Hermetica Superfood Encyclopedia
The Short Answer
Derris elliptica roots contain rotenone (0.3–12%), an isoflavonoid that inhibits mitochondrial complex I (NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase), disrupting oxidative phosphorylation in target organisms. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, a methanolic leaf extract at 400 mg/kg reduced fasting blood glucose from 44.02 ± 5.19 mmol/L to 16.83 ± 3.14 mmol/L and normalized hepatic enzymes ALT and AST, though no human clinical trials exist.
CategoryRoot
GroupPacific Islands
Evidence LevelPreliminary
Primary KeywordDerris elliptica benefits and safety
Tuba Root — botanical close-up
Health Benefits
**Antidiabetic Activity (Preclinical)**
Methanolic leaf extract at 400 mg/kg reduced blood glucose by approximately 62% in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, with effects comparable to the reference drug glibenclamide, potentially mediated by α-glucosidase inhibition identified in stem extracts.
**Hepatoprotective Effects (Preclinical)**
The same leaf extract reduced ALT from 239 ± 44 U/L to 61.17 ± 6.9 U/L and AST from 261.2 ± 47.2 U/L to 132.5 ± 38 U/L in diabetic rats, suggesting attenuation of diabetes-induced hepatocellular damage through uncharacterized pathways.
**Antioxidant Activity (In Vitro)**
Stem extracts demonstrate measurable antioxidant capacity in vitro, attributed to flavonoid constituents including formononetin, apigenin, and the novel coumaronochromone 6,4'-dihydroxy-7,5'-dimethoxy-coumaronochromone, though free radical scavenging quantification is limited.
**α-Glucosidase Inhibition (In Vitro)**
Stem extracts exhibit inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase, the intestinal enzyme responsible for dietary carbohydrate hydrolysis, suggesting a potential mechanism for postprandial glucose modulation independent of insulin secretion.
**Antiparasitic and Pesticidal Properties**
Rotenone and deguelin content confer potent insecticidal and piscicidal activity, and traditional use in Micronesia and Southeast Asia includes application for ectoparasites and agricultural pest management, though direct human antiparasitic efficacy is undemonstrated.
**Cytotoxic Activity Against Cancer Cell Lines (In Vitro)**
Stem extracts show marginal cytotoxicity (LC50 >20 µg/mL) against MDA-MB-231 (breast), HepG2 (hepatocellular), HT-29, and CaCo-2 (colorectal) cancer cell lines, with stronger activity attributed to rotenone's mitochondrial disruption, though therapeutic relevance remains unestablished.
**Antimicrobial Potential**: Alkaloid fractions (approximately 0
1% in extracts) and flavonoid constituents contribute to reported antimicrobial activity in preliminary screens, though specific organisms, MIC values, and mechanistic detail are lacking in peer-reviewed literature.
Origin & History
Natural habitat
Derris elliptica is native to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Micronesia, where it grows as a woody climbing legume in tropical forest margins and riverbanks. The plant thrives in humid, lowland tropical environments with well-drained soils and is widely cultivated by traditional fishing and farming communities across the Indo-Pacific region. Roots are harvested from mature plants, typically two to three years old, as the primary source of rotenone-rich extracts used historically in pest control and fish stunning.
“Derris elliptica has a centuries-long history of use among indigenous fishing communities across Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, where the practice of crushing roots and stems into water to stun fish for easy harvest — known as 'tuba fishing' in the Philippines and broader Micronesian region — predates written records and persists in some communities today. In Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, the plant is cultivated as a biopesticide, and early 20th-century colonial agricultural reports document large-scale cultivation for rotenone extraction as a 'natural' insecticide alternative. In Micronesian traditional medicine, the root has reportedly been applied externally for skin parasites and ectoparasite infestations, though documentation of this specific use is sparse in the peer-reviewed ethnobotanical literature and primary sources are largely oral tradition. The introduction of rotenone as a commercial insecticide in the 1930s–1950s drew heavily on Derris elliptica cultivation, and the compound remained a cornerstone of organic pest management until concerns about neurotoxicity and Parkinson's disease associations emerged in the late 20th century.”Traditional Medicine
Scientific Research
The evidence base for Derris elliptica as a human therapeutic agent is extremely limited and consists entirely of preclinical in vitro and animal studies with no registered human clinical trials identified in any major database. One in vivo study in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (sample size unspecified) demonstrated significant glucose-lowering and hepatoprotective effects of methanolic leaf extract at 400 mg/kg, with statistically significant reductions in glucose, ALT, and AST compared to diabetic controls (p<0.05), but effect sizes (Cohen's d) were not reported and the study design lacks rigorous pharmacokinetic characterization. In vitro cytotoxicity assays against four human cancer cell lines showed only marginal activity (LC50 >20 µg/mL), which is generally considered below the threshold of pharmacological interest, while insecticidal potency against arthropod cell lines was substantially greater, reflecting the compound's evolutionary role as a plant defense toxin rather than a human therapeutic. Overall, the scientific evidence is preliminary and preclinical; extrapolation to human efficacy or safety is not currently supported by the available literature.
