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    Home»Herbs and Spices»Health benefits of Cheeseweed
    Herbs and Spices

    Health benefits of Cheeseweed

    By SylviaAugust 13, 2021Updated:August 13, 2021No Comments13 Mins Read
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    Cheeseweed or Least Mallow scientifically known as Malva parviflora is an annual or perennial herb belonging to Malvaceae (Mallow family). The plant is native to Europe, western and central Asia and northern Africa, and introduced widely through cultivation. It regularly escapes cultivation in North America, but is rarely encountered in New England, where it has been collected only in Vermont. Common names include Egyptian mallow, Least Mallow, Small-flowered mallow, Cheeseweed, Cheeseweed mallow, little mallow, Ring-leaf mallow, Small-flower mallow, Small-whorl mallow, Whorl-flower mallow, whorled mallow, Alkali mallow, Country mallow, Small whorled cheeseweed, Small-whorled mallow, Small mallow and pink Cheeseweed. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.

    Cheeseweed Facts

    Cheeseweed Quick Facts
    Name: Cheeseweed
    Scientific Name: Malva parviflora
    Origin Europe, western and central Asia and northern Africa
    Colors Green when young turning to brown when ripe
    Shapes Schizocarp (a dry fruit which splits into individual carpels). It is 7-8 mm in diameter and separates into 8-12, 1 seeded mericarps. The schizocarp is disc-shaped surrounded by the calyx
    Health benefits Antidepressant Properties, Improves Respiratory Function, Relieves Pain, Treats Cough, Asthma, and Bronchitis, Skin Care, Anti-aging Properties, Oral Health, Prevents Prostate Cancer, Relieves Constipation, Prevents Urinary Tract Infections, Boosts Digestion, Boosts Immunity, Anti-Inflammatory Properties
    Name Cheeseweed
    Scientific Name Malva parviflora
    Native Europe, western and central Asia and northern Africa, and introduced widely through cultivation. It regularly escapes cultivation in North America, but is rarely encountered in New England, where it has been collected only in Vermont.
    Common Names Egyptian mallow, cheese weed, cheesewood, least mallow, little mallow, ring-leaf mallow, small-flower mallow, whorl-flower mallow, whorled mallow, Cheeseweed mallow, Small-flowered mallow, Small-flowered marshmallow
    Name in Other Languages Afrikaans: Kasies, Pampoentijies
    Albanian: Mullagë
    Arabic: Khubeizah, khabazat saghirat al’azhar  (خبازة صغيرة الأزهار), khobbiza
    Bengali: Nāpā śāka (নাপা শাক)
    Brazil: Malva-de-cheiro
    Catalan: Malva de flor petita      
    Chinese: Xiǎohuā jǐn kuí (小花錦葵)
    Croatian: Sitnocvjetni sljez         
    Czech: Sléz malokvětý
    Danish: Småblomstret katost
    Dutch: Kleinbloemig kaasjeskruid, kleinbloemkaasjeskruid
    English: Egyptian mallow, Least Mallow, Small-flowered mallow, Cheeseweed, Cheeseweed mallow, Little mallow, Ring-leaf mallow, Small-flower mallow, Small-whorl mallow, Whorl-flower mallow, Whorled mallow, Alkali mallow, Country mallow, Small whorled cheeseweed, Small-whorled mallow, Small mallow, pink cheeseweed
    Estonian: Egiptuse kassinaeris
