| Impatiens balsamina | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Balsaminaceae |
| Genus: | Impatiens |
| Species: | I. balsamina |
| Binomial name | |
| Impatiens balsamina | |
Impatiens balsamina, commonly known asbalsam,garden balsam,rose balsam,touch-me-not[1] orspotted snapweed,[2] is a species of plant native to India andMyanmar.[1]
It is anannual plant growing to 20–75 cm tall, with a thick, but soft stem. The leaves are spirally-arranged, 2.5–9 cm long and 1–2.5 cm broad, with a deeply toothed margin. The flowers are pink, red, mauve, purple,lilac, or white, and 2.5–5 cm diameter; they are pollinated by bees and other insects, and also by nectar-feeding birds.[3] The ripe seed capsules undergoexplosive dehiscence.[4]
Different parts of the plant are used as traditional remedies for disease and skin afflictions. Juice from the leaves is used to treat warts andsnakebite, and the flower is applied to burns.[5] This species has been used as indigenous traditional medicine in Asia forrheumatism, fractures, and other ailments.[6] In Korean folk medicine, this impatiens species is used as a medicine calledbongseonhwa dae (봉선화대) for the treatment ofconstipation andgastritis.[7] Chinese people used the plant to treat those bitten by snakes or who ingested poisonous fish.[8] Juice from the stalk, pulverised dried stalks, and pastes from the flowers were also used to treat a variety of ailments.[8] Vietnamese wash their hair with an extract of the plant to stimulate hair growth.[8] Onein vitro study found extracts of this impatiens species, especially of the seed pod, to be active against antibiotic-resistant strains ofHelicobacter pylori.[6] It is also aninhibitor of 5α-reductases, enzymes that convertstestosterone to dihydrotestosterone (active form of testosterone), thus reducing action of testosterone in our body.[9]
In Nepal, the balsam leaves are crushed to dye fingernails on the day of Shrawan Sakranti (Shrawan 1). The day is also observed as Luto Faalne Deen (Go Away-Itch Day). Similarly, in China and Korea, the flowers are crushed and mixed withalum to produce an orange dye that can be used to dye fingernails. Unlike commonnail varnish, the dye is semi-permanent, requiring dyed nails to grow off over time in order to remove any traces of color.[10][11]
The naphthoquinoneslawsone, or hennotannic acid, andlawsone methyl ether andmethylene-3,3'-bilawsone are some of the active compounds inI. balsamina leaves.[12] It also containskaempferol and several derivatives.[13]Baccharaneglycosides have been found in Chinese herbal remedies made from the seeds.[14]
It is widely cultivated as anornamental plant, and has becomenaturalised andinvasive on several Pacific Ocean islands.[4]
Balsam flowers are referenced in the Okinawan folk songTinsagu Nu Hana, where the way children use them to color their nails is compared to how parents color (teach and guide) the minds of their children.
The Japanesevocaloid songHousenka (鳳仙花, which translates toImpatiens Balsamina) describesa person who doesn't fit in with asocial group despite wanting to.[15] In the music video, the singer laments this fate and compares herself to the plant. She references its "touch-me-not" nickname and theHedgehog's Dilemma-esque explosive dehiscence of its seeds by saying:
"Don't touch me," the balsam [says], fallen silent. And yet it can't leave seeds unless it breaks from its shell.[15]
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