Medicinal Plant Images

Swainsona formosa (G. Don) Joy Thomps. (family Fabaceae; synonyms Clianthus formosus (G. Don) Ford & Vickery, Clianthus dampieri Lindl., Clianthus oxleyi A.Cunn. ex Lindl.; commonly known as Sturt’s desert pea) is a low growing or prostrate legume which is endemic to arid inland regions of the Australian continent. Several Swainsona spp. were used by Australian Aborigines as traditional medicines.[1, 2] Swainsona galegifolia (Andrews) R.Br. and Swainsona pterostylis (DC.) Bakh.f. were considered particularly useful as antiseptics and as bacteriocide chemotherapies against a broad spectrum of bacterial pathogens.[1,2] A recent study has also reported bacterial growth inhibitory activity for S. formosa leaf extracts against wide range of gram positive and gram negative bacteria.[3] A defining phytochemical characteristic of many Swainsona spp. is the presence of the indolizidine alkaloid phytotoxin swainsonine.[4] Swainsonine has been associated with livestock intoxication via inhibition of the enzymes α-mannosidase and mannosidase II, which are required for processing and maturation of N-linked oligosaccharides of newly synthesised glycoproteins. To date, most interest in the therapeutic properties of swainsonine have focussed on its potential as a cancer chemotherapeutic drug via a reduction of tumour cell metastatis, decreased proliferation and enhanced cellular immune responses.[5] Photograph was taken by Dr. Ian Cock at Arid Lands Botanical Gardens, Port Augusta, Australia, February 2021.