Information obtained from Godofredo U. Stuart Jr. M.D. (StuartXchange)
Dieffenbachia is a perennial herb, reaching 1-1.5 meters in height, with a branchless stem and elongated, glossy green leaves (20-40 cm long, 10-20 cm wide) marked with white or yellowish spots. It produces white flowers in clusters enclosed by a leaf-like spathe, with orange berries as fruits.
Kingdom: Plantae
Sub kingdom: Tracheobionta
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Subclass: Grecidae
Order: Grales
Family: Araceae juss.
Genus: Dieffenbachia schott
Species: Dieffenbachia seguine
The common name dumb-cane derives from the acrid and poisonous juice numbs the tongue. Considered analgesic, aphrodisiac, caustic, contraceptive, cyanogenic, insecticidal, rodenticide, vesicant. Studies have suggested antimicrobial, antiproliferative, antioxidant, rodenticidal, and amylase inhibitory properties.
The most common cultivated Dieffenbachia species of the Philippines. Usually grown as a potted plant for its handsome foliage. It is Native to Brazil. In some places in Nigeria, it is considered an invasive species, forming extensive mats and displaced native flora.
Present in extracts of leaves and stem:
Alkaloids
Saponins
Phenol
Flavonoids
Resins
Absent in extracts:
Tannins
Steroids
Terpenoids
Industrial Use:
Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia spp.) is primarily used as an ornamental indoor plant due to its attractive foliage and air-purifying qualities. It contains calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause irritation if ingested, making it a subject of interest in toxicity studies.
Pharmaceutical Use:
Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia spp.) shows promise in pharmaceutical applications due to its various bioactive properties. Toxicity tests, such as the brine shrimp lethality test, reveal higher toxicity levels in the leaf essential oils compared to the stem. Its essential oils exhibit appreciable antimicrobial activity against several pathogens, including E. coli, S. aureus, and Candida albicans. Additionally, dumb cane demonstrates significant antioxidant activity in DPPH assays, surpassing that of α-tocopherol, indicating potential use as a free radical scavenger. However, caution is necessary due to the plant’s toxicity, as the juice from chewed leaves can cause severe oral edema and respiratory complications.
Pharmacological Use:
Reduces edema caused by the plant's toxic juice
Antipyretic properties
Weak antiproliferative activity against human colon cancer cells
Amylase inhibitor activity against human salivary amylase and Bacillus subtilis α-amylase
Rodenticide activity against black rats