    Finnish: Myllymalva
    French: Mauve parviflore, Mauve d’Egypte, Mauve à petites fleurs, mauve à petits fruits
    German: Kleinblütige Malve, kleine Malve, kleine
    Hebrew: Chelmit ketannat-perachim, חֶלְמִית קְטַנַּת-פְּרָחִים            
    Hindi: Panirak, Soncheli, Golio, Guragped
    Hungarian: Mályva
    Italian: Malva minore, malva selvatica
    Japanese: Usagiaoi (ウサギアオイ)
    Korean: Ae gi a uk  (애기아욱)
    Netherlands: Kaasjeskruid, kleinbloem
    Norwegian: Møllekattost
    Persian: پنیرک گل‌ریز
    Polish: Ślaz drobnokwiatowy
    Portuguese: Malva, Malva-crespa, Malva-de-botica, Malvaísco, malva-de-flor-pequena, malva-pequena, malva-de-cheiro
    Punjabi: Nanna,Geogisag,Sonchal
    Quechua: Urqu rup’u
    Slovak: Slez
    Spanish: Malvilla menor, Malva de Castilla, Malva de campo, malva, Quesillo, Quesitos, malva de flor chica, hierba de queso, malva de flor menuda, malva de flor pequeña, malva menor, malva grande
    Swedish: Kvarnkattost, Myllymalva
    Turkish: Mülkek
    Welsh: Hocys Bach, Hocysen Fach, Hocysen Leiaf
    Plant Growth Habit Annual or short-lived perennial herbs
    Growing Climates Fields, waste land, waste places, in sheep yards, around farm buildings, closed yards, watercourses, roadsides, forest edge, ditches, other disturbed open areas, grasslands, woodland, on heavily grazed grassland, on stony hills and at edges of ponds and lakes
    Soil Occur on all soil types
    Plant Size Up to 50 cm high
    Root Often branched at the base, branches sparsely pubescent with patent simple and stellate hairs when young, later becoming glabrescent
    Leaf Circular and 8-10 cm in diameter. The base of the leaf is cordate (heart shaped with a notch at the base), margins are crenate (a margin with shallow, rounded teeth) and it is sparsely pubescent
    Flowering season March-August
    Flower Flowers have 5 petals that are about 4-6 mm long, white or pink in color, and twisted in the bud. The stamens are numerous with filaments fused in a column surrounding the branched style. There are as many branches of the styles as carpels. Malva parviflora has 8-12 carpels
    Fruit Shape & Size Schizocarp (a dry fruit which splits into individual carpels). It is 7-8 mm in diameter and separates into 8-12, 1 seeded mericarps. The schizocarp is disc-shaped surrounded by the calyx
    Fruit Color Green when young turning to brown when ripe
    Seed Rounded comma-shaped in outline, prominently notched along margin where hilum occurs, compressed (thickened along the margin opposite the hilum and usually with a rounded, concave area on each face, creating a bilobed cross-section), 1.5–2 mm diameter x 1.2–1.5 mm thick. Surface reddish-brown, finely wrinkled at high magnification
    Propagation By Seed
    Plant Parts Used Roots, Leaves
    Health Benefits
    • Antidepressant Properties
    • Improves Respiratory Function
    • Relieves Pain
    • Treats Cough, Asthma, and Bronchitis
    • Skin Care
    • Anti-aging Properties
    • Oral Health
    • Prevents Prostate Cancer
    • Relieves Constipation
    • Prevents Urinary Tract Infections
    • Boosts Digestion
    • Boosts Immunity
    • Anti-Inflammatory Properties