Preparation & Dosage
Traditional preparation
**Traditional Root Powder (Piscicidal/Insecticidal Use)**
1000 g dry root yields approximately 18
Roots are dried, ground to a coarse powder (.7 g extract), and macerated in water or crushed directly into waterways; concentrations of 10,000–1,000,000 ppm have been used for fish stunning, not for human consumption.
**Methanolic/Ethanolic Root or Stem Extract (Research Use Only)**
Laboratory preparations involve sequential extraction with methanol or ethanol, followed by fractionation via silica gel chromatography using chloroform:methanol gradients; rotenone content in concentrated extracts reaches 22.23% (114,387 ppm).
**Methanolic Leaf Extract – Animal Study Dose**
400 mg/kg body weight used in diabetic rat models; no human equivalent dose established and direct translation is not appropriate given toxicity concerns
**Standardization**
Commercial rotenone standards are expressed as percentage of dry weight (0.3–12% in roots); no dietary supplement standardization exists for human use.
**NO SAFE HUMAN DOSE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED**
Derris elliptica extracts should not be self-administered; all dosage data referenced here derive from agricultural, toxicological, or animal pharmacology contexts only.
Nutritional Profile
Derris elliptica is not a nutritional ingredient and is not consumed as a food source. The root's dominant phytochemical profile is toxicologically significant rather than nutritionally relevant: rotenone (0.3–12% dry weight in roots; 0.284–0.287% in stems), deguelin, elliptone, and toxicarol constitute the rotenoid fraction. Flavonoids present include formononetin and apigenin, both isoflavone-class compounds with antioxidant properties, alongside a novel coumaronochromone (6,4'-dihydroxy-7,5'-dimethoxy-coumaronochromone). Alkaloids represent approximately 0.1% of concentrated extracts. No macronutrient, vitamin, or mineral data are reported for this species in the nutritional literature, and the plant's toxicity profile precludes its characterization as a dietary ingredient; bioavailability of rotenone in humans is poorly understood but gastrointestinal absorption has been demonstrated in mammals leading to systemic mitochondrial toxicity.
How It Works
Mechanism of Action
Rotenone, the principal bioactive compound in Derris elliptica roots (0.3–12% by weight), binds to the ubiquinone-binding site of mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I), blocking electron transfer from NADH to ubiquinone and thereby inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation; this results in ATP depletion, reactive oxygen species accumulation, and cytotoxicity in susceptible cells. Deguelin, a structurally related rotenoid, similarly targets Complex I and has been investigated for pro-apoptotic activity via Akt/mTOR pathway suppression in cancer cell models, though this has not been characterized for Derris elliptica specifically. Flavonoid constituents including formononetin and apigenin may contribute to antidiabetic effects through α-glucosidase inhibition at the intestinal brush border, slowing glucose absorption, while hepatoprotective effects observed in animal models are mechanistically uncharacterized but may involve attenuation of oxidative stress-driven hepatocyte injury. The novel coumaronochromone isolated from this species adds structural diversity to the phytochemical profile, but its molecular targets remain uninvestigated.
Clinical Evidence
No human clinical trials have been conducted on Derris elliptica or its isolated constituents for any therapeutic indication, making a formal clinical summary impossible. Available preclinical data derive from animal models of streptozotocin-induced diabetes, where methanolic leaf extract produced a 62% reduction in fasting glucose and near-normalization of hepatic transaminases at 400 mg/kg, a dose that has no validated human equivalent and no established safety margin. In vitro studies across cancer cell lines yielded LC50 values exceeding 20 µg/mL, indicating weak cytotoxicity that would not typically advance to clinical investigation without further mechanistic optimization. Confidence in any clinical benefit for humans is very low; the compound's primary recognized activity is insecticidal and piscicidal, driven by mitochondrial toxicity that poses significant safety concerns for human use.
