Azima tetracantha

Azima tetracantha is a spiny and evergreen scrambling shrub growing up to 5-6 m high with arching branches.

The bark of Azima tetracantha is light brown-coloured on old stems. It is smooth and slightly wrinkled. Azima tetracantha is armed with 2-paired, axillary and very sharp spines. The spines are 2-3 cm long.

The leaves of Azima tetracantha grow opposite on the stem (spirally arranged).
The leaf is simple, bright green-coloured above and paler beneath. The leaf is coriaceous and glabrous on both sides.
The leaves have a 3-4 mm long petiole.
The leaf of Azima tetracantha is 5-8 cm long and 2.5-4 cm wide. The shape of the blade is ovate or elliptic, the apex is aristate, the base is cuneate-attenuate and the margins are entire.

Azima tetracantha have unisexual flowers on separate individuals (dioecious).
The flowers of Azima tetracantha are axillary, solitary (female flowers) or grouped in short spikes (male flowers).
The flowers are 4-merous.
The calyx-tube is campanulate, 4-lobed and 2.5 mm long and wide. The calyx is whitish light green and finely pubescent.
The corolla is composed of 4 greenish-coloured petals. The petals are lanceolate, 3 mm long and 1 mm wide.
The male flowers have 4 free stamens.
The female flowers have a globose ovary (1.5 mm across) with a stout and 1 mm long style and a capitate stigma.

The fruit of Azima tetracantha is a white globular berry.

Azima tetracantha is grown as a living fence.

The fruit of Azima tetracantha is edible.

Azima tetracantha is used in Ayurveda and Siddha medicines.

The whole plant is used to treat dropsy, dyspepsia, chronic diarrhea, diabetes and arthritis.

The leaves infusion is used to treat venereal diseases.
The pickled leaves are used against colds.
The leaves made into a paste with water are used for fever.
The juice of the leaves is expectorant and it is said to relieve the cough, bronchitis, vomiting, tuberculosis and asthma. It is also applied as eardrops against earache.
The crushed leaves are placed on painful teeth.
The leaf powder is antiinflammatory and wound-healing.

The root is considered to have the same properties as the leaves, and to be also diuretic.
The pounded roots are applied directly to snakebites.

The root decoction is used to treat stomach disorders.
The root, root bark and leaves are added to food as a remedy for rheumatism.

The juice of the berries is applied directly into the ear to treat earache. The sap is disinfectant, used in oral health care and applied directly to treat toothache and bleeding gums after tooth extraction.

Sources :
- Basu & Kirtikar, 1918, Indian Medicinal Plants
- Chopra, 1956, Glossary of Indian medicinal plants
- Khare, 2007, Indian Medicinal Plants, An Illustrated Dictionary
- Quattrocchi, 2012, CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants
- Useful Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern, 2014 (http://tropical.theferns.info)