    Plant Description

    Cheeseweed is a prostrate to erect, annual or short-lived perennial herb that normally growing up to 50 cm high that is covered with rather stiff star-like (stellate) hairs and is woody at the base. The plant is found growing in fields, waste land, waste places, in sheep yards, around farm buildings, closed yards, watercourses, roadsides, forest edge, ditches, other disturbed open areas, grasslands, woodland, on heavily grazed grassland, on stony hills and at edges of ponds and lakes. The plant normally occurs on all soil types. The stems are covered with stiff star-like (stellate) hairs and can be erect or ascending (at first spreading horizontally and then becoming erect) and rather fibrous.

    Leaves

    The leaves are circular and 8-10 cm in diameter. The base of the leaf is cordate (heart shaped with a notch at the base), margins are crenate (a margin with shallow, rounded teeth) and it is sparsely pubescent (with a covering of short, weak, soft hairs). The leaves are palmately veined with 5-7 short triangular lobes. The petiole (leaf stalk) is mostly 1.5-12 cm long and rarely 20 cm.

    Flowers

    The flowers have 5 petals that are about 4-6 mm long, white or pink in color, and twisted in the bud. The stamens are numerous with filaments fused in a column surrounding the branched style. There are as many branches of the styles as carpels. Malva parviflora has 8-12 carpels. The pedicel (flower stalk) is generally less than 1cm in length at maturity. Outer sepals are linear, 3-4 mm long. Sepal cup is 5-6 mm long, flat in fruit, and 7-9 mm long, fused slightly above the middle. Sepals are triangular, pointed or long-pointed. Petals are as long as or slightly longer than the sepals, white, sometimes with pinkish tips. Flowering normally takes place in between March-August

    Fruit

    Fertile flowers are followed by schizocarp (a dry fruit which splits into individual carpels). It is 7-8 mm in diameter and separates into 8-12, 1 seeded mericarps. The schizocarp is disc-shaped surrounded by the calyx (sepals of the flower) and are brown when ripe. The sectioned fruit (schizocarp) looks like a sliced wheel of cheese, hence the common name of cheeseweed mallow.

    Seeds

    Seed is rounded comma-shaped in outline, prominently notched along margin where hilum occurs, compressed (thickened along the margin opposite the hilum and usually with a rounded, concave area on each face, creating a bilobed cross-section), 1.5–2 mm diameter and 1.2–1.5 mm thick. Surface is reddish-brown, finely wrinkled at high magnification.

    Closer-view-of-immature-fruits-of-Cheeseweed Closer-view-of-immature-fruits-of-Cheeseweed
    Leaves-of-Cheeseweed Leaves-of-Cheeseweed
    Flower-of-Cheeseweed Flower-of-Cheeseweed
    Cheeseweed-Plant-growing-wild Cheeseweed-Plant-growing-wild
    Cheeseweed-plant Cheeseweed-plant
    Flowering-buds-of-Cheeseweed Flowering-buds-of-Cheeseweed
    Plant-Illustration-of-Cheeseweed Plant-Illustration-of-Cheeseweed
    Mature-fruits-of-Cheeseweed Mature-fruits-of-Cheeseweed
    Seeds-of-Cheeseweed Seeds-of-Cheeseweed
    Sketch-of-Cheeseweed Sketch-of-Cheeseweed
    Small-Cheeseweed-Plant Small-Cheeseweed-Plant
    Stem-of-Cheeseweed Stem-of-Cheeseweed
    Cheeseweed Image Gallery

    Health benefits of Cheeseweed

    Listed below are some of the popular health benefits of using Cheeseweed

    1. Antidepressant Properties

    Cheeseweed extract are used in a number of numbing, insomnia, anxiety and stress medications, and even in the anesthetics that dentists use. Various components of the plant help calm the nervous system and encourage a sense of peace and relaxation. Cheeseweed demonstrated the effectiveness of its extract in the treatment of sleep disorders compared to the use of a drug similar to valium.

    2. Improves Respiratory Function

    Cheeseweed may relieve any chest congestion or a respiratory condition. Cheeseweed can increase expectoration, which helps to clear out the respiratory tracts, but it also calms the throat and glands due to its anti-inflammatory aspects, while also promoting healing and more rapid recovery.

    3. Relieves Pain

    Chemicals from the Cheeseweed leaves help to speed healing, due to their rich vitamin content, but will also offer certain analgesic properties to the area, decreasing pain and discomfort. This analgesic ability of the Cheeseweed can be used in many ways throughout the body, both internally and externally. This also makes it a popular application in face masks or topical headache remedies.

    4. Treats Cough, Asthma, and Bronchitis

    Cheeseweed consists of polysaccharides with antiviral and antiseptic properties that help treat respiratory disorders and a chronic dry cough. Active ingredients of the plant help to remove mucus from the throat and have a calming effect in addition to their ability to treat asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and other respiratory diseases.

    5. Skin Care

    Anti-inflammatory components of Cheeseweed are effective in treating a variety of skin problems. It is used to soothe rashes, wounds, burns, insect bites and eczema, since the polysaccharides, which nourish and soothe the skin, are also slightly anesthetic.

    6. Anti-aging Properties

    Cheeseweed extracts in various cosmetic products such as soaps, makeup, and skincare products are rich in components that fight free radicals which damage skin cells and cause wrinkles. Vitamin A gives the skin a radiant and younger look. It is also effective for hair care and is recommended for use in people with fragile hair.

    7. Oral Health

    Cheeseweed leaves consist of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory components that protect the gums and oral cavity from diseases and infection. Polyphenols present in the plant prevent the development of bacterial plaque by their ability to fight free radicals. Using Cheeseweed tea as a mouthwash may be a natural and effective way to treat the health of the oral cavity regularly.

