and all parts of the plant have antibacterial properties which are effective against five types of bacteria – Salmonella, Staphylococcus Aureus, Aeromonas, E.coli and Pseudomonas.
- Mosquito Repellent Properties
The Balloon vine is capable of preventing mosquitoes when applied externally to the skin. For the study, ethanol leaf extraction was used and it effectively prevented three types of mosquito bites.
- Anti-fungal properties
The Balloon vine also has strong anti-fungal properties. Luteolin and routine are the two chemical compounds responsible for the most antifungal activities of the Balloon vine.
- Antipyretic Properties
The Balloon vine is also a fever-lowering quality. It is one of the best cures for reducing malaria fever. If you are suffering from fever, cold and headache, try to eat a cup of warm salt soup, which will help in reducing fever and pain.
- Hair Growth
Balloon vine can be used for treating itching scalp and dandruff and hair growth. We can make homemade oil to treat dandruff using Balloon vine. To make oil, boil the forehead with boiling sesame oil and use that oil as massage oil before washing your hair.
- Joint pain
As well as eating the Balloon vine internally, if we use it externally we will get results quickly. The best way to use it externally is to shrink from it. This contraction can only be done with leaves with a Balloon vine which is also good enough to treat joint pain.
This poultice will provide very good temporary relief from joint pain and arthritis pain. To compress, heat castor oil in a pan and fry the leaves on very low flame. Once the leaves are hot enough, take a pure white cotton cloth and place the leaves in the middle and tie it in a bundle and use it in the pain area.
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Uses of Balloon vine
Balloon vine is used in different disease cure areas like leaf, extraction, poultice etc.
Side Effects of Balloon vine
There is not enough information about the side effects of the Balloon vine. This herb should be used in limited amounts as excessive amounts can lead to side effects and mothers who conceive and breastfeed should avoid the use of this herb.
NOTE: It should be used in the right quantity keeping in view the benefits and disadvantages of the Balloon vine as excessive use of any product can harm our health. The above mentioned information is provided only for general knowledge based on the information. It is advisable to consult a doctor before using a Balloon vine in a medicinal field to cure the disease.
Conclusion
The above article provided some important and useful information about Balloon vine and the health benefits it holds. This information is based on trusted sources and folk beliefs. Please consult a specialist or doctor before applying these methods (if you are suffering from any serious health condition).
FAQ
Q. What are the common names of the balloon vine?
Ans: The common names of the balloon vine are- Ambeang baek, Love-in-a-puff, Winter cherry, heart seed, heart pea, small balloon creeper, small balloon vine, lesser balloon vine, Small balloon vine, blue passion flower, blue passion fruit, Blister creeper and upland Cotton.
Q. Where does the balloon vine appear to grow?
Ans: Balloon vine is seen to be developed in wet cover, waste space, river banks, gardens, roadsides, plantations, forest margins, woodlands, grasslands, flood plains, rock areas, pastures, cultivated areas, riparian areas and shrub lands.
Q. What are the benefits of balloon vine?
Ans: Balloon vine is used for Chinese, Indian and European diet and traditionally cough, skin diseases, menstrual cramps, piles, constipation, dysmonance, dispersion arthritis and rheumatism. The primary bioactive component of the balloon vine is phytosterol which has shown to have good anti-inflammatory properties that strengthen bones and joints and even implement rheumatoid arthritis and control stiffness of the limbs.
Q. Balloon vine belongs to which plant family?
Ans: Balloon vine is a plant belonging to the ‘Sapindaceae’ family.
Q. What is the scientific name of Balloon vine?Ans: The scientific name of the balloon vine is ‘Cardiospermum halicacabum’.