The Insulin plant originates from Mexico. Countries like India, China, the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Russia, Brazil, Italy, and Bangladesh have utilized extracts of the insulin leaf as a conventional treatment for Diabetes Mellitus. It is often grown by communities as an ornamental plant and a hedge.

It commonly grows wild in steep areas, cliffs, and riverbanks. The Insulin plant grows easily in places at an altitude of 5–1,500 m a.s.l., with an annual temperature of 15–31ºC and rainfall between 1,000–2,000 mm/year. It prefers bright locations or direct sunlight exposure.

• Root: Taproot with a moderately deep root system.

• Stem: Round, woody, and green.

• Leaves: Simple, arranged alternately on the stem. 26–32 cm long, 15–25 cm wide. The tips and bases are pointed (acuminate/acute), with pinnate venation, and are green.

• Flowers: Compound (inflorescence), located at the twig tips. The stalk is round, the calyx is tube-shaped with fine hairs, the corolla (petals) is green, and the stamens and pistil are yellow, resembling a sunflower.

• Fruit: Round, green when young.

• Generative propagation is done by seed, while vegetative propagation uses roots, stem cuttings, or shoots, or new shoots that grow after pruning. Propagation by cuttings is easier than by seed.

• It is used to treat Diabetes Mellitus, stabilize blood pressure, antimalaria, liver issues, sore throat, is anticancer, controls cholesterol, and aids in weight loss.

• Phenol, chlorogenic acid, flavonoids, alkaloids, sesquiterpenoid lactones (caryophyllene, copaene, bicyclogermacrene, juniper camphor), saponins, tannins, tagitinin C, thirotundin, polyphenols, caffeic acid, and ascorbic acid.