Wikstroemia indica, also known as tie bush, Indian stringbush, bootlace bush, or small-leaf salago is a small shrub with glossy leaves, small greenish-yellow flowers and toxic red fruits. It grows in forests and on rocky, shrubby slopes in central and southeastern China, Vietnam, India, Australia and the Philippines.[1] [2]
W. indica is toxic[3] and the poisoning caused by W. indica leads to dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, abdominal pain and diarrhea.[4]
It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine. As a traditional Chinese herb, this plant has long been employed as an antipyretic, detoxicant, expectorant, vermifuge, and abortifacient in clinical practice in China.[4]
An alcoholic extract of the plant was found to contain daphnoretin, chrysophanol, myricitrime and rutin.[5] The extract of W. indica displays antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro.[5]