    8. Prevents Prostate Cancer

    Cheeseweed is rich in chlorophyll, a green, anti-carcinogenic pigment that cleans our internal organs. It is preventing and healing prostate cancer. Cheeseweed has a substance called beta-sitosterol, which is known for its ability to prevent tumors in the prostate gland. Cheeseweed can be used as a preventative measure for people at risk of developing this cancer.

    9. Relieves Constipation

    Cheese weed’s polysaccharide mucilage causes relaxation and lubrication of the intestinal walls and better absorption of food. This substance also helps to reduce gastric acidity which causes stomach discomfort. Eating Cheeseweed or consuming it as a tea infusion helps people who suffer from constipation, irritable stomach, and intestinal cramps and need a soothing supplement.

    10. Prevents Urinary Tract Infections

    Cheeseweed is an excellent alternative to treat burning sensations, frequency, and urgency in urination and pain in the lower abdomen because it has an anti-inflammatory component. It is a diuretic that helps clean up waste from the kidneys and prevents the development of stones in them.

    11. Boosts Digestion

    Cheeseweed may regulate the digestive system and relieve any strain on that organ system.

    12. Boosts Immunity

    Cheeseweed can boost the immune system by preventing bacterial infections and other foreign agents to affect those wounded areas.

    13. Anti-Inflammatory Properties

    Cheeseweed can be very effective for reducing inflammation and swelling, while also stimulating more rapid healing.

    Traditional uses and benefits of Cheeseweed

    • The whole plant is emollient and pectoral.
    • It can be used as a poultice on swellings, running sores and boils.
    • They are used in the treatment of coughs and ulcers in the bladder.
    • Decoction of the roots or leaves has been used as a hair rinse to remove dandruff and to soften the hair.
    • It is used for the treatment of wounds and other related ailments by the Xhosa people of South Africa.
    • It is also known to be used in the treatment of inflamed purulent wounds, swellings, bruises, and broken limbs.
    • Ointment prepared from the plant provided relief from bee and wasp stings.
    • An ointment made with salt and honey cured ulcers of the eye.
    • Ointment made with oil helped burns and skin inflammations.
    • In the 19th century, it was recommended as an excellent demulcent in coughs and irritations of the air passages in The United States.
    • The soothing mucilage found in its leaves is useful in cough syrups.
    • Some still use Cheeseweed extract for coughs and colds and for irritations of the alimentary canal.
    • Seeds are used in the treatment of coughs and ulcers in the bladder.
    • Decoction of the roots or leaves has been used as a hair rinse to remove dandruff and to soften the hair.
    • It can cure sleeping problem and respiratory illnesses.
    • It can also relieve your pain; treat a cough, asthma, and bronchitis too.
    • It also treats infections, skin sores, and burns.
    • It has some anti-aging properties that help to improve your skin.
    • It protects the gums from infections, prevents prostate cancer, and the most important thing is that it can help treat kidney stones and urinary tract infections common in most people because of the lack of pure and mineral full water.
    • It is also used to heal wounds.
    • Its wood is used to make toothbrushes.
    • It is used to make dyes and also treat acne.
    • Lotion made from the leaves is used to treat bruises and broken limbs.
    • Leaves of M. parviflora are used for drawing swollen, inflamed purulent wounds.
    • parviflora possesses antibacterial, anti-diabetic, antifungal, hepato protective, neuro-protective, anti-irritant, antioxidant, anti-ulcerogenic, analgesic and other activities.
    • It has been widely used in many parts of the world for curing various diseases.
    • People used a poultice made from  the whole  plant  parts of  the plant  to  treat boils,  inflamed  purulent wounds  and swellings.
    • Hot poultice of leaf is used to treat wounds and swellings and tea of the leaf is taken as a nervine tonic and used as a taenicide and for profuse menstruation.
    • Tea of the leaf is used for treating dry, irritative, cough and bronchitis.
    • Tea of the leaf is also used to clean out the mother’s system after childbirth.
    • Seeds are demulcent, used to treat cough and ulcers in the bladder.
    • Traditional healers  and  herbalists  use  dried  powder or  an  infusion made  from leaves  and roots to clean wounds and sores.