Safety & Interactions
Derris elliptica and its primary constituent rotenone carry a significant toxicity profile that contraindicates human therapeutic or nutritional use without extensive further investigation; rotenone's inhibition of mitochondrial Complex I causes dose-dependent cytotoxicity and has been demonstrated to induce Parkinson's disease-like neurodegeneration in animal models at chronic sublethal exposures. No formal human safety data, NOAEL, or maximum tolerable dose have been established for oral or topical use in humans; extrapolation from agricultural and animal data suggests a narrow margin between any putative therapeutic dose and toxic exposure. Rotenone is classified as a moderately hazardous pesticide (WHO Class II) and is toxic to fish at parts-per-million concentrations, with brine shrimp lethality assays confirming broad biological toxicity; use during pregnancy or lactation is absolutely contraindicated given the compound's mitochondrial mechanism and established reproductive toxicity in animal models. No drug interaction data exist for human use, but theoretical interactions with other Complex I inhibitors (e.g., metformin, certain antivirals) or CYP450-metabolized drugs are plausible and unstudied.
Synergy Stack
Hermetica Formulation Heuristic
Also Known As
Derris ellipticaTuba rootDerris rootJewel vineAkar tubaRotenone plant
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Derris elliptica safe for human consumption or supplementation?
Derris elliptica is not considered safe for human consumption or supplementation in any established medical or regulatory framework. Its primary bioactive compound, rotenone, inhibits mitochondrial Complex I and has been linked to Parkinson's disease-like neurodegeneration in animal studies; no safe human dose has been established, and the WHO classifies rotenone as a moderately hazardous substance (Class II).
What is rotenone and why is it found in Derris elliptica roots?
Rotenone is an isoflavonoid natural product produced by Derris elliptica as a plant defense compound against herbivorous insects and fish, present at 0.3–12% concentration in dried roots. It functions by binding to the ubiquinone site of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase (Complex I), blocking electron transport and causing ATP depletion and cell death in susceptible organisms; this mechanism accounts for its potent insecticidal and piscicidal properties.
Has Derris elliptica been tested in clinical trials for diabetes or any other human condition?
No human clinical trials for Derris elliptica have been identified in any major clinical trial registry or peer-reviewed database as of current literature. Preclinical evidence from a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat study showed that 400 mg/kg of methanolic leaf extract reduced blood glucose by approximately 62% and normalized liver enzymes, but no validated human equivalent dose or safety profile exists to support clinical translation.
How was Derris elliptica traditionally used in Micronesia and Southeast Asia?
Traditionally, Derris elliptica roots and stems were crushed and thrown into enclosed waterways to stun or kill fish, a practice known as tuba fishing, widely practiced across Micronesia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. In some Micronesian communities, the root was also reportedly applied externally to treat skin-borne parasites and ectoparasites, though this use is documented primarily in oral ethnobotanical tradition rather than in formal scientific literature.
What compounds other than rotenone are found in Derris elliptica?
Beyond rotenone, Derris elliptica contains several related rotenoid compounds including deguelin, elliptone, and toxicarol, all of which share mitochondrial toxicity properties. The plant also yields flavonoids such as formononetin and apigenin, a novel coumaronochromone (6,4'-dihydroxy-7,5'-dimethoxy-coumaronochromone), and alkaloids at approximately 0.1% of concentrated extracts; these secondary constituents contribute to observed antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities in vitro.
What does the research show about Derris elliptica's effectiveness for blood sugar control?
Preclinical studies demonstrate significant antidiabetic potential, with methanolic leaf extracts reducing blood glucose by approximately 62% in diabetic rats—a level of efficacy comparable to the pharmaceutical reference drug glibenclamide. The mechanism appears to involve α-glucosidase inhibition, an enzyme involved in carbohydrate digestion. However, these findings are limited to animal studies and have not yet been validated in human clinical trials, so efficacy in humans remains unestablished.
Is Derris elliptica safe to use alongside diabetes medications or other supplements?
Because Derris elliptica contains rotenone—a potent compound with known toxicity concerns—and preclinical evidence suggests it may lower blood glucose levels, concurrent use with diabetes medications, other blood-sugar-lowering supplements, or hepatically metabolized drugs warrants medical supervision to avoid adverse interactions or hypoglycemia. No formal drug interaction studies have been conducted in humans for this ingredient. Consulting a healthcare provider before combining it with any medications or supplements is essential.
Who should avoid Derris elliptica supplementation?
Derris elliptica should be avoided by pregnant and nursing women, children, individuals with liver disease or compromised hepatic function, and those taking diabetes medications without medical supervision—given rotenone's documented neurotoxicity and the ingredient's potent blood-glucose-lowering effects in animal models. People with allergies to legumes (Fabaceae family) should also exercise caution. The safety profile in human populations remains poorly characterized, making avoidance the prudent approach for vulnerable groups.
Explore the Full Encyclopedia
7,400+ ingredients researched, verified, and formulated for optimal synergy.
Browse IngredientsThese statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
hermetica-encyclopedia-canary-zzqv9k4w micronesian-derris-derris-elliptica curated by Hermetica Superfoods at ingredients.hermeticasuperfoods.com and licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 (non-commercial share-alike, attribution required)