    Culinary uses

    • Leaves can be consumed raw or cooked as a potherb.
    • It has a mild pleasant flavor they make a very acceptable alternative to lettuce in salads.
    • Immature seeds can be consumed raw or cooked.
    • They are used to make a creamed vegetable soup that resembles pea soup.
    • Few leaves are also added for coloring.
    • Seeds have a pleasant nutty flavor, though they are too small for most people to want to collect in quantity.
    • Romans ate the seed and boiled the leaves like cabbage.
    • Children traditionally have eaten the green immature fruits of malva.
    • Raw fruits are crisp and slightly sweet and are good for salads, pickling, or soups.
    • People of many countries eat young tender shoots and leaves as a potherb, salad green, or soup vegetable.
    • Leaves and stems of dried young plants can be brewed into tea.

    Other Facts

    • The seed contains up to 18% of fatty oil.
    • Cream, yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the plant and the seed heads.
    • Decoction of the roots or leaves has been used as a hair rinse to soften the hair.

    Precautions

    • Leaves of some species tend to concentrate high levels of nitrates in their leaves.
    • Leaves are perfectly wholesome at all other times.
    • When grown on nitrogen-rich soils, cheeseweed tends to concentrate high levels of nitrates in its leaves.
    • Large doses of Cheeseweed, however, can be used as a laxative and in turn cause diarrhea.

    References:

    https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=21838#null

    http://www.hear.org/pier/species/malva_parviflora.htm

    https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=90031

    https://pfaf.org/USER/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Malva+parviflora

    https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Least%20Mallow.html

    http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-2503517

    https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/264278

    https://wssa.net/wp-content/themes/WSSA/WorldOfWeeds/cheeseweed.html

    https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/MALPA

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malva_parviflora

    https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/1981

    https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Malva+parviflora

    https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=MAPA5

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    Cheeseweed Scientific Classification

    Scientific Name: Malva parviflora

    Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
    Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
    Infrakingdom Streptophyta  (land plants)
    Superdivision Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
    Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
    Sub Division Spermatophytina  (spermatophytes, seed plants, phanérogames)
    Class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
    Subclass Dilleniidae
    Super Order Rosanae
    Order Malvales
    Family Malvaceae (Mallow family)
    Genus Malva L. (mallow)
    Species Malva parviflora L. (cheeseweed mallow)
    Synonyms
    • Althaea mareotica (Delile ex DC.) Alef.
    • Althaea microcarpa (Pers.) Alef.
    • Althaea parviflora (L.) Alef.
    • Malva bivoniana C.Presl
    • Malva coronata Pomel
    • Malva cristata (Boiss.) Sennen & Mauricio
    • Malva flexuosa Hornem.
    • Malva heterocarpa Shuttlew.
    • Malva juvenalis Delile
    • Malva juvenalis Delile ex Thell.
    • Malva mareotica Delile
    • Malva mareotica Delile ex DC.
    • Malva mareotica Trautv.
    • Malva microcalyx hort.
    • Malva microcalyx hort. ex C.A.Mey.
    • Malva microcarpa Desf.
    • Malva microcarpa Ledeb.
    • Malva microcarpa Pers.
    • Malva musiana Sennen
    • Malva parviflora f. microcarpa (Desf.) Rouy, 1897
    • Malva parviflora subsp. cristata Boiss.
    • Malva parviflora subsp. microcarpa (Desf.) Cout.
    • Malva parviflora subsp. microcarpa (Desf.) Nyman, 1878
    • Malva parviflora subsp. microcarpa Bonnier & Layens, 1894
    • Malva parviflora var. coronata (Pomel) Batt.
    • Malva parviflora var. flexuosa (Hornem.) Pit. & Proust
    • Malva parviflora var. microcarpa (Desf. ex Pers.) Loscos
    • Malva parviflora var. parviflora
    • Malva parviflora var. trichocarpa Maire & Sennen
    • Malva polycarpa Sennen
    • Malva rotundifolia subsp. parviflora (L.) Ball, 1878
    • Malva simpliciuscula Steud.
    • Malva trionoides DC